Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue is planning ahead of the playoffs and has already made one roster decision after naming center Tristan Thompson a starter for their championship campaign. 

This 2015-16 National Basketball Association (NBA) season, Thompson shared the starting duties at center with Timofey Mozgov. However, Mozgov is struggling in the current campaign, unlike in the previous season when he arrived via trade and made a great impact to the Cavs. This may have prompted Lue to select Thompson over Mozgov when the playoffs begin. 

In 81 games played (33 starts), Thompson is averaging 7.9 points and 9.1 rebounds in 28 minutes of action per game. The 25-year-old's numbers are better than Mozgov's averages this season, which really went downhill.

The 29-year-old Russian has seen action in 75 games (48 starts) this season, having 6.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17.2 minutes played per night. His numbers are a bit distant compared to his 10.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game when he joined the Cavaliers from the Denver Nuggets during the 2014-15 season. 

Getting the starting nod for the playoffs is a tall task, especially playing for a franchise like the Cavaliers. But for Thompson, it remains the same. 

"Come in, play hard, rebound, defend, finish around the rim. The same thing I was doing with the second unit. It's just that you got to do it from tipoff instead of just reading the game to get a feel," Thompson said before Monday's win over the Atlanta Hawks according to ESPN. 

He continued, "You got to go out there and set the tone. So, stay out of foul trouble and do what I need to do."

With the Cavs sealing the top spot in the Eastern Conference by currently having a 57-24 record, it is still uncertain who they are facing in the first round of the playoffs, which will either be the Indiana Pacers or the Detroit Pistons.