Thompson downplays pessimism about Cavs

Cavs center Tristan Thompson isn’t buying the consensus view of the 2018-19 Cavs as also-rans.

The consensus among NBA observers seems to be the Cavaliers are yesterday’s news in the Eastern Conference.

That’s a byproduct of the LeBron James electing to take his talents to the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent after his second, spectacularly successful stint with the Cavs.

During those four years, the Cavs went 211-117 during the regular season, won four straight Eastern Conference playoff titles and made four straight appearances in the NBA Finals, winning the 2016 NBA title.

Cavs center Tristan Thompson, a major contributor over that span, isn’t buying the consensus view of the 2018-19 Cavs as also-rans.

“Even though LeBron is gone, we still have a very talented ballclub,” Thompson said Sept. 27 after practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts.

“We still see ourselves as a playoff team,” Thompson added. “Like (Cavs coach Tyronn

Lue) said, we’re still four-time Eastern Conference champions. Until you take us down from that, teams ain’t got much to say.

“Boston had home court advantage in Game 7 and lost. Philly almost got swept. Toronto? We know that story.”

The Cavaliers took down the Celtics during three of the aforementioned playoff runs, including a 4-3 victory in the

2018 Eastern Conference Finals that featured a dramatic win in Game 7 at Boston.

Prior to that series, the Celtics had beaten the 76ers in the second round, 4-1.

As for the “story” Thompson cited with Toronto, the Cavs decisively beat the Raptors during their last three playoff runs, sweeping them twice.

Thompson’s belief the Cavs

still are playoff contenders despite the loss of James is based on his confidence in the quality of players on the roster.

“Right there, One, two, three, four,” Thompson said, pointing across the floor to four Eastern Conference championship banners.

“Me, Kev (Kevin Love), J.R. (Smith), Kyle (Korver), Channing (Frye). There is a lot of winning muscle memory

here. We have seven or eight guys who’ve been past the first round of the playoffs.”

That group includes guards George Hill, Jordan Clarkson and Rodney Hood, forwards Larry Nance Jr. and Cedi Osman and center Ante Zizic.

“(LeBron James) prepped us for this moment,” Thompson added. “So when it’s time for guys to part ways, we were prepared and mentally ready

for that challenge.

“He did a good job teaching us the qualities of what it takes to be a pro, to be a champion. Now we have to pass that along to the young guys and keep the culture going.”

The Cavaliers play two of their four preseason games against the Celtics, Oct. 2 at Boston and Oct. 6 at Quicken Loans Arena.