Cavaliers Prefer Embiid With First Pick

[jonathanlambert33]

It has to do with Thompson not being a good defensive player and being a gigantic waste of space offensively.

Thompson was a much better defensive player under Byron Scott, but he regressed under Mike Brown.

In his first season, he was actually a good defender, but it was in a small sample size.

His biggest deficiency is probably is post defense, but they are fixable. First thing I would say is he needs to add strength. The primary objective for defending the post is to not allow post entry. But he allows his man to establish deep post post position, and they bully him and just move him around down there. He's already undersized as it is, but the fact that he's only put on like 11 pounds in 3 years in the league is a problem. Anthony Davis put on more than that in one offseason.

I'd also say, and how this did not get fixed by the coaches is beyond me, his stance is entirely too wide. Take a look at this picture below:

His feet being that far apart really restricts his movement. The offensive player can easily turn over their left or right shoulder and he can't challenge that because of wasted movement. It also causes him to stumble a good bit. You have to have a strong stance, maximize your lower body strength.

Teams also really liked to involve him in the PnR and then run his man into the post. Which is a nice segway, Brown had him hedge out on the ball a lot, and some guys just don't have it, and he was one of them. Coming out to far to hedge, not being able to recover, etc. Hedging is just meant to jump out and slow the ball handler down while the ball handlers defender recovers to keep him from turning that corner. Thompson would be flat footed and come so far out that he would stop the ball, then he wouldn't be able to recover in time. See below:

Lastly, Brown would have him help off his man so far to defend dribble penetration and cuts that he wouldn't be able to recover in time. We're talking anytime the ball handler comes inside the 3pt line Thompson is helping off.

Even leaves Steve Noavak:

The post defense has never been good, but it was better last year. His stance wasn't so drastic either. The PnR defense was very different because he didn't hedge for Byron Scott, he just showed. And the spot up/over help? I can't imagine his coach is telling him to do that. I watched as far back as last season and saw him just completely turn his back to Ryan Anderson to help that far over.

 

[buzzy]

https://twitter.com/wojyahoonba/status/469893713209356290

 

[elcheato]

Thompson was a much better defensive player under Byron Scott, but he regressed under Mike Brown.

In his first season, he was actually a good defender, but it was in a small sample size.

His biggest deficiency is probably is post defense, but they are fixable. First thing I would say is he needs to add strength. The primary objective for defending the post is to not allow post entry. But he allows his man to establish deep post post position, and they bully him and just move him around down there. He's already undersized as it is, but the fact that he's only put on like 11 pounds in 3 years in the league is a problem. Anthony Davis put on more than that in one offseason.

I'd also say, and how this did not get fixed by the coaches is beyond me, his stance is entirely too wide. Take a look at this picture below:

His feet being that far apart really restricts his movement. The offensive player can easily turn over their left or right shoulder and he can't challenge that because of wasted movement. It also causes him to stumble a good bit. You have to have a strong stance, maximize your lower body strength.

Teams also really liked to involve him in the PnR and then run his man into the post. Which is a nice segway, Brown had him hedge out on the ball a lot, and some guys just don't have it, and he was one of them. Coming out to far to hedge, not being able to recover, etc. Hedging is just meant to jump out and slow the ball handler down while the ball handlers defender recovers to keep him from turning that corner. Thompson would be flat footed and come so far out that he would stop the ball, then he wouldn't be able to recover in time. See below:

Lastly, Brown would have him help off his man so far to defend dribble penetration and cuts that he wouldn't be able to recover in time. We're talking anytime the ball handler comes inside the 3pt line Thompson is helping off.

Even leaves Steve Noavak:

The post defense has never been good, but it was better last year. His stance wasn't so drastic either. The PnR defense was very different because he didn't hedge for Byron Scott, he just showed. And the spot up/over help? I can't imagine his coach is telling him to do that. I watched as far back as last season and saw him just completely turn his back to Ryan Anderson to help that far over.

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccoj5lhLmSQ[/media]
 
For real tho, I know hes better than what he showed this year, but he hinders a team so much offensively, I can't justify moving forward with him based on average to above average defense. Bennett still has more obvious potential to me. The game comes more naturally to him as well. Tristan looks so awkward

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I'm gonna take a look at his offense tonight. Honestly don't know much about him.

 

[elcheato]

You'll be shocked
 
also:
 
https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/469893713209356290

 

[The Young One]

Am I the only one who imagines if Joel hits his ceiling he's nothing more than a 20 ppg game guy max?

 

[elcheato]

Considering his potential rebounding and defensive prowess, that would make him the leagues best center.
 
Which is what I think his ceiling is, the best center in the NBA, and a top 10 player.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Am I the only one who imagines if Joel hits his ceiling he's nothing more than a 20 ppg game guy max?

 
HE'S A QUITTER

 

[The Young One]

 
HE'S A QUITTER

 
Still pissed at Luc Mbah moute and I will be forever.

 

[Mexi]

*clears throat*
Fuck Tristan Thompson

 

[elcheato]

*clears throat*
Fuck Tristan Thompson

wut u tryin to say boy
 
[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BoO3_5tU8A[/media]

 

[buzzy]

You'll be shocked
 
also:
 
https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/469893713209356290

Nigga look up two posts

 

[elcheato]

Nigga look up two posts

Im sorry I cant hear you, Ive been physically abused in tha ear.

 

[Mexi]

wut u tryin to say boy
 
[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BoO3_5tU8A[/media]

lol i wore the jays canadian hat today

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I think people are a little overreacting given the comparisons he has been given, but it's not a surprise that Ford says it's impossible to imagine him getting passed on.  He was viewed as the #1 prospect before his injury.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Ok, looking at Thompson offensively, he regressed everywhere.  Virtually the same way he did defensively.
 
The first thing that I notice, why is Cleveland posting up such a average post player?  Post opportunities made up 17.8% of his offense this season and 20.3% last season.  He shot sub 42% each of the past two seasons.  I mean I would say if he isn't a good post player, then don't post him up.  Drop that number to 13-14% and you'd have a more effective player and more effective team.  He also doesn't really have very many post moves.  Face up and go middle.  That's about it, and it's not effective.
 
Now if they want to post him up, they should do it in certain areas.    It's referred to as scot, and it stands for scoring spot.  For Thompson, these areas need to be around the mid-post, high post, or the short corner.  Areas that aren't so congested like the low post is.  When you get him a little further out from the rim, he has a better chance to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim before too much help comes.  Here's some examples:
 
http://on.nba.com/1dMoXU6
http://on.nba.com/1vV8qbQ
http://on.nba.com/1vV8Pv5
 
I also like his PnR game, and don't understand why they elected to use him in the post so much but in the screen game so little.  We're talking 17.8% to 13.1%.  41.8% shooting to 54.1% shooting.  I will say, I also do not understand why he didn't pop more, as he has a league average jumper.  When he did "pop," it was more of a short roll.  Here are some examples:
 
http://on.nba.com/1vVdsVI
http://on.nba.com/1vVdygh
http://on.nba.com/1vVdUDE
 
To restate, I don't get why Mike Brown and the Cavs staff failed to involve him more.  Having a capable PnR big should have been a big advantage, because teams tend to pay more attention to perimeter players like Kyrie and Dion Waiters:
 
http://on.nba.com/1vVeTU7
http://on.nba.com/1vVgaL8
 
I wouldn't give up on him.  I see a lot of positive signs that would have me excited if I was a Cavs fan.  Think about it, has he had a good coach yet in his career?  Scott and Mike Brown?  Bring in a guy who could actually develop him, and he's a very good player.  I mean he's average across the board offensively already.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

I think people are a little overreacting given the comparisons he has been given, but it's not a surprise that Ford says it's impossible to imagine him getting passed on.  He was viewed as the #1 prospect before his injury.

 
Ford is a KU homer and he's doing everything he can to make sure either Wiggins or Embiid go #1

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Who would you compare him too?

 

[bosoxlover12]

Wiggins is Jeff Green with a higher potential

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Another lazy comparison