INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Coming into the 2017 NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers had a quiet confidence about their ability to win the rebounding battle, punish Golden State for its propensity to lean on smaller lineups.
That meant Tristan Thompson, who had spent most of the Eastern Conference playoffs demoralizing opponents with his relentless pursuit of boards, shouting, "They're too small" at every member of the Boston Celtics that tried to box him out. Thompson was also at the center of Cleveland's defensive resurgence, using his speed, athleticism and length as an effective elixir in Cleveland's trap strategy, while still altering shots at the rim.