Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson should be flying under the NBA radar.
With the spotlight rightfully centered on four-time MVP LeBron James, Thompson's blue-collar game should be stuck in the shadows behind James and Cleveland's swarm of incendiary shooters.
There's nothing sexy about Thompson's style or statistics. No one is running a highlight reel of the fourth-year forward bringing his lunch pail to work, and his impact looks decidedly minor in the box score with postseason per-game averages of 9.8 rebounds, 8.9 points and 1.3 blocks.
But it's incredibly telling that no one close to the situation mistakes Thompson's value for a second. Ask those in the know, and they'll paint a picture of the former No. 4 pick as a critical piece of Cleveland's championship-hopeful puzzle.
"Ever since stepping into the starting lineup following Kevin Love's season-ending shoulder surgery, Thompson has been the most consistent Cavalier," wrote Northeast Ohio Media Group's Chris Haynes. "With Kyrie Irving battling injuries, Thompson's work ethic and his persistence on the glass has instilled a jolt of vigor i ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Zach Buckley
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