For a third consecutive period, the Cleveland Cavaliers will play to have an NBA title against the Golden Condition Warriors.
While the Cavs' "Big Three" of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love remains front plus centre for the defending champions, the particular contributions of Canadian power forward/centre Tristan Thompson have been vital too.
The Brampton, Ont., native has been a pressure on the glass, averaging close to 10Â rebounds a game over the past three post-seasons whilst serving as the team's defensive point.
Tristan Thompson feature2: 28
Tony McIntyre trained Thompson throughout elementary school plus a year of high school when he or she played on the Amateur Athletic Partnership (AAU) hoops powerhouse CIA Bounce, a plan co-founded by McIntyre that's created other future NBA players such as Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett.
Thompson seems to understand his put on the team, and McIntyre feels that professionalism helps make the Canadian a seamless fit with the Cavaliers.
"You look at all the pieces they put there around LeBron, these people all guys that play a role which will be successful in completing a group, " says McIntyre. "Tristan has worked upon that spot on the team, as the guy that does all of that � rebounds, dives for loose tennis balls, scores inside when they need it. "
Versatility
Thompson's versatility on both edges of the ball is present once again within this year's playoffs.
Cavaliers mind coach Tyronn Lue says Thompson "treats every shot like a skip. "
McIntyre believes this mindset helps Thompson's teammates relax when working their offence.
Tristan Thompson, centre, treats every chance like a miss when it comes to rebounding. (Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
"In conditions of any missed shots or even anything around the rim, Tristan will get his hands on [the ball] trying to give those guys another possibility and reset the shot time clock. I think those guys are confident with him because he's going to outwork anybody, " says McIntyre.
"Tristan will go after it a little bit harder compared to everyone else and his teammates understand that [and] appreciate it. "
While Thompson is well known more as a rim protector upon defence, his ability to keep other guards in check flies under the adnger zone.
Lue turned to the 26-year-old in the 4th quarter of Game 3 associated with Cleveland's second-round playoff series to stop Toronto Raptors star DeMar DeRozan.
Up until the final frame, the particular shooting guard was unstoppable, rating 36 points.
But as soon as Thompson was assigned to guard DeRozan, the three-time all-star was restricted to a single point the rest of the way, sketching praise from James.
Contagious energy
Thompson's ability to impact the game in a variety of ways can be nothing new to McIntyre, who from first-hand experience knows it provides the Cavaliers with a much-needed boost.
"He just brings that energy level that will continues to drive that team. Whenever he steps in, he wants to earn, " says McIntyre.
"Other men will look at that and try to complement that energy level. Anytime you have a teammate that goes in and either adjustments the pace or energy level hanging around, it becomes contagious to everybody else that when they check in they gotta enhance the bar. "
Tristan Thompson's high energy level has become contagious in order to his teammates. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Thompson's relentless work ethic can be something that's always been evident in order to McIntyre.
There were instances when the pair would be in the fitness center until midnight on a school evening working on Thompson's game.
McIntyre recalls when Thompson received his initial scholarship offer. The future fourth-overall choose in the 2011 NBA draft was not satisfied.
"I want more than 300. I want every school within the U. S. to offer me a scholarship or grant, " McIntyre says Thompson informed him. "That was always their goal � to basically overachieve or be able to outwork everyone within anything that he did. "
Height doesn't measure heart
Thompson transported that thought process into the NBA, exactly where his motor has helped earn him a starting position.
In elementary school, bigger guys anxious Thompson. In fact , McIntyre says there was times when he'd make excuses to prevent playing against them.
Nowadays, the Canadian relishes the challenge to be an undersized big man within the league.
"He's one of the most powered kids I've seen even, to the stage [where] I'm not going to stay persistent, but he wanted to be excellent at what he does, inch says McIntyre.
Student of the game
Over his six-year NBA profession, Thompson has become an excellent rebounder.
It's a skill that requires more than just 100 % pure athleticism, and one that the NBA champ puts a lot of work into.
Thompson has become a student of the video game, watching videos and studying video game footage � doing anything that will be better his craft as a rebounder.
"He's fully embraced what their role is and understands which what made him an NBA champ, that's what's made the Cavs NBA champions, " says McIntyre. (***
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