Power Forward: Joakim Noah vs Tristan Thompson
May 4, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) defends Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) in the third quarter in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
This one is an even more abnormal circumstance for this series; normally, Kevin Love should be the stretch four, three-point shooting power forward for the Cavs, but with his injury, Tristan Thompson – a more traditional, inside big man – is going to be matched up with Joakim Noah.
The Cavs tried to hold that stretching the floor advantage in Game 1 by starting Mike Miller. It didn’t work out; Miller was subbed out early and only played 16 minutes.
Joakim has struggled against stretch fours, instinctively helping on drives and losing his man far away at the three-point line. Kevin Love would have been a dangerous asset for the Cavs in this series but without him, Noah’s work becomes significantly easier.
The Cavs are expected to make a change for Game 2, but whether that will be starting Thompson at the four or moving LeBron to the four and starting someone else at the three is not yet known.
Thompson isn’t a big offensive threat, but he has killed the Bulls by grabbing an obscene number of offensive rebounds in the past so that may be their best option at this point.
Noah’s intensity has risen as he’s gotten more comfortable with his surgically repaired knees and will be a defensive asset, as usual. The only problem is his offensive reluctance that has been with him all year long. But considering the Bulls never trailed in Game 1 and held a 15-point lead at times might mean that he doesn’t need to score.
With all of the offensive fire power the Bulls have now, Joakim even hitting free throws will be extra dessert for this team.