The Amazingly Sucky Isaiah Thomas Thread

[FAH1223]

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[nate33]

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This narrative continues to annoy me. They act like Isaiah Thomas was really good for a while, and has merely fallen into a slump.

He was never THAT good to begin with. He was, by far, at his best in his first 10 games of action, but it's not like he was some juggernaut. Over the first 10 games, he averaged 13 points in 24 minutes of action (19.5 points per 36) with a TS% of .549, which is more than 1% below league average.

Then the scouting report came out and reminded everyone that Isaiah Thomas can't get around anyone and if he does he can't finish in the lane. Since then, as in for the past 25 games, Isaiah has averaged 12.2 points in 23 minutes (18 per 36) with a TS% of .502. That's AWFUL. But at least it comes with horrible defense!

[BigA]

Is IT continuing to start and play significant minutes just another incomprehensible Scott Brooks playing time decision? Is it possible that the Wizards made him some sort of promise about playing time when they signed him?

[FAH1223]

Is IT continuing to start and play significant minutes just another incomprehensible Scott Brooks playing time decision? Is it possible that the Wizards made him some sort of promise about playing time when they signed him?

Had to have made him a promise on playing time

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

I may be overstating it, but I think if IT weren’t on the team, we’d be fighting for a playoff spot. And perhaps that’s the answer. He really is a tank commander and Shepard and Brooks are truly angling for a lotto pick.

[nate33]

Is IT continuing to start and play significant minutes just another incomprehensible Scott Brooks playing time decision? Is it possible that the Wizards made him some sort of promise about playing time when they signed him?

Even if that's the case, at some point, you can't hold that promise.

What would be the consequences of going back on that promise? Isaiah's agent would bad mouth the Wizards for having the audacity to bench a horrifically bad player who would not get minutes on any roster in the league? So what?

I think the Wizards have demonstrated more than enough patience in trying to allow Isaiah to get into a rhythm. It's just not happening. It's become almost pitiful watching Isaiah get destroyed every night.

[TheBabyMaker]

Promises are made to be broken. Poof off IT, you're done as an NBA player. As a loyal Wiz fan I hate to watch games when hes on the floor I find myself turning the TV most of the time. Its that bad.

[nate33]

I just reread my posts and they come across as really harsh. Let me say for the record that I think Isaiah has had an impressive career and was truly amazing during that Boston run. He also seems like a great guy. But ever since those injuries sapped him of his athleticism, the truth is that he is no longer a viable NBA player. It's not his fault. Being 5'-9" (if that) in the NBA is an extraordinary handicap. It really is amazing how well he has been able to play for so many years. Unfortunately being 5'-9" and unathletic makes it completely impossible to be effective in this league.

[doclinkin]

I may be overstating it, but I think if IT weren’t on the team, we’d be fighting for a playoff spot. And perhaps that’s the answer. He really is a tank commander and Shepard and Brooks are truly angling for a lotto pick.

THIS and only this. Not overstating it at all. As bad as we are with IT we are only 4 games out of an 8 seed and are jostling for good losses with the Hornets Bulls Pistons and Cavs. The Magic and the Nets are in the playoffs despite carrying a losing record. The only teams we can't catch towards the bottom are the Knicks and Hawks. And that is with half our roster on IR. Soon we get back both our young Centers, our All-star Brad Beal, and at some point we let John Wall back on court with something to prove. We can't afford young energetic cats to get rowdy and accidentally win us some games against teams that are looking past us and using a Wizards game night as an opportunity to rest starters etc.

Notice, against good teams we play Ish Smith in the 4th and for heavier minutes. With IT we lose with dignity. He still hits a random hero ball shot, and players league wide still like the cat and respect him for his past so we look like good guys for sticking with the vet in the way Boston and the Cavs didn't.

If we catch fire late? We are at risk of climbing out of any lotto picks. Tommy is an elevated scout. He likes picks. Our best future involves picking better and smarter than anyone. No point losing the asset of a high pick to pick up meaningless wins in a lost season. IT is our best hope for a loss on any given night. And whose minutes is he taking? Whose development is stunted? Justin Robinson? He's not doing much in G League play.

I'm fine with IT doing whatever he is doing. Wins are not the mission this year.

[nate33]

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[payitforward]

Doc has quite a good point! Even with IT playing horribly, we have gone 5-5 in the last 10 games. Meanwhile, 2 of the 4 teams above us have gone 2-8 & the other 2 have gone 3-7.

I mean... if Brooklyn doesn't right its ship, we really could sneak into the #8 spot.

[nate33]

Doc has quite a good point! Even with IT playing horribly, we have gone 5-5 in the last 10 games. Meanwhile, 2 of the 4 teams above us have gone 2-8 & the other 2 have gone 3-7.

I mean... if Brooklyn doesn't right its ship, we really could sneak into the #8 spot.

With the new lottery odds, I'm not too enthused about tanking. I say we play as hard as we can (utilizing our youth) and see where the chips fall. I sincerely doubt we will make the playoffs, but if we do, I think the morale boost would be worth dropping from the 10th pick in the draft to the 15th.

[WallToWall]

Doc has quite a good point! Even with IT playing horribly, we have gone 5-5 in the last 10 games. Meanwhile, 2 of the 4 teams above us have gone 2-8 & the other 2 have gone 3-7.

I mean... if Brooklyn doesn't right its ship, we really could sneak into the #8 spot.

With the new lottery odds, I'm not too enthused about tanking. I say we play as hard as we can (utilizing our youth) and see where the chips fall. I sincerely doubt we will make the playoffs, but if we do, I think the morale boost would be worth dropping from the 10th pick in the draft to the 15th.

There is no point in being the best team not in the playoffs, as it gets us nothing. In fact, it hurts. So tank with dignity. I'd have the young guns play as many minutes as they can handle, and then turn it over to IT.

[closg00]

If IT was a 10-day players, or an un-drafted rookie, he would have been cut.

[Ruzious]

It's not like IT is the only problem on the team, but he is the giant 5'9 elephant in the middle of the room. This is really a test of Tommy - how soon and how well this situation is handled. It appears he made a promise of playing time - from what's been said by him. And if that's the case, it's up to Brooks to end this arrangement. The clear way to do that now is to cut him. I mean... even when he made 4 of 5 shots yesterday, it was obvious he's no longer an NBA level player. The longer this goes on, the worse this looks for Tommy.

[queridiculo]

It's not like IT is the only problem on the team, but he is the giant 5'9 elephant in the middle of the room. This is really a test of Tommy - how soon and how well this situation is handled. It appears he made a promise of playing time - from what's been said by him. And if that's the case, it's up to Brooks to end this arrangement. The clear way to do that now is to cut him. I mean... even when he made 4 of 5 shots yesterday, it was obvious he's no longer an NBA level player. The longer this goes on, the worse this looks for Tommy.

It really seems more like charity at this point than anything.

This and the Miles trade were predictable duds, not a good look when the Sheppard's veteran moves are highlighted by Ish Smith's 2 year $12 million deal.

[I_Like_Dirt]

Not that this is reason enough to keep him on the floor (I'm certainly not for it) but if I had to guess why he's still playing, it's probably because of positional defense. Thomas is a massive problem on defense but it's because of his size and strength, not his fundamentals. The team isn't exactly loaded with vets that play sound fundamental defense to try to push the younger players to emulate nor is it a direct comparison for any particular player but I imagine the message is probably to try to push guys to at least get to Thomas' level of defensive awareness to earn their PT - that it isn't enough simply to be more effective defensively because you're bigger, stronger and more athletic. That's usually the reason vets keep getting minutes well past their best before date.

[SUPERBALLMAN]

He's gotta go.

There's no reason to play him at this point. Give his roster spot and playing time to the young guys who have a shot to be here next year.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I DISAGREE WITH ALL WHO SAY HE'S GOT TO GO.

Why? In Hawaii there's a word, pono. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pono

I think this guy has heart. He's a good dude. He's coming off a double cross by the Celtics, a really bad injury, and three years ago the death of his sister. So, right now he is REALLY struggling. I think his offense is TEMPORARILY at an all-time low.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thomais02.html

I think the Wizards are not really trying to win any way, so let this guy have some dignity and let him keep shooting. His three-point shot is usually money. I think his latest injury is why he's really struggling. I think the right thing to do is to play him and let his struggle at least until the all star break and then maybe rest him for injury's sake.

I suspect Wall is going to return in February. Keep Thomas at least until if and when that happens. Ish Smith is already balling and Brooks knows who's playing better. So does Isaiah Thomas. But WHAT I RECALL is this little man LED THE ENTIRE NBA IN FOURTH QUARTER SCORING no less the 2-3 years ago.

Let him struggle a bit longer IMO. DO NOT CUT THIS GUY. Let him figure it out himself and be gracious.

I THINK he is going to find his offense soon. OR NOT.

[Ruzious]

I DISAGREE WITH ALL WHO SAY HE'S GOT TO GO.

Why? In Hawaii there's a word, pono. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pono

I think this guy has heart. He's a good dude. He's coming off a double cross by the Celtics, a really bad injury, and three years ago the death of his sister. So, right now he is REALLY struggling. I think his offense is TEMPORARILY at an all-time low.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thomais02.html

I think the Wizards are not really trying to win any way, so let this guy have some dignity and let him keep shooting. His three-point shot is usually money. I think his latest injury is why he's really struggling. I think the right thing to do is to play him and let his struggle at least until the all star break and then maybe rest him for injury's sake.

I suspect Wall is going to return in February. Keep Thomas at least until if and when that happens. Ish Smith is already balling and Brooks knows who's playing better. So does Isaiah Thomas. But WHAT I RECALL is this little man LED THE ENTIRE NBA IN FOURTH QUARTER SCORING no less the 2-3 years ago.

Let him struggle a bit longer IMO. DO NOT CUT THIS GUY. Let him figure it out himself and be gracious.

I THINK he is going to find his offense soon. OR NOT.

Not is the correct answer. He's not the same guy he was in Boston - and that's never going to change - he's lost 2 steps since then. There's nothing left to see. He used to have the quickness to penetrate and maneuver to make layups - now, he never makes them. Even when he makes his jump shots, he's hurting the team more than he helps it. He is statistically the worst defender in the NBA, and we see that every game - we're playing 4 on 5 on defense. On offense, he even has a lot of trouble making simple passes, because he ain't what he use to be.