CLEVELAND -- When the Cleveland Cavaliers' Eastern Conference Quarterfinals matchup with the Indiana Pacers began, Tristan Thompson was the odd man out. Now the 7th-year center is back in the Cleveland starting lineup.
Just moments before tip-off of their winner-take-all Game 7 matchup on Sunday, the Cavs revealed that Thompson would get the start at center -- his first of the best-of-seven series. After initially beginning the series on the outside looking in at head coach Tyronn Lue's rotation, Thompson has played in just 23 combined minutes through the first six games, in which he's scored a total of 3 points to go along with 6 rebounds.
Thompson joins LeBron James, Kevin Love, Kyle Korver and J.R. in a Cleveland starting lineup that will feature James as the primary ball-handler/point guard. After missing the previous three games due to back spasms, former starting point guard George Hill is once again available to play, although it remains to be seen in what capacity he'll be used.
Although this is his first start of this series, Thompson is no stranger to postseason play. The former No. 4 pick of the 2011 NBA Draft has started in each of the past three NBA Finals for the Cavs, including in all seven games of their 2016 world championship-winning series against the Golden State Warriors.
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