Box Score: (2) Ohio State 73, (7) Gonzaga 66
March 17, 2012While We’re Waiting… Getting to know Donald Sloan, Holmgren’s enemy and a new name for the Indians?
March 18, 2012As reported by multiple sources, including Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal, Cavalier play-by-play man Fred McLeod, and The Plain Dealer’s Tom Reed, rookie Cavalier forward Tristan Thompson will make his first start of the season tomorrow afternoon at The Q against the Atlanta Hawks. He will do so as the team’s center, facing Zaza Pachulia and becoming the third player to try and fill the void of the injured Anderson Varejao. Semih Erden and Ryan Hollins were the first two replacement starters. Thompson is averaging 6.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 20.1 minutes per contest. The fourth pick in the draft has seen his playing time increase lately, and he is proving to be a more enticing late game option, often at the five spot, so this is the next natural move.
7 Comments
nice. let’s see what he can do
This can be a good thing. TT has experience starting at the 5 despite being more of a 4 but that’s college ball: full of guards and few bigs.
I don’t understand how it’s taken so long to try this. Hollins/Erden are so underwhelming.
Hopefully he grabs this opportunity & doesn’t look back.
Nice to try and experiment but over the long haul can’t see the youngster filling that spot. Unless he bulks up including muscle over the summer(s). The experience should be beneficial however.
I often catch myself forgetting how young TT and other rookies are anymore; I wasn’t a stellar athlete but still managed to gain 20 lbs of good weight between ages 19 and 22 (and lots of other weight the next ten, but i digress).
I look at TT and despite the latent athleticism don’t see a man’s body yet. I don’t think he’ll be a solid 5 going forward but certainly could swing ala Andy in the long term.
Plus its time to get him up to 25 minutes for the rest of the season.
@6thcity – good point. If sky-enga can grow a few inches in last years off season, why can’t we hope for the same with 20yr old TT?
The final games of this season will be the “head start” portion of the off season center training session with Big Z.
Whatever he learns at the end of this season can be of great benefit for his future at the center position. Having Varajao back will also help with his crash course at the 5 position by being able to watch from the bench with a coach in his ear.
Now if he could also spend time on his free throw shooting, that would be a big bonus.
Maybe this was Grant’s plan all along…
Great point, never thought of it that way.
I added like 20 good lbs after 23, so yeah it shouldn’t be too hard for TT.