Pacers fan with a question about Thomas

GrandBasterd · Post #1 » by **GrandBasterd** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 4:27 am

I've seen he's been playing well. But from watching this first half, I've not seen a guard all year drive the paint with success against hibbert the way he has done. His game kinda reminds me of Lillard, and when I compared their stats quickly, Thomas, as a starter is a close comparison.

Is he an average player playing well? Is he a future top point guard in the league?
Tell me what you think of this guy going forward. He's impressed me.

SacKingZZZ · Post #2 » by **SacKingZZZ** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 4:48 am

He's playing very well right now. Combo of him being a) a good player, b) a better scorer, and c) in a contract year. Yet to show he can be the man and run a team every night but as a scorer, there are few better this year.

Kings2013 · Post #3 » by **Kings2013** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:22 am

As far as I'm concerned he's a future top point guard in the league. He's young, in his third year and improved in all aspects from last year. People need to cut his some slack and let a young player learn the nuances of the starting nba position

SacKingZZZ · Post #4 » by **SacKingZZZ** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:46 am

Wait a minute, one thing you have to realize about Thomas is that he is already 24. He's not a raw 19 year old here. He came into the league pretty well developed. He's good, no question, and he looks like a keeper for sure, but he'll still need to prove he can manage a team like a top PG. Don't know if that will happen here or if it even needs to with Gay and Cousins around him. He's not a natural PG. He's not bad, but he's not Steve Nash either. Probably better though, him being more of a scorer that can play off of Cousins and Gay could be a better fit.

Post #5 » by **City of Trees** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:34 am

He is consistently good at creating his own shot. What you referenced about IT driving is his game and he does it on a nightly basis with ease. Commanding the offense is where he needs to grow.

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GrandBasterd · Post #6 » by **GrandBasterd** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:22 am

Great game.
It did seem like he played a too much hero ball twards the end, but 38 points against the leagues best defense is tremendous. Seems like he has incredible talent, will he continue to grow into it? Is he a rising star, or is he playing for a contract? I just haven't been following him and want more informed fans POV.

blind prophet · Post #7 » by **blind prophet** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:24 am

I'll never doubt the little fella. I've said that before about 2 years ago. I have no idea how good he will be, but I'd never question what he can do, I would not be surprised if he makes a few all star games.

SacKingsPejaFan · Post #8 » by **SacKingsPejaFan** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:52 am

Most Kings fans are just getting used to the fact that he's for real. He wasn't this good last year. We're only halfway through this year, and we played the first month and a half of the season with Vasquez as the starter. Every time I see him play, I'm more and more surprised and proven wrong about him. What I can tell you is that he's a very good shooter (40% three, 86% FT), he is fast as hell and can get to the rim (as you saw tonight), he can pass the ball (>10 assists half a dozen times this season), and he can run a team. His size limits his defensive abilities. Opposing PG's go off on us all the time. But he's getting better.

To talk stats, he's averaging 20 points and 6 assists but that needs to be put in the context of all of the Kings' changes this season. The better way to look at it is:
November: 17 points, 4 assists, 1 steal (25 mins per game; Vasquez the starter)
December: 21 points, 7.6 assists, 2 steals (Vasquez is traded in week two of Dec.)
January: 22 points, 7 assists, 1.4 steals

Throw in the fact we're playing around 500 ball since the Gay trade, and these are legit numbers on a decent team.

ADoaN17 · Post #9 » by **ADoaN17** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:21 am

GrandBasterd wrote:Great game.
It did seem like he played a too much hero ball twards the end, but 38 points against the leagues best defense is tremendous. Seems like he has incredible talent, will he continue to grow into it? Is he a rising star, or is he playing for a contract? I just haven't been following him and want more informed fans POV.

Isaiah always plays hard and wants to prove people wrong for always doubting him. His play has nothing to do with it being a contract year. He will always give 110%.

SacKingZZZ · Post #10 » by **SacKingZZZ** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 12:38 am

ADoaN17 wrote:
GrandBasterd wrote:Great game.
It did seem like he played a too much hero ball twards the end, but 38 points against the leagues best defense is tremendous. Seems like he has incredible talent, will he continue to grow into it? Is he a rising star, or is he playing for a contract? I just haven't been following him and want more informed fans POV.

Isaiah always plays hard and wants to prove people wrong for always doubting him. His play has nothing to do with it being a contract year. He will always give 110%.

He won't shrink down into being half of what he is, or maybe even fall off at all, but I find it hard to believe any player in PRO basketball isn't somewhat influenced by their contractual status.

teerfour+40LG · Post #11 » by **teerfour+40LG** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 12:43 am

Isaiah is incredible. He was always this good. It's just that this year he's getting more minutes and has a real coach. His only weakness is basically his height and that he doesn't have that veteran PG savvy, which I'm pretty sure he will attain eventually.

diogo_pt · Post #12 » by **diogo_pt** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 5:58 am

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... game::none

Isaiah Thomas vs Kyrie Irving vs Damian Lillard

SacKingZZZ · Post #13 » by **SacKingZZZ** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 10:49 pm

IT is starting to dip a bit. He's shooting under 42% and under 33% from 3 for January. I'm going to guess he's hitting a bit of a wall. That and he's just cooling off as defenses are starting to really go after him. It's no coincidence this team is better when Gay and Cousins are the focus with IT being that push over the top. With IT and Gay around Cousins you have two guys that aren't legit full time number 1's but players that can be the number 1 when needed for stretches.

Post #14 » by **pillwenney** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 12:42 am

The thing is, this isn't completely new stuff. Isaiah has always been an efficient scorer. The step up he took this year has been impressive, but not really that out of nowhere.

He does still need work with running the team, and he still needs to do a bit more to maximize his (admittedly low) defensive potential. He makes some bad decisions, and definitely plays some hero ball. But he is still young. 24 isn't super young obviously, but it's young enough where he still has room to learn.

I just hope he continues to be underappreciated like he still is, so he can keep this massive chip on his shoulder.

blind prophet · Post #15 » by **blind prophet** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 1:46 am

pillwenney wrote:The thing is, this isn't completely new stuff. Isaiah has always been an efficient scorer. The step up he took this year has been impressive, but not really that out of nowhere.

He does still need work with running the team, and he still needs to do a bit more to maximize his (admittedly low) defensive potential. He makes some bad decisions, and definitely plays some hero ball. But he is still young. 24 isn't super young obviously, but it's young enough where he still has room to learn.

I just hope he continues to be underappreciated like he still is, so he can keep this massive chip on his shoulder.

Saving a few coins too maybe if we are lucky.

SacKingZZZ · Post #16 » by **SacKingZZZ** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 8:05 am

Great way to solve some problems would be to convince IT to spend more energy on defense and less trying to create his own shot. He has to work so hard to get his looks, probably has a lot to do with this downturn as of late.