Tristan Thompson

It usually takes more than one player to keep Cleveland Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson (13) from getting a rebound.

(Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer)

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Tristan Thompson's mindset when it comes to rebounding is simple.

"See ball. Get ball," he has repeatedly said throughout the season.

But it's more than that. It's more than a natural greed harvested in high school, an insatiable thirst to get his team extra possessions. It's more than the extra time he has spent in the weight room getting stronger and on the practice court trying to become something more than an undersized center with an unsightly offensive game -- the "other" Cavs first round pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Thompson is a willing student.

"Just playing a little math, paid attention in math class," Thompson said about his rare ability to devour rebounds. "Just playing the percentages. If they shoot it from the left corner then 70 percent chance it comes off the right corner.

Then there's the knowledge gained through conversations with teammates and study sessions focused on legends.

"I learned from Andy," Thompson said, speaking about Varejao, his fallen teammate, who has become a vocal cheerleader during the postseason run. "He said on offensive rebounding 'box out your man and push him underneath the rim. That gives you a good chance of getting the ball.' Then watching film on (Dennis) Rodman. I have a couple cheat sheets I've acquired along the way."

The 32-year-old Varejao is a good mentor. With 11 years in the NBA, he has blossomed into a defensive pest and threat on the glass, twice averaging double-figures in rebounding. With non-stop hustle and boundless energy, he has a knack, just like Thompson, for creating extra opportunities or finishing possessions.

"It's definitely been tough," Thompson said of not having Varejao, who suffered a torn Achilles in December. "Andy is such a great human being, but it's definitely tough not having him out there with us. He's been great on the sidelines and he's been great for me personally. Talking to me during timeouts or before the game, just do what I'm here to do and do my job and do it at a high level."

As for Rodman, he's the standard. A limited offensive player, the seven-time rebounding champion left his mark in other areas. He averaged 13.1 boards per game, which ranks 10th all time, was a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and became a five-time NBA champion as well as Hall-of-Famer.

Some players get a thrill from highlight-reel dunks, a cold-blooded three-pointer with the shot clock winding down or a dazzling offensive move capped with a basket. Not Thompson. That's not his forte. He gets fired up from a rebound and, more importantly, what follows.

"I don't really pay attention to the guy I outwork for the rebound, it's really just hearing the crowd just be like, 'Ohhhhh.' They just get frustrated," he said. "That's a good feeling."

The groans were audible in Atlanta during the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals. The dejection was visible when looking at the opposing players.

One rebound at a time, Thompson has destroyed the Hawks' will.

"Sometimes they send two guys to box me out, but then it gives an opportunity for LeBron and Shump (Iman Shumpert) is a really good rebounder at the wing position," Thompson said. "If it can open them to get offensive boards and finish around the rim then I did my job."

When James was asked about whether he had played alongside anyone with Thompson's gift, one that has been apparent during the team's postseason run, especially in the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals, James didn't hesitate.

"Yeah. Andy," he said succinctly. "Udonis Haslem too. Even Birdman (Chris Andersen) as well. I've been fortunate to play with guys that have a knack for going and getting the ball."

That gift has led to 49 offensive rebounds, second-most in the postseason, while averaging 10.0 rebounds overall in his first playoff run. In the first two games against the Hawks' talented frontline of Paul Millsap and Al Horford, Thompson has been a menace on the glass, grabbing 26 rebounds -- one more than Atlanta's All-Star duo combined.

"We want to win the rebounding war," Thompson said. "You win the rebounding battle the team usually wins the game, especially in our playoff run this year."

Thompson was placed in the starting lineup following a Game 1 loss in the East semis, one of the two games during the postseason (Chicago Game 3 being the other) where the Cavs have lost the rebounding battle.

Since a season-ending injury to Kevin Love, one that was widely expected to cripple the Cavaliers, Thompson has averaged 38.1 minutes, 8.1 points and 11.6 rebounds.

"I was prepared," Thompson said of his expanded role. "You never know what's going to happen throughout the course of a season. Coach tells all of our guys to always be prepared when your number is called because you never know if a guy is not feeling well or banged up and you need to step up and be productive with the minutes we give you."

Since Thompson's move to the starting lineup, the team has also seen an uptick on the defensive end, thanks to his athleticism and versatility.

"My goal is simple." Thompson said. "Try and make sure my guy doesn't score. And if he does, make sure it's a contested two, or a tough shot. I think that's all our roles on this team except maybe Timo (Timofey Mozgov). He is more of a shot blocker on the team, but for me and Kevin we've got to use the rule of verticality or take charges."

The Hawks have tried a number of different tactics, including face guarding the ferocious Thompson.

"It's not going to stop me from doing what I need to do," Thompson said of Atlanta's plan. "I try to attack the glass, get rebounds and create possessions for my teammates because that's what I'm here to do. But if they face guard or put two or three guys on me I'm going to keep going to the glass and keep being relentless."

Thompson's mantra is simple. Keeping him off the glass is not. Atlanta, just like other teams around the NBA, is still looking for the solution.