Williams wins 6th man award (Thomas 2nd)

[Rondo9]

That sucks, but not surprising.

[nicknorman]

I think it was the right decision. Lou Willliams is a good defender. Thomas is a liability. The difference defensively is greater than the difference offensively.

But to me the 6th man has lately been less about defense and more about creating an offensive spark for the second unit. Jamal Crawford and JR Smith who both won it recently definitely didn't win it for their defense.

[Forza Juventus]

I think Isaiah should have won it but I've always been a big Lou Williams fan.

[biggs]

Such Brad Stevens

[Roy H.]

I think it was the right decision. Lou Willliams is a good defender. Thomas is a liability. The difference defensively is greater than the difference offensively.

But to me the 6th man has lately been less about defense and more about creating an offensive spark for the second unit. Jamal Crawford and JR Smith who both won it recently definitely didn't win it for their defense.

The offense was pretty close -- virtually identical, even -- if you look at their production per 100 possessions. 

You're right that defense has been largely discounted in favor of "spark plug" types of players, which is sad when you think that Kevin McHale was the quintessential Sixth Man.

[Ogaju]

One thing that may have affected IT is that he really is not a sixth man in the true sense of it. After he joined the Celtics he pretty much became the best player on the team. Just because the coach put him on the bench does not make him the a sixth man. You cannot put Westbrook or Durant on the bench and then grumble when some refuse to buy your 'tactic'.

I am not taking anything away from IT, in fact I am giving him a bigger honor when I argue that he means more to the Cs than just a 'role' player. He is the MAN on the Cs.

[viulo]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2436662-lou-williams-wins-nbas-2014-15-sixth-man-of-the-year-award

                      MPG  FG%  3P%  RPG  APG STLPG  PPG
Lou Williams: 25.2   .404  .340  1.9   2.1   1.1       15.5

Isaiah Thomas: 25.8  .421  .373  2.3  4.2  .9         16.4

This is an absolute robbery, especially when IT did it switching teams half-way through the year and leading his team to the playoffs.

The two were really close when you break it down on a per-possession, or even per-minute, basis:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&y1=2015&p1=thomais02&y2=2015&p2=willilo02&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=

I can't fault voters for going either way, and if playoff position was the deciding factor, I can respect that.

The per 100 possessions numbers show they're exactly the same: ORTG 114; DRTG 109.
So that disputes the fact that Thomas is more a liability in defense than Williams.

Plus, the argument that Toronto's record is better is also disputable:
Williams has 80 games this season - 48W, 32L - 60%
Thomas has 67 games this season - 40W, 27L - 59,7%

Ok, he played less games, and that may count for sth (although he can't be blamed for Wade injuring him...). But on the other hand, consider the 59,7% record in two teams that ended the season with a losing record. Could his impact have been bigger?...

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

One thing that may have affected IT is that he really is not a sixth man in the true sense of it. After he joined the Celtics he pretty much became the best player on the team. Just because the coach put him on the bench does not make him the a sixth man. You cannot put Westbrook or Durant on the bench and then grumble when some refuse to buy your 'tactic'.

I am not taking anything away from IT, in fact I am giving him a bigger honor when I argue that he means more to the Cs than just a 'role' player. He is the MAN on the Cs.

But what about Ginobili and Terry? Seems like those two could easily have been starters on their respective teams.

[Ogaju]

Ginobili and Terry did not win either.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Ginobili and Terry did not win either.

What I mean is, in the years they did win, it seems like they could've been starters.

[moiso]

One thing that may have affected IT is that he really is not a sixth man in the true sense of it. After he joined the Celtics he pretty much became the best player on the team. Just because the coach put him on the bench does not make him the a sixth man. You cannot put Westbrook or Durant on the bench and then grumble when some refuse to buy your 'tactic'.

I am not taking anything away from IT, in fact I am giving him a bigger honor when I argue that he means more to the Cs than just a 'role' player. He is the MAN on the Cs.

So he was too good to win?  I don't agree with that argument.  Most 6th man winners have been as good as starters in the years that they won, from McHale on down.