Does Isah Thomas start? Bradley or Smart to the bench?

[Evantime34]

I think you have to bring Thomas off the bench due to his defense.

He still will play a lot and get a ton of shots up.

[rondohondo]

I know per isn't evrything, but for the last few years Thomas has a per of about 20

He is scoring 15ppg this year on 43% fg, 40% 3's, 87% FT's in only 25 mpg

He is such an explosive scorer on a very good contract

Can't see how anyone doesn't like this move....

[jpotter33]

I think Stevens likes and has more trust in Bradley. If Thomas does start then it's going to be along side Bradley(for now).

I think it's funny how we went from having one of the better defensive back-courts to one of the smallest.

You almost have to start Smart alongside one of those two due to height concerns. No way that 5'9" Thomas can start with 6'2" Bradley without us getting taken advantage of.

Smart is 6'4" at 220 lb, he's a tad bit taller but a whole lot stronger...not sure if with shoes or not
Smart and Bradley are pretty much the same size, and Bradley isn't 6'2.

whoops, I quoted wrong, I was responding to the person mentioning Smart and Bradley being the same

That's me.

Yes, he's stronger, but not much taller (Bradley is 6'3). So starting one or the other is pretty much a wash. I'd rather have Smart start either way.

I prefer Smart, too. But I remember reading somewhere that Bradley is no bigger 6'2" in shoes, but the team lists him bigger.

[jay]

While Sullinger is out, I would like to see them go small:


Thomas  Pressey
Bradley  Turner
Smart  Young
Bass  Crowder  Jerebko
Zeller  Olynyk 

(Randolph, Wallace, Datome = bench)

[Ed Hollison]

I think he's a good fit in the backcourt with Smart, and I see no reason why he couldn't start.

On offense: IT the primary ball handler, good initiating the pick and roll. Smart struggles in the pick and roll but good spot up shooter from distance.


On defense: Smart big and strong enough to cover shooting guards. Let Smart take the bigger or more dangerous of the backcourt assignments when he's on the floor with IT.

As for a second unit, I would agree that playing IT with Bradley would be too small and would risk being eaten alive on defense. However, you could pair Bradley with Turner, and let Turner handle the ball and Bradley play off the ball on offense, while letting Turner take the bigger of the defensive backcourt assignments.

In total, a good fit. And if IT proves to be just a scoring spark plug off the bench... fine, he's making pretty modest money by current nba standards.

[Tr1boy]

Last season he shot at 45 per, 35 per 3 pt shooting, 20ppg as a starter

And he had some big games.     He should get more min than he did with phoenix

I can also totally see Thomas, Ab, Smart trio playing together when CBS decides to go small, especially late in games

[LooseCannon]

I think Stevens is the kind of guy who will show loyalty towards Smart/Bradley and keep them in the starting lineup, while slowly working Thomas into the rotation.  By the end of the season, you might see any combination of the three and sometimes all of them on the floor at the same time finishing close games, depending on matchups.

[DraftSmart33]

I'd like to see....

Thomas
Smart
Turner
Bass
Zeller

w/AB refocused on D and the 6th man role
Crowder effort off the bench
Olynyk scoring off the bench
Young getting any extra minute off the bench possible

Sully refocused on a diet

[CelticSooner]

While the rest of the league stocks up on 7 ft center

The Celtics trade for midgets 

You'll change your mind within a few months. 

[Rosco917]

We have quite a few guards, AB, Smart, Turner, Pressey, Thomas, Young.

I think eventually it will be Smart and Thomas as the starters. But Thomas would also make a nice spark off the bench to increase pace.

[Who]

I think you have to bring Thomas off the bench due to his defense.

+1

[DraftSmart33]

I hope we use Thomas/Smart and have Smart lock down the opposing point...we then can use Bradley to rest Smart and maintain pressure on the ball handler on the other team. 

[chambers]

I think Thomas starts simply because he's the best player on our team now- he'll also be a vocal leader which we need now that Rondo's gone. Smart is a leader but Smart leads with his play and doesn't have the confidence in his NBA game yet to tell his team mates what to do in a polite way.

If we're going to make a serious push for the 8th seed then we'll probably go with:

IT
Smart
Turner
Sullinger
Zeller

Bradley
Olynyk
Young
Bass
Crowder
Jerebko
Wallace
Datome

Do we need to waive any players (Pressey) to make this  Detroit trade work?

[DesertDweller]

This is absolutely brilliant on Ainge's part.  he has made this team very versatile for the rest of this year keeping that light burning for the fans while at the same time keeping it simple and easy for him to switch players around thus giving our young talent the minutes they need. if the players we have work out he can still trade Thomas next year.

[vjcsmoke]

LOL, you would put Smart on the bench for Isiah Thomas?  Wow.  Just wow.
No way.  I see IT as a 6th man/sparkplug scorer.  But he's not a starter at the NBA level.
If he is your starter, then you're in trouble.

Isah Thomas is probably one of the bst 3rd guards in the league, but on this roster wouldn't it make more sense for him to start? He gives us much more fire power and allows Smart to continue his catch and shoot offense, while being bigger than AB to guard SG'S.

We have evan turner to play PG off the bench with AB being able to defend backup pg's or tired starters , while Turner guards the sg's .

Thoughts?