Favors really THAT much better then Thompson?

 Favors is the better player right now, and he also has the higher ceiling of the two.  The reason that Favors is rated as so much better than Tristan Thompson is that he is believed to slide over to the center position, which is a position that the Cleveland Cavaliers desperately need to improve on.  He is an excellent shot blocker, a good defensive big in the post, and he has the frame and potential to improve offensively.  

His rebounding numbers may have not been as high as Thompson’s, but Thompson was playing next to guys who aren’t elite rebounders.  Favors played next to Kanter a lot this past season, and one of Kanter’s best attributes is rebounding the basketball.  

With Anthony Bennett waiting to step up, him and Derrick Favors would fit nicely together, considering Bennett is a stretch-four.  Imagine a lineup of Kyrie-Burks-Draft Pick-Bennett-Favors.  That is a very intriguing young lineup, with a ton of potential to grow as a young unit in Cleveland.  

 Favors is the better player right now, and he also has the higher ceiling of the two.  The reason that Favors is rated as so much better than Tristan Thompson is that he is believed to slide over to the center position, which is a position that the Cleveland Cavaliers desperately need to improve on.  He is an excellent shot blocker, a good defensive big in the post, and he has the frame and potential to improve offensively.  

His rebounding numbers may have not been as high as Thompson’s, but Thompson was playing next to guys who aren’t elite rebounders.  Favors played next to Kanter a lot this past season, and one of Kanter’s best attributes is rebounding the basketball.  

With Anthony Bennett waiting to step up, him and Derrick Favors would fit nicely together, considering Bennett is a stretch-four.  Imagine a lineup of Kyrie-Burks-Draft Pick-Bennett-Favors.  That is a very intriguing young lineup, with a ton of potential to grow as a young unit in Cleveland.  

I still dont know who won that Utah-New Jersey trade for Deron Williams? Utah got back Favors and Devin Harris and Enes Kanter(#3 pick) and a couple of 2nd rounders….. Are any of those young Jazz guys Keepers?

I still dont know who won that Utah-New Jersey trade for Deron Williams? Utah got back Favors and Devin Harris and Enes Kanter(#3 pick) and a couple of 2nd rounders….. Are any of those young Jazz guys Keepers?

 I dont think he is worth passing up Wiggins or Parker for. He is much better than Thompson in my opinion though. Thompson might get more rebounds per game, but Favors plays with better rebounders and in a much better conference. If Favors was in the East I could easily see all his stats raising. Favors is a better shot blocker and efficient scorer. I just dont think he is worth passing up Wiggins. This is coming from somebody who has seen almost every cavs game.

 I dont think he is worth passing up Wiggins or Parker for. He is much better than Thompson in my opinion though. Thompson might get more rebounds per game, but Favors plays with better rebounders and in a much better conference. If Favors was in the East I could easily see all his stats raising. Favors is a better shot blocker and efficient scorer. I just dont think he is worth passing up Wiggins. This is coming from somebody who has seen almost every cavs game.

Favors’ main strength is on the defensive end of the floor. And he plays in a tougher conference and played with a coach who never ran a play for him. And he’s still a more efficient scorer than Thompson. He’s an absolute beast in the pick and roll. He does all the little things you’d like to see out of a young big. He’s a much, much better player than you’re giving him credit for. 

Favors’ main strength is on the defensive end of the floor. And he plays in a tougher conference and played with a coach who never ran a play for him. And he’s still a more efficient scorer than Thompson. He’s an absolute beast in the pick and roll. He does all the little things you’d like to see out of a young big. He’s a much, much better player than you’re giving him credit for. 

 The impact of Favors goes beyond the statistics. It’s about how rim-protecting bigs change the game for their team.

This past finals is the perfect case in point. Finishing at the rim was extremely tough for San Antonio – both because the activity of their defense, but also because ultimately they were being ushered towards Duncan and tried to make difficult finishes. Forget what impact it had on Duncan specifically in terms of blocks or boards, it’s about how much better the team is defensively with him on the court.

Some guys who block a lot of shots do it while selling out on D, hence have a lesser impact on their team’s defensive rating. Guys like Tyson Chandler block just over a shot per game but have a huge impact.

Guys like Bosh, while giving great effort this past season and actually being a substantial positive to the Heat’s team D, still don’t give you that rim protector quality. It’s why SA was able to shoot at such a high clip this past Finals (aside from their ball movement, shooting etc).

Having a big who doesn’t provide that quality is a liability, especially a guy like Thompson who will often have to slide over to C and be the principal big on D increasingly in today’s small ball NBA. If you can’t defend the basket, you have to at the least have one differenciating skill – ie: be a very effective offensive weapon (think David West, younger Boozer), have the ability to stretch the floor (Ryan Anderson, Channing Frye), or be a rebounding/hustle machine (Reggie Evans? Kris Humphries? Rodman!).

What does Thompson bring to the table? A matchup liability against most PF’s in the league, and a cog which doesn’t fit particuarly well in any offense or defense.

 The impact of Favors goes beyond the statistics. It’s about how rim-protecting bigs change the game for their team.

This past finals is the perfect case in point. Finishing at the rim was extremely tough for San Antonio – both because the activity of their defense, but also because ultimately they were being ushered towards Duncan and tried to make difficult finishes. Forget what impact it had on Duncan specifically in terms of blocks or boards, it’s about how much better the team is defensively with him on the court.

Some guys who block a lot of shots do it while selling out on D, hence have a lesser impact on their team’s defensive rating. Guys like Tyson Chandler block just over a shot per game but have a huge impact.

Guys like Bosh, while giving great effort this past season and actually being a substantial positive to the Heat’s team D, still don’t give you that rim protector quality. It’s why SA was able to shoot at such a high clip this past Finals (aside from their ball movement, shooting etc).

Having a big who doesn’t provide that quality is a liability, especially a guy like Thompson who will often have to slide over to C and be the principal big on D increasingly in today’s small ball NBA. If you can’t defend the basket, you have to at the least have one differenciating skill – ie: be a very effective offensive weapon (think David West, younger Boozer), have the ability to stretch the floor (Ryan Anderson, Channing Frye), or be a rebounding/hustle machine (Reggie Evans? Kris Humphries? Rodman!).

What does Thompson bring to the table? A matchup liability against most PF’s in the league, and a cog which doesn’t fit particuarly well in any offense or defense.