Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul

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Who's Better?

Poll ended at Sun Oct 18, 2020 2:29 am

Isiah Thomas
53
32%
Chris Paul
111
68%
 
Total votes: 164

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Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#1 » by OGLife » Sat Jun 20, 2020 2:29 am

To me, Isiah is the most under appreciated guy to play the game.

Who do you got?
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#2 » by lakers2020 » Sat Jun 20, 2020 2:33 am

Not a fan of Chris Paul's antics but there is a solid argument that he's the best PG of all time when considering his advanced stats.

As it pertains to judging players, I feel championships are overrated, especially in this era of super-teams.
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#3 » by 70sFan » Sat Jun 20, 2020 5:39 am

Let's compare Thomas to Gus Williams instead.
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#4 » by Metallikid » Sat Jun 20, 2020 5:45 am

Chris Paul is one of the five greatest point guards of all time. Isiah isn't.
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#5 » by VanWest82 » Sat Jun 20, 2020 5:47 am

Isiah got it done when it counted. CP might be Isiah 2.0 in a lot of ways but he's come up short in some high profile moments whereas Zeke rose to the challenge twice. Zeke > CP just barely.
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#6 » by Roscoe Sheed » Sat Jun 20, 2020 5:53 am

VanWest82 wrote:Isiah got it done when it counted. CP might be Isiah 2.0 in a lot of ways but he's come up short in some high profile moments whereas Zeke rose to the challenge. Zeke > CP just barely.

As a huge clipper fan, it pains me to say that I think you are right. Cp3 is a more refined player,but Isiah had more of an explosive and tough side to him- game 6 of the 1988 finals is the best example of this. Also, game 5 vs the knicks which I think was in 1984.

Some of cp3’s playoff failures were due to bad luck (injuries, bad calls, and terrible shooters getting hot at the most inopportune time- josh smith and corey brewer), but Isiah just took charge more frequently at key moments.

Also, Isiah wasn’t as much of a ball hog as cp3. There were many times in critical moments when cp3 would dribble for far too long in crunch time resulting in turnovers or desperation shots
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#7 » by bran muffin » Sat Jun 20, 2020 5:55 am

lakers2020 wrote:Not a fan of Chris Paul's antics but there is a solid argument that he's the best PG of all time when considering his advanced stats.


How can you even call yourself a Lakers fan.
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#8 » by nfmos » Sat Jun 20, 2020 6:21 am

When we talk about comparisons, are we talking about one on one, or skills test wise? Or are we talking about who was better to build a team around for the long term? How much does the fact that players got tired of cp3 quickly play into the comparison? How about durability and leadership?

Im sure you guys see where im leaning, but does team success not matter at all?
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#9 » by illuminati666 » Sat Jun 20, 2020 6:23 am

CP3's playoff resume hurts him, but he's has better per game stats, better advanced numbers, better longevity... you gotta go with him.
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#10 » by Whopper_Sr » Sat Jun 20, 2020 6:33 am

Chris Paul is vastly superior offensively AND more impactful defensively.

Peak -> Paul by far
Prime -> Paul (08, 09, 11-18 > peak Isiah)
Longevity -> Obviously Paul

Paul is a top 20 all time player. Isiah is not even in the top 50. No contest.
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#11 » by getrichordie » Sat Jun 20, 2020 6:58 am

Paul.

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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#12 » by DaPessimist » Sat Jun 20, 2020 7:09 am

If I'm being honest, CP3 is the more talented and complete player.

That said, Zeke clearly has a large edge in intangibles, and I think I would pick him over CP3 for my franchise. Neither guy is going to carry your franchise to a title, and I prefer Zeke's leadership qualities as a #2 guy.
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#13 » by Roscoe Sheed » Sat Jun 20, 2020 7:13 am

DaPessimist wrote:If I'm being honest, CP3 is the more talented and complete player.

That said, Zeke clearly has a large edge in intangibles, and I think I would pick him over CP3 for my franchise. Neither guy is going to carry your franchise to a title, and I prefer Zeke's leadership qualities as a #2 guy.

I’m confused- Zeke was the best player on 2 championship teams
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#14 » by vxmike » Sat Jun 20, 2020 7:19 am

lakers2020 wrote:Not a fan of Chris Paul's antics but there is a solid argument that he's the best PG of all time when considering his advanced stats.

As it pertains to judging players, I feel championships are overrated, especially in this era of super-teams.


There’s a solid argument Chris Paul has the best advanced stats of any PG. I think stats are becoming overrated though. At some point winning matters and CP3 could never lead talented teams very far. I always felt he was a “safe” player who always made the right moves almost every time, but he lacks that extra gear when it really matters. He’s a small guard who isn’t really a primary offensive weapon and sometimes stifles offense by dribbling too much hunting for assists. There are numerous other PGs I’d take for a given quarter or close out playoff game.

I do agree rings aren’t the best metric in the super-team era.
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#15 » by GregOden » Sat Jun 20, 2020 7:40 am

Roscoe Sheed wrote:
DaPessimist wrote:If I'm being honest, CP3 is the more talented and complete player.

That said, Zeke clearly has a large edge in intangibles, and I think I would pick him over CP3 for my franchise. Neither guy is going to carry your franchise to a title, and I prefer Zeke's leadership qualities as a #2 guy.

I’m confused- Zeke was the best player on 2 championship teams


I was gonna say something about Billups, but then I saw your screen name. I realized your confusion was purely manufactured :lol:
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#16 » by Steven1562 » Sat Jun 20, 2020 7:46 am

Paul is gonna win in the advanced stats battle but 1 game for my life? I'm taking Isiah Thomas. I think sometimes people look at the stats and never look at the personality. Isiah was killer in crunch time and one tough sob. In the playoffs he had some crazy performances. 16 points in 90 seconds to tie the game against the Knicks in 84. 88 Finals on one leg of course. People forget Isiah was the best player on a 3-time finals appearance team and could have won 3 straight if that Kareem foul was never called. Does that matter at all ? or does PER and advanced stats mean everything?
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#17 » by In SVG We Trust » Sat Jun 20, 2020 7:52 am

Stockton and Paul are the most overrated players ever, and Isiah, Kobe and Iverson start to be underrated because of the advanced stats.

Advanced stats are very important and I think it helps a lot to analyze a player without a personal bias. But the advanced stats are still a work in progress in a lot of aspects.

What I'm trying to say is, we don't have any stat which can measure how you hurt your team for the shots you don't take.

I'll try to explain it: if you had a 5/15 in clutch possessions in a season, we all agree 33% is not a great %, but what if the rest of your team is 3/25 in those situations? You probably would help your team more taking that low % shot and making your stats worse.

Players like Paul or Stockton, who always play cerebral and don't take too much risky shots are overrated by advanced stats because stats don't penalize them for giving the ball to another player who could take a shot with so much worse success than them.

Also, longevity as well start to be a little bit overrated. Of course a longer and more consistent career should be pick over the shorter one, but if a guy tomorrow enter the league and he only plays for 3 years, averaging 40-20-20 and winning 3 rings, he should be considered for the GOAT for sure.
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#18 » by Rich Michmond » Sat Jun 20, 2020 7:54 am

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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#19 » by Amares » Sat Jun 20, 2020 12:25 pm

Paul was much better and it's not even close. Thomas is not top 50 player of all time while Paul is top 20, instead we can discuss Isiah vs. Billups for example. Would be at least relatively close.
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Re: Isiah Thomas vs Chris Paul 

Post#20 » by Mr Peanut » Sat Jun 20, 2020 12:46 pm

I find it amusing that people will use MJ's accolades to elevate him over LeBron, but in a similar situation here with Isiah and CP3 that rationale goes out the window.

I do agree though that talent wise CP3 probably has the edge, but the fact that Isiah guided his team to two championships whereas CP3 hasn't even sniffed the finals makes it hard to crown the latter.

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