One of the biggest surprises in 2017-18 NBA postseason for the Cleveland Cavaliers is the reemergence of center Tristan Thompson. After a season where it looked like he had lost a step and was nothing like his previous dominating self, Thompson is playing like a star again. In the regular season, Thompson averaged 5.8 points and 6.6 rebounds a game. Head coach Tyronn Lue moved Thompson to the end of the bench as the playoffs started and he totaled nine minutes in the first five playoff games against the Indiana Pacers. However, he came back in Game 6 and then exploded in Game 7 with a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds).

In the Game 1 win over the Toronto Raptors, Thomson had his second double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Despite this, Tyronn Lue refuses to start him.

Cavs lineup for Game 2 against Raptors

The second biggest surprise of the 2017-18 NBA playoffs for the Cleveland Cavaliers is the inefficiency of Kevin Love. Without a doubt, Love is the second best player on the Cavs team after LeBron James. However, Love is a power forward and Tyronn Lue continues to start him at center over Tristan Thompson, with Kyle Korver, J.R. Smith and George Hill starting as well.

Kevin Love is not a center and has struggled all season when placed into the role of center. In the Game 1 win over the Toronto Raptors, Love scored seven points with 13 rebounds.

The rebounding was nice but he is not hitting his shots because he is out of position and playing in unfamiliar spots on the floor.

That will continue in Game 2 on Thursday night. When Tyronn Lue brought in Tristan Thompson in Game 1, Kevin Love was able to move back to his normal position and suddenly the Cavs were able to stop Jonas Valanciunas, who tore them up in the first half.

Lue said he will do whatever it takes to help the team, but he is keeping Love at center for some reason -- despite evidence that is not what is best for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kevin Love on playing center

Kevin Love is not happy. When asked about the Cleveland Cavaliers insistence on playing him as a center, he said he played his whole career at the 4 and feels more comfortable there.

He then said that Tyronn Lue sees things differently. Love is trying to be a good teammate, but he is clearly at a disadvantage at the position.

When the Cleveland Cavaliers needed to beat the Indiana Pacers in Game 7, Tyronn Lue moved Tristan Thompson back into the starting lineup as the center. Now that they are playing the No. 1 seed Toronto Raptors, Lue has changed the lineup -- for the worse.
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