With the Cleveland Cavaliers' playoff run, few players have impressed more than the four-year forward Tristan Thompson.

Yes, LeBron James is still the best player in the team and has put up incredible numbers (triple-double average against the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals), but that was already expected.

Still, Thompson's emergence as a rugged power forward for the Cavs has come at exactly the right time when they need strength and power.

When Kevin Love went down due to injury in their opening round match against the Boston Celtics, few would have thought that his absence wouldn't make a difference.

In fact, people believed that his injury would result in the Cavaliers playing hero-ball with James and it would be five against one on the basketball floor.

Fortunately for the Cavs, everyone seemed to have stepped up to help their cause. JR Smith and Iman Shumpert have been impressive and have played inspired basketball since their arrival.

Matthew Dellavedova has also been a spark-plug after the gritty player made up for the games that Kyrie Irving was out due to his multiple injuries.

But it is Thompson who has left his mark in the playoffs and seems that there is no need for Love in the line-up anymore.

Make no mistake, Love is still the better player between the two. During his playoff time with the Cavs, he averaged 14.3 points per game, seven rebounds a night and 2.5 assists.

Compare that to Thompson's numbers of 8.9 PPG and 9.8 RPG while playing around eight minutes more than Love, and then there isn't even an argument.

However, it is a matter of fit – and to say that Thompson fits the Cavs' rotation and plays would be a big understatement.

He plays inside as a power forward should, helping players like Irving, Smith and James to move around in the perimeter. He is not afraid to get physical with the opponents – resulting in him winning rebounding battles and scrappy plays.

Love may do the same, but he often relies on his jump shot that stretches the defense, but makes the Cavs weaker on the inside.

And if Cleveland plan to keep their core intact, then it is probably best that they move forward with Thompson instead of Love. He will cost much less and will not have to go through any more adjustments playing with the stars on the floor.