Concerns regarding Thomas

[kozlodoev]

Simmons joked that Thomas would be the next Tiny Archibald.  Tiny Archibald was 4 inches taller than Thomas.   Thomas is in the Earl Boykins, Nate Robinson, Spud Webb, Muggsy Bogues gimmick mini-guard category. Those guys never last as starters, but they are a lot of fun to root for.

Should he be grouped with guys like Boykins and Bogues, or with 5'10" guys like Avery Johnson (637 GS in 1054 G) or Damon Stoudemire (793 GS in 878 G)?

I don't know... he's tied for the 13th shortest player in NBA history, but in his defense he's the shortest player ever to participate in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge... so he's got that going for him.

Dude averaged 20 ppg. That's sick.

The 5-foot-9 Thomas has potential to give Boston's offense a big-time jolt. In his final season with Sacramento during the 2013-14 campaign, Thomas averaged 20.3 points and 6.3 assists over 34.7 minutes per game. Despite playing only 25.7 minutes per game this season in Phoenix's overstocked backcourt, he still averaged 15.2 points on four fewer shots per game and his 3-point percentage climbed to a career-best 39.1 percent.

http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blogpost?blogname=bostonceltics&id=4717860&city=boston

Thomas is certainly a capable scorer, but it's worth noting we just traded the Isiah Thomas cautionary tale to get Isiah Thoma. Marcus Thornton also had a couple of very good scoring seasons on a pretty awful Sacramento team.

Still, I do think that Thomas is automatically the best player on this roster and our coaching staff should plan accordingly.

[GranTur]

PG: Thomas
SG: Bradley
SF: Turner
PF: Bass
C: Zeller

With Sully out, that's probably the starting line-up. This is the most traditional basketball starting line-up the Celtics have had in a while.

Both of Danny's trades were good for the team short and long-term. Thomas is a surprisingly efficient player that fits well with Bradley and Smart. I've always been high on IT, and I'm happy to see him a Celtic.

I'm also excited to see Thomas play with Kelly and Young, two of our developing players with great jumpshots. Smart is improving his offense and hopefully can learn a lot from IT who is a professional scorer.

[Fafnir]

I'm not worried about Thomas being like Thorton. He's had a better and more varied offensive game his entire career. In particular he takes a lot more 3s and gets to the line more (due to his driving when he's not bombing from deep)

They both might end up being net neutral players due to defensive limitations, but that's the main similarity I see.

[csfansince60s]

Still, I do think that Thomas is automatically the best player on this roster and our coaching staff should plan accordingly.

Agree....at a bargain price.

Best at the P&R, best PER, best ball handler,best scorer, best FT shooter, best 3pt shooter, quickest player.

Zeller will be a huge beneficiary of ITs P&R skills, as will Bass with the pick and pop.

Speed kills. IT will be the first electrifying player we will have had since playoff Rondo.

EDIT: Don't understand the dislike for this guy. Others say "malcontent", "ballhog". Jeez, why don't they give the guy a chance and figure BS and Danny will give him every opportunity to play the right way.

[C-Green]

He address an enormous need on offense for an extremely good price now and in the future. No, he isn't a rim protector but at least he can create his own shot and utilize the pick and roll which will benefit Sully, Zeller and Olynyk hugely.

What is his status for tonight? Is he playing??

[droopdog7]

Okay, so reading between the lines, lots of people seem to be concerned that Thomas will take playing time from smart.  And, he will.

Bottom line is, smart needs to be good enough. If he isn't, he isn't.

[Fafnir]

Okay, so reading between the lines, lots of people seem to be concerned that Thomas will take playing time from smart.  And, he will.

Bottom line is, smart needs to be good enough. If he isn't, he isn't.

Eh you can be a great player and have your development stunted by being put into a minor role or just kept from handling the ball much, etc. etc.

I think Smart will have plenty of opportunities, but players don't succeed or fail entirely on their own talent. Fit, coaching, and enviroment matter a lot.

[csfansince60s]

I think for the cost it was a very easy decision.  We didn't give up anything for a guy who can produce on a cheap contract........

......  Thomas makes a lot of sense on our team.  He will help a lot with an ability to consistently score.  I'm interested to see how Avery responds.

I think AB responds really well.....like Sully welcomed ET because of his Buckeye roots, AB and IT have a Washington state commonality:

All the statistics in the world could not be better than this: Avery Bradley and Isaiah Thomas are good childhood friends as they grew up together in Tacoma, Washington. Though the two went to different High School?s, they grew up together on the basketball courts of Tacoma and were always rooting for each other?s success. Bradley and Thomas share the unique distinction of being the only two basketball players to make it to the NBA out of Tacoma, Washington. Bradley looked up to Thomas growing up as Thomas was two years his senior. When asked about Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley replied, ?Yeah that?s my guy. Me and Isaiah have known each other since we were young.? Both played on the same AAU Basketball team as children and now, the two will get the amazing opportunity to play on the same NBA team, the Boston Celtics.

http://www.truschoolsports.com/2015/02/isaiah-thomas-is-a-perfect-fit-for-the-boston-celtics/

I can't wait to see him play in green.

[Kuberski33]

Start Thomas and give him the ball.

More important than starting, I want him on the court to finish games.  He'll get plenty of run from CBS.  As another poster pointed out, he's probably our best scorer.  Plus I think the coach will make it a point to have him paired with Zeller as much as possible.

[slamtheking]

My concerns are that he looks for his own shot a bit too much (even at the expense of better players), and his defense is quite poor.

This is my concern as well.   I see him as the anti-Rondo.  shoot-first, pass-second type of PG.  on a team with shooting woes, this isn't as big a concern but if Danny starts to bring in the better players we all want, I'm wondering if he fits at that point.

Throw in the fact that his size would make him an easy target for bigger PGs to post up, I truly wonder what the fascination is with him as a player.

[droopdog7]

Okay, so reading between the lines, lots of people seem to be concerned that Thomas will take playing time from smart.  And, he will.

Bottom line is, smart needs to be good enough. If he isn't, he isn't.

Eh you can be a great player and have your development stunted by being put into a minor role or just kept from handling the ball much, etc. etc.

I think Smart will have plenty of opportunities, but players don't succeed or fail entirely on their own talent. Fit, coaching, and enviroment matter a lot.

Disagree wholeheartedly.  "Great" players succeed no matter what.  As they say, cream rises to the top.  It's the specialist role player types that depend heavily on the situation. 

So what will smart be?  If he's the star many want him to be, then thomas is insignificant.  If he isn't, then I see the concern.

[Fafnir]

Okay, so reading between the lines, lots of people seem to be concerned that Thomas will take playing time from smart.  And, he will.

Bottom line is, smart needs to be good enough. If he isn't, he isn't.

Eh you can be a great player and have your development stunted by being put into a minor role or just kept from handling the ball much, etc. etc.

I think Smart will have plenty of opportunities, but players don't succeed or fail entirely on their own talent. Fit, coaching, and enviroment matter a lot.

Disagree wholeheartedly.  "Great" players succeed no matter what.  As they say, cream rises to the top.  It's the specialist role player types that depend heavily on the situation. 

So what will smart be?  If he's the star many want him to be, then thomas is insignificant.  If he isn't, then I see the concern.

Great talents fail all the time, often until they find the right coach or situation. Enviroment and opportunity matter a lot, and when you're dealing with high stakes situations like the NBA you need to maximize a talent's chances.

It is hindsight silliness of saying that all great players succeed no matter what because you know they're great because you've seen them be great. So of course they'd have been great anywhere.

[IDreamCeltics]

Celtics fans are going to love this guy. 

His arsenal of floaters, high off the glass lay-ins, three point shooting, and unguardable crossovers is going to open a LOT of eyes in Boston. 

Also, playing alongside either AB or Marcus Smart could not be more ideal for Thomas.  Perfect situation for both the player and the team. 
     

 

   

[Fafnir]

Throw in the fact that his size would make him an easy target for bigger PGs to post up, I truly wonder what the fascination is with him as a player.

I don't worry about post ups as much as poor length in rotations and contesting shots and passing angles. If you haven't seen him play much, think Ty Lawson's issues. Even small guards like Bradley can shoot right over him without an issue.

Plus he gives some pretty poor effort on that end too.

[Evantime34]

I don't think you should start him but does it really matter? He is going to play 30-35 minutes a game and shoot to his heart's content.

The C's really struggle to create their own shots and score in the pick and roll. Just like Marcus Thornton was encouraged to take a lot of shots, so will Thomas, except Thomas is going to play more and have the ball in his hands the entire time he is in the game.

This season the C's main offense has been run a pick and roll near the side line, then when the defenders help swing the ball to get a shooting lane. With Thomas I expect the C's to run a lot of middle pick and rolls that lead to immediate points.