The resurgence of Tristan Thompson is exactly what the Cavs needed

For much of the best-of-seven series against the Indiana Pacers, the Cleveland Cavaliers were searching for a spark. The wine and gold knew what they would get out of LeBron James,¹ but someone else needed to step up. While the Cavs struggled to get anything going in Indianapolis, much like they have in recent memory, Cleveland needed additional help if they not only wanted to beat Indiana in Game 7, but if they want to make their fourth straight NBA Finals appearance.

For much of the first six games of the series, it was Kyle Korver who sort of stepped up in the scoring column. But even then, it still wasn’t the help that James was used to getting. Then came Sunday’s Game 7, a must-win game for the Cavs. While there were plenty of doubters, James and the wine and gold shined in Game 7’s brightest lights. When it mattered most, they beat the Pacers, and have advanced to take on the No. 1 seed Toronto Raptors.

With that said, we can’t just look ahead, but instead we should take a glance back at just what happened in the series-clinching game Sunday afternoon. James continued his greatness, but one other player stepped up, a player that many people didn’t even expect to play a single minute until an hour or two before tip off, head coach Tyronn Lue announced that said player would start. That player was Tristan Thompson, the guy who had one of his best games of the season when his team needed him the most.

The Cavs have just four players remaining from the 2016 team that brought the city its first major professional sports championship in 52 years. They have just five players left from the 2017-18 squad. It shouldn’t be a surprise that Lue leaned on those five players to start the most important game of the season to date.

After totaling just three points and six rebounds in 23 minutes through the first six games of the series,² Thompson stepped up big time in Game 7, to say the least. In fact, he had more points in the in the first seven minutes of the game than he did all series. With just over four minutes left in the first quarter, the big man already had six points and seven rebounds.

He finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. Thompson not only played very well, but was efficient as well, making 5-of-6 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Not only that, but he brought plenty of energy, toughness, and explosiveness off the bench, which was part of the reason why the Cavs started the game so well and kept the momentum going for much of the 48 minutes. The fast start, which Thompson was very much involved in, also got the crowd going and in the game all afternoon, which can’t go unnoticed. Home-court advantage was key Sunday afternoon, and the wine and gold made the most of it starting from the beginning of the game.

Not only did Thompson produce offensively, but it’s not a coincidence that both of Indiana’s big guys—Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis—struggled mightily and were in foul trouble for much of the game. Thompson’s toughness and effort—especially on the offensive boards—was one of the main reasons why the two Pacers struggled so much and had to deal with foul trouble all game on Sunday.

In the first six games of the series, Sabonis averaged 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 64 percent from the field in 23.3 minutes per game; Turner averaged 13.2 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 61 percent from the floor in 28.5 minutes a game. Those numbers may not jump out at you, but the efficiency should. In Game 7 on Sunday, the two combined for just 18 points and nine rebounds while shooting a dismal 5-of-13 from the field, good for just 38 percent.³

Thompson not only dominated offensively, at least for him, but he was a rim protector and made Indiana’s centers work for their points as well. He did all you could ask of him, honestly. The big man put all the off-the-court stuff behind him and didn’t allow the fact that he barely saw the court in the first six games of the series to bother him. Instead, he prepared each day as though he would play 48 minutes a night.

He showed up to practice early and stayed late. He was still being a mentor to a young big man like Ante Zizic. He didn’t whine about not playing for much of the series or be negative toward his team or coaches. He simply prepared like he always had. The preparedness paid off Sunday afternoon and was the reason why LeBron James called for both Thompson and George Hill to get a game ball.

Heading into the series against Toronto, WFNY’s Scott Sargent asked Thompson about how he thinks his style of play will do against the Raptors. The big man also mentioned that the Pacers were a very good test and that should pay dividends down the road.

Although he only played 23 minutes prior to Game 7, his 35 minutes on Sunday were one of the major reasons why the Cavs survived the Pacers and will take on the Raptors. Maybe, just maybe, Thompson will carry this momentum into the upcoming series and be a key part to the Cavs’ success. It’s obvious the wine and gold need players to step up, the big man seems to have noticed that and took advantage of the opportunity.

1. Even though he still somehow played better than everyone expected, which truly is incredible. [↩]
2. Including three DNPs. [↩]
3. Turner was 2-of-3 with eight points and four rebounds before fouling out in 25 minutes; Sabonis had 10 points and five rebounds while shooting just 3-of-10. [↩]