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March 30, 2016Tuesday night’s game against the Houston Rockets may not seem like an important game to many, especially since Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Ty Lue has already said star forward LeBron James will sit out (rest). To one particular Cavalier, however, it will mean a lot.
Since the night the wine and gold drafted Tristan Thompson with the fourth-overall pick in 2011, he has played in every game of his NBA career—an incredible 361 games in all. Barring something unforeseen, Tuesday night’s game will be Thompson’s 382nd consecutive game played, which will set a franchise record, breaking the tie that he currently shares with former big man Jim Chones.
“It’s an honor and a blessing. When you’re 25 and lucky, haven’t played that many games. I have to give a lot of credit to the medical team and myself taking care of my body. There’s a lot of people I’ve got to be thankful for to get this far. It’s definitely an honor and it makes me proud that the guy I’m passing is another big and a Cavalier big.”
Many may argue that Thompson is overrated (and overpaid), following him signing a five-year, $82 million deal in October 2015, but when you have a player you can count on who will give it his all every day and help extend possessions, it’s tough to understand that frame of thinking. So far this season, Thomposn is averaging 7.9 points and 9.2 rebounds while shooting a career-best 58.6 percent from the floor in 27.9 minutes per game (31 starts), Currently in his fifth season in the league, No. 13 has averaged 9.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
“For me I’m not worried about the stats, points per game. Rebounding, that’s definitely what I hang my hat on. It’s how you impact the game. I do things where maybe an offensive rebound helps us win the game. It’s more than how many points you score a game. If you look at guys on teams that aren’t winning, guys are averaging 10 and 7 but they’re going home in April. I’m happy where I’m at. Obviously I want to keep getting better every year, but I have to do whatever it takes for our team to be successful.”
While Thompson may surpass Chones’ record against the Rockets, the power forward couldn’t hold back when he was asked about the bond the two have. With Chones being one of the team’s radio analysts, the two have shared plenty of time together, so much time that No. 13 has tremendous respect for one of the franchise’s best players.
“I respect him so much and what he’s done for the organization, the franchise and the city of Cleveland,” Thompson said of Chones. “Just being part and doing the camps for the youth and shows a lot about his character. When we talk he gives me one or two words of advice: play hard, keep it simple, see ball, get ball. That goes a long way and especially when a former big speaks highly of you and gives you advice, that means you’re doing something right.”
While Lue plans to rest players before they begin their playoff run, one thing is certain: Thompson won’t be one of those players who sits out in order and he reassured us that Lue not only knows about the streak, but acknowledges the fact he will not rest Thompson for an entire game. While he is coming off the bench or in the starting lineup, the power forward has proven that he can be a game-changer when he is in the game.
“He knows about the streak. He knows how much the streak means to me. I told him I’m fine. If I can run and I can grab some rebounds and set some good screens, I’m good enough to play.”
For what it’s worth, the NBA record is held by A.C. Green, who played in 1,192 consecutive games from 1986-2001. So, if Thompson wants to pass that as well, he still has plenty of basketballl ahead of him.
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Sometimes I wonder if he shouldn’t take a game off here or there, or sit out a few if something is bothering him physically. Maybe it’s not physical, but it feels like on some nights he’s taken that next step and is an absolute monster in the paint like he was in the finals last year, and on other nights it feels like he gets taken out of the game by people who aren’t as good as him. Maybe it’s just matchups, and maybe it’s the general senior-itis that has gripped the Cavs at times this season, waiting for the “real” season to start, but if TT is at his best, the Cavs out-rebound everybody. Right now that’s not every night.
Dude deserves a raise.
(ducks)
Congrats Kid!
Barring something unforeseen, Tuesday night’s game will be Thompson’s
382nd362nd consecutive game played.