Tristan Thompson: NBA Finals Most Valuable X-Factor

The Cavs have been the better team in the last two games, thanks to incredible performances from Kyrie Irving and most notably LeBron James.

As amazing as those two have played, Tristan Thompson has been one of the most valuable players of this series, let alone of the team.

In all three Cavs’ wins in this series, Thompson posted at least 13 rebounds.

Thompson is averaging 11.3 rebounds per game in the series, but in the three losses, he averaged just eight per game, whereas in the three wins, he averaged 14.6.

His most impressive game of the series was Thursday night, Game 6, when he grabbed 16 rebounds. Seven of those 16 rebounds came on the offensive glass.

Something that stands out about Thompson’s production over the last two games in particular is the direct correlation to Andrew Bogut’s knee injury in Game 5.

In Game 5, Bogut left early in the second quarter and would not return to action. He was later ruled out for the rest of the series.

Early in Game 5, Thompson hauled in three rebounds in the first quarter. After Bogut exited the game, Thompson grabbed 12 rebounds in the next three quarters, and 16 in Game 6.

That’s 28 rebounds in seven quarters and one of the key factors that can be pointed to is the absence of Bogut.

Granted, Draymond Green did not play in Game 5, so that was a big factor as well.

Bogut has made his biggest impact in the first quarter throughout this series. Game 2 was a perfect example of that, when he blocked four shots in the first quarter.

In Game 5 in Oakland, Bogut only played five minutes in the first quarter, but the Warriors led 12-11 when he exited the game. From that point forward, the Cavs outscored Golden State 101-85.

This is not to say Bogut is the sole reason or even the biggest reason for that, but he’s a big part of what the Warriors do.

Despite playing an average of just 13 minutes per game in the first four games, Bogut protected the paint, not allowing easy lanes for LeBron and Irving to drive to the hole without an imposing force waiting for them.

The Warriors went 3-1 in the first four games of the series and Bogut was healthy in all four of those games.

The first quarter of Game 6 was the textbook definition of “getting punched in the mouth.”

The Cavs outscored Golden State 31-11 in the first quarter. Thompson grabbed nine rebounds in the quarter. The Warriors entire team grabbed just seven.

It was also Thompson’s best offensive game of the series, scoring 15 points. It’s no coincidence that Bogut was not there clogging the middle to keep Thompson from having easy dunks.

Once again, it’s not entirely contingent upon Bogut missing the game, but I can’t imagine the Warriors would have allowed Thompson to outrebound their entire team if their starting center was on the court to start the game.

It’s also hard to imagine that Cleveland would have continued that onslaught and lead by 20 at the end of the first quarter if Bogut was out there. If Bogut had played, it’s reasonable to assume Thompson would not have scored 15, his highest scoring game of the series.

The way LeBron was playing, it probably didn’t matter who was on the floor, but it may have been a closer contest at the start, and it certainly appears Thompson is benefiting from Bogut’s injury.

Of course LeBron is the front runner for Finals MVP if the Cavs win the series, but Thompson’s play has been remarkable in three of these six games, and there is a direct correlation to the Cavs winning and the rebound-specialist playing at a high level.

Before the series, many believed J.R. Smith would be a huge x-factor in the series and although Smith has had a couple good games, he has not made as big of an impact on the offensive or defensive end as most Cavs fans were hoping to see.

Another big x-factor in the playoffs for Cleveland has been Channing Frye, who has been virtually non-existent this series.

If the Cavs come out on top, fans will point to four guys as the biggest reasons why Cleveland was able to pull it off; LeBron, Kyrie, Richard Jefferson, and Thompson.

We’ll see if Tristan has one more amazing game left in him on Sunday night in Game 7.