The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Nobody cleans the glass like Thompson
Cavs center studies his craft, has strong motor
Tristan Thompson is to offensive rebounding what Celine Dion is to singing, what Emeril Lagasse is to cooking.
The Cavaliers’ 6-foot-10 center/ forward is averaging 4.9 offensive rebounds a game in the playoffs. That is tops among teams still playing in mid-May.
Thompson doesn’t only jump higher than opponents competing for the ball after a shot goes awry. He studies his craft, just as other great masters study theirs.
“If a guy is shooting a shot in the corner, 70 percent of the missed shots usually come off that other side and 30 percent hit off the front rim, so just playing the percentages and kind of studying your teammates’ shots throughout the course of the game,” Thompson said on May 10 after practice in Independence.
“For instance, a guy like Channing (Frye), if he misses a shot, he has a lot of arc on his shot. So if he misses, it’s probably going to be close. J.R. (Smith), his shot doesn’t have as much arc as Channing. So if he misses, it might be a little longer rebound.
“It’s just understanding your teammates. I’m hoping they make every shot. If not, I tell them, ‘Don’t worry, there’s a good chance I‘ll be able to get that offensive rebound.’ ”
“What I really lick my chops for is when you get the offensive rebounds at the end of the third quarter, fourth quarter. That really just sucks the life out of the opponent.”
— Tristan Thompson
The practice was the first for the Cavaliers after completing a sweep of the Toronto Raptors on May 7, which followed a sweep of the Indiana Pacers.
The Cavaliers moved up and down the court not knowing the identity of their next opponent because the Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Celtics and Wizards was tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 in Boston later on May 10.
Whichever team prevails, Thompson’s job on the offensive glass will be the same: Go up to make a shot or grab the ball and kick it back out to LeBron James, Kyrie Irving or another teammate for a second chance. Thompson Glass Cleaning, Inc., has helped make the Cavaliers first among playoff teams in offensive efficiency.
“You never know,” Thompson said. “If the guy’s hot, maybe that one miss you get the opportunity to kick it back out to him and he makes a 3 and you get an assist. In the first half, it’s sometimes a little tough to get offensive rebounds because guys are so fresh and have a lot of energy.
“What I really lick my chops for is when you get the offensive rebounds at the end of the third quarter, fourth quarter. That really just sucks the life out of the opponent. You can see it in their face, especially when you’re on the road. It just takes the whole energy out of the arena. That’s what I live for.”
Thaddeus Young of the Pacers averaged 5.5 offensive
rebounds in Indiana’s cameo appearance in the playoffs. Robin Lopez of the Bulls was averaging 4.7 postseason offensive rebounds until Chicago checked out after six games.
Only Marcin Gortat of the Washington Wizards, with an average of 4.1, is averaging more than four offensive rebounds a game and still playing.
For Thompson, success is all about positioning, knowing what to expect and plain old-fashioned hustle.
“He treats every shot like a miss, even when Kyle Korver is shooting the basketball. Or even when Kyle Korver is at the free-throw line,” Coach Tyronn Lue said. “He’s crashing the glass every single shot. His motor is unbelievable. He can crash from the perimeter and still get back on the defensive end.”
The Cavaliers are tied for third in the playoffs in a category known as defensive efficiency. Opponents are scoring an average of 105.9 points a game per 100 possessions. The only team still in the playoffs with better defensive efficiency is Golden State at 96.9.