Stevens on Isaiah "Our team is different when IT's got the Ball"

[KG Living Legend]

to one of the biggest guys in the Boston Celtics' locker room to boil down Isaiah Thomas' All-Star candidacy.

"The guy averages 20 [points] and 7 [assists] and he's 5-foot-2 -- how do you not put somebody like that in the All-Star Game?" Jared Sullinger wondered after Thomas's late-game efforts lifted the Celtics to a 110-101 triumph over the Chicago Bulls on Friday at TD Garden.

Before Friday's tilt, the Celtics distributed a one-sheet titled, "Isaiah Thomas, All-Star Candidate" that detailed key statistical reasons for Thomas' inclusion in next month's game in Toronto. It noted how Thomas is:

" The only player in the league averaging 20-plus points, 6-plus assists, and fewer than 3 turnovers per game.

" Second among Eastern Conference guards in Player Efficiency Rating at 21.8 (trailing only fan-voted starter Kyle Lowry, 22.9).

" Third in the East in scoring per 48 minutes at 31.9 points (trailing only LeBron James at 33.7 and Paul George at 32.1).

" One of six players in the NBA to average better than 20 points and 6.5 assists per game (Damian Lillard, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and Lowry the others).

" One of seven players to record five 30-plus-point games this season (James, George, Reggie Jackson, Kemba Walker, Jimmy Butler and DeMar DeRozan the others)

And yet the sheet might have left off one of the more compelling reason that East coaches should consider Thomas when they vote by Tuesday on seven reserves, including two backcourt players and two wild-card selections: Thomas' crunch-time play.

[KG Living Legend]

 ESPN Boston

[KG Living Legend]

 With Stevens making these type of comments about Isaiah.

 What if we added Jaylen Brown from Cal with the Brooklyn pick, and Caris Levert from Michigan.

 I wonder if Stevens had three dynamic scorers, handlers, and passers, what the offense would look like in time when Brad gets some more talent.

 This is going to get interestesting fast over the next  couple years. I hope Danny listens to what Brad likes.

[KG Living Legend]

 What about what Coach said anyone.

[walker834]

Our pg is taking care of possessions.  We have the #1 offense in the east as far as scoring for a reason.  His assists have been going up as the season goes too it seems like to me.  And he one day may get respect from the officials.

[walker834]

I don't think we need more guards.  We have Marcus and Bradley plus a lot of young guys.

[KG Living Legend]

 But what about adding another dynamic guard or Forward that is explosive with the ball in his hands, wouldn't that make us even more dangerous having two playmakers that can drive, dish and score.

[walker834]

 I was just going to add that Jaylen Brown is really nice.  He is a physical bully but so is Marcus.  Neither guy can shoot right now. 

I think Brown could potentially be better than Bradley but Brown is more like a JRich type of player who can bomb and play physical.  Marcus is going to be that too though plus he can backup the point.

It's going to take Brown a bit.  I like Rozier better in ways to be honest. We have so many guards.

Rozier will be better than Brown next year.

[Smitty77]

With what Kemba Walker has done of late and IT putting up pedestrian numbers by comparison, I think Kemba beats him out this year.

I think that will be great as being an All-Star might make IT even MORE arrogant.  I want him to stay hungry as someone else said earlier!!

Smitty77

[walker834]

Look at Rozier.   He can shoot it. He has a feathery touch on his shot and looks real good.  He's somewhat undersized too but real quick and physical himself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_RMjKK1pA4

[BudweiserCeltic]

With what Kemba Walker has done of late and IT putting up pedestrian numbers by comparison, I think Kemba beats him out this year.

I think that will be great as being an All-Star might make IT even MORE arrogant.  I want him to stay hungry as someone else said earlier!!

Smitty77

You mean, two games in particular... one which went to double over time, and another that went to overtime as well.

Not to take anything away from what he did. But calling what Thomas has done recently to be pedestrian vs. what Walker has done in comparison completely misses the mark.

His monthly number are on par to what Thomas has put up, Thomas assisting more, Walker rebounding more.

For the season, Thomas still has the edge.

[Chris22]

Our team is different when Isaiah has the ball, because he is a real point guard.
Marcus is not a point guard.
I would like to see Rozier backup the point with Marcus at the two.