Just how good is Celtics Isiah Thomas

mo2thewillyo · Post #1 » by **mo2thewillyo** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 5:31 am

Yes there is talk of the celtics going after a star/big name to add to be the face of the franchise.... and of course Isiah Thomas is no true #1 player on a contender... but do you all feel he'd even be good enough to be the 2nd best player on a championship contender? I'm just wondering how good people around the league really think his game is. Would it be a stretch to call him a poor man's pistons Isiah Thomas? Do you think Isiah isn't really all that great its just he happens to be the best player on the current roster with the way its constructed.

Would love to hear people talk about his game, anaylze him, ascess whether he truly he is a great player now and moving forward.

Infinite Llamas · Post #2 » by **Infinite Llamas** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 5:45 am

There are really no flaws in his offensive game. He can get by his man regularly (except when Rubio is defending him), is money from the corner 3, excellent finisher at the basket that's rarely blocked despite his size...and is a pretty good passer that routinely finds the open man. His ability to change speeds can really break down a defense and he has a sweet midrange game when the paint is congested. His ability to draw fouls is pretty elite too.

I think his defense isn't the best, but he certainly tries and can even keep his man in front of him due to his deceiving strength. As expected, he really can't contest shots or rebound, but the effort is always there and he seems to make the right rotations. Def not a "two way" player, but not as bad a defender as people often assume.

I really think he's a special player and the Celtics would be lucky to amass 25 wins if he didn't play on this team. No joke. The offense is soooooooo bad when he isn't in the game. He should be considered for All-NBA third team. He's the leader of a 45+ win team and the team follows him all the way.

laploutocratie · Post #3 » by **laploutocratie** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 5:47 am

Don't know; Isiah never played for the Celtics.

miz0217 · Post #4 » by **miz0217** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 5:55 am

offensively I'd say he can take over the game prob not on the level.of lebron harden curry or Durant but more like Lillard or lowry . I certainly think he's a top 20 player . plus his defence is looking slightly better than average this season. better close out defender . as good as he is . the celtics haven't just improved from him though the whole team is just very well coached by Brad stevens . his passing is highly underrated . I'd say Boston goes to second round if Thomas plays the way he does

thierry · Post #5 » by **thierry** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 5:59 am

He's around the 7th-10th best PG in the league

For sure better:
Curry
Paul
Lillard
Westbrook
Lowry
Wall

In his territory:
Walker
Bledsoe
Conley
Irving

DusterBuster · Post #6 » by **DusterBuster** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 8:19 am

thierry wrote:He's around the 7th-10th best PG in the league

For sure better:
Curry
Paul
Lillard
Westbrook
Lowry
Wall

In his territory:
Walker
Bledsoe
Conley
Irving

Yeah, I have him in that same 2nd tier group. Not an elite PG like the top 6 guys are, but somewhere in the just below group.

FlatearthZorro · Post #7 » by **FlatearthZorro** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 8:23 am

thierry wrote:He's around the 7th-10th best PG in the league

For sure better:
Curry
Paul
Lillard
Westbrook
Lowry
Wall

In his territory:
Walker
Bledsoe
Conley
Irving

How's Thomas a lesser player to Lillard and Wall? They are both not more efficient than him... I don't understand how you got these stats... At least this season, Thomas >>>> Lillard and Wall... Conley when healthy is better than Thomas, taller and a really well rounded player, same could be said about Bledsoe.
Irving is a chuker, never been a fan of his, he can't play a lick of defense. Without LeBron, Irving and Love will struggle to win 40 games in the East, which says a lot. On the other, without any superstars we got 46 wins so far.

Kemba and Thomas should basically be 1a/1b.

KnicksGadfly · Post #8 » by **KnicksGadfly** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 8:57 am

He doesn't need to be the #2 player with that ridiculous contract (but damn, he's good). Man, the Celts have some steals. Crowder, Thomas...

Revived · Post #9 » by **Revived** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 9:28 am

How good is Isaiah Thomas?

Well let's just say that without IT, the Celtics wouldn't need the Nets to get them Simmons/Ingram, they'd have been able to do it themselves with their own pick.

The Celtics have a roster that's basically offensively inept except for IT.

Johnny Firpo · Post #10 » by **Johnny Firpo** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 9:41 am

He is a borderline All-Star player so pretty good. I also think he has tremendous trade value at the moment. I would love to be the GM of that team right now, so many possibilities going for them.

chrismikayla · Post #11 » by **chrismikayla** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 9:55 am

He's in his 50s now so probably really rusty.

chrismikayla · Post #12 » by **chrismikayla** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 9:57 am

[quote="chrismikayla"]He's in his 50s now so probably really rusty. But seriously I saw him in person when he was with the Kings and it seemed like he was the best player on the floor for stretches.

dolphinatik · Post #13 » by **dolphinatik** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 11:15 am

overachiever, keep getting those checks

maybe im a hater but i feel that it is every NBA players job to be as good as Isaiah Thomas, good for him he keeps his skills up and works hard to be that good despite his size. However for small players he hasnt impressed me as much as a Nate Robinson but he does seem to fit the current Celtics and plays within their team concept better than a Nate could.

Post #14 » by **tsherkin** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 11:20 am

Little Zeke is pretty good, man. He's tiny as all hell, but he's quick, he's a lefty, and he's all right from 3. Slithery little thing, too. Isolates well. Passes well out of the PnR even if he isn't a brilliant scorer in that set (although he does get a bunch of 3s out of it). Complete, GARGANTUAN PITA to contain in transition. Nearly a quarter of his offense comes that way (4th-most transition possessions in the league behind Russ, Harden and Wall, similar proportion, too). Suuuuuper dangerous because he gets the ball and BOOM, he's gone, and will aggressively push.

Guy's good. Boston has a winner there, and just needs to flesh out the rest of the offense.

Kaykoose · Post #15 » by **Kaykoose** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 11:25 am

Johnny Firpo wrote:He is a borderline All-Star player so pretty good. I also think he has tremendous trade value at the moment. I would love to be the GM of that team right now, so many possibilities going for them.

Borderline? He was an all-star this year. And averages 22 pts/6 asts on a good team

Kaykoose · Post #16 » by **Kaykoose** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 11:27 am

dolphinatik wrote:overachiever, keep getting those checks

maybe im a hater but i feel that it is every NBA players job to be as good as Isaiah Thomas, good for him he keeps his skills up and works hard to be that good despite his size. However for small players he hasnt impressed me as much as a Nate Robinson but he does seem to fit the current Celtics and plays within their team concept better than a Nate could.

I can't wrap my head around this one. Is it the dunks that make Nate more impressive? Because Isaiah is significantly better in every other way

Johnny Firpo · Post #17 » by **Johnny Firpo** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 11:29 am

DatBoyWonder wrote:Borderline? He was an all-star this year. And averages 22 pts/6 asts on a good team

I did not watch the All-Star game, but my point wasn't really about him making or not making it. I used "borderline All-Star" as a measure of how good he is. He is at the level where borderline All-Stars are usually at. Not a clear-cut superstar, obviously, or a perennial All-star like VC or Bosh (just two examples) were, but a level below that. A very good player, a borderline All-star.

Johnny Firpo · Post #18 » by **Johnny Firpo** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 11:31 am

DatBoyWonder wrote:I can't wrap my head around this one. Is it the dunks that make Nate more impressive? Because Isaiah is significantly better in every other way

Yeah, he is better in basically every way from an offensive standpoint. I don't remember Robinson's defense, he may had been a better defensive player but there is no question that Thomas is the superior offensive player by any measure or stat, and I don't think it's close.

Post #19 » by **Froob** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 11:35 am

If he was average point guard height, people would probably gush all over him and he'd be making twice what he's making now at least. Even if he was just as good as he is now but taller.

MMyhre · Post #20 » by **MMyhre** » Thu Apr 7, 2016 11:38 am

Fantastic offensive player, heat up guy, hustles on defense and has been the main guy for a 47-50 wins team as a single All Star in a tougher East. I think he belongs in the same tier as Lowry & Lillard, below tier 1's Curry, Wb & CP3. He deserves 3rd team all nba this season, way better record than Lillard, and Wall shouldn't even be in the conversation. **** record and a down year, he should be better. Just my five cents.