Is the little guy a top 20 player in the NBA

[KG Living Legend]

 He's tied for 9th in the NBA is assists per game at 6.5.

 He's tied for 11th in the NBA in PPG at 22.1

 He's scored at least 20ppg in the last ten games in a row.

 The players avg at least 22 and 6.5 are

 Steph Curry
 James Harden
 Lebron James
 Russell Westbrook
 Damian Lillard
 Isaiah Thomas

 Tied for 12th in the NBA in win shares at 8.7 The best player on a 47 win team. Does he deserve talk of a top 20 player in our Leauge..

[Csfan1984]

No

[alldaboston]

I think we would need to make a list of top 15 players and then see whether IT is part of the next 5 best guys.

[Ilikesports17]

Im not sure if hes top 20 but hes a remarkable player and remarkable story and an inspiration for everyone. I hope we are able to get a ring with him. He absolutely deserves every award and accolade he gets.

Hes been doubted at every step and at every step he's proven people wrong.

What a trade.

[JSD]

Today's NBA it's all about guard play and so I think an argument can be made that IT is one of the best players in the NBA.

[chambers]

Good topic KG, TP.
I think he's very close if he isnt in the top 20.
He's definitely a top 15 offensive player considering his assists and points, and his defense has been pretty good without him being too much of a liability for the most part.
He's the best player with highest winshares and ppg on a top 10 NBA team, so yes, IMO he is a top 20 NBA player.
He could definitely be the 3rd best player on a championship team, maybe even the 2nd best with someone like Durant as a #1 option.

[KG Living Legend]

I think we would need to make a list of top 15 players and then see whether IT is part of the next 5 best guys.

 Curry
 Lebron
 Kawai
 Durant
 Westbrook
 Lillard
 Harden
 A Davis
 Paul George
 Chris Paul

 So there is 10 guys you would clearly take over Thomas. Here are some more names now it's not so easy to say I'd take then over Thomas.

 Cousin's Punk loser.
 Derozan
 Klay Thompson
 Butler
 Draymond Green
 John Wall
 Drummond
 Love
 Irving
 Wade
 Aldridge

 So that's 21 of the better players in the NBA. How many on the second list would you rather have over Thomas.

[Csfan1984]

I think we would need to make a list of top 15 players and then see whether IT is part of the next 5 best guys.

 Curry
 Lebron
 Kawai
 Durant
 Westbrook
 Lillard
 Harden
 A Davis
 Paul George
 Chris Paul

 So there is 10 guys you would clearly take over Thomas. Here are some more names now it's not so easy to say I'd take then over Thomas.

 Cousin's Punk loser.
 Derozan
 Klay Thompson
 Butler
 Draymond Green
 John Wall
 Drummond
 Love
 Irving
 Wade
 Aldridge

 So that's 21 of the better players in the NBA. How many on the second list would you rather have over Thomas.

All +BG and maybe another 2 or 3 guys

Edit add; the other guys I'd also put ahead of IT
Marc Gasol, Duncan, Lowry, KAT, Favors, Milsap, GA and Melo.

[Redz]

He moves up a few spots if you read the title denunciations "the little guy" in Tommy's raspy voice.

Better to compare him with his position.  He's definitely a unique guy who has flourished in his current situation.  The consistency of late has been particularly impressive. 

[slamtheking]

I think we would need to make a list of top 15 players and then see whether IT is part of the next 5 best guys.

 Curry
 Lebron
 Kawai
 Durant
 Westbrook
 Lillard
 Harden
 A Davis
 Paul George
 Chris Paul

 So there is 10 guys you would clearly take over Thomas. Here are some more names now it's not so easy to say I'd take then over Thomas.

 Cousin's Punk loser.
 Derozan
 Klay Thompson
 Butler
 Draymond Green
 John Wall
 Drummond
 Love
 Irving
 Wade
 Aldridge

 So that's 21 of the better players in the NBA. How many on the second list would you rather have over Thomas.

All +BG and maybe another 2 or 3 guys

Edit add; the other guys I'd also put ahead of IT
Marc Gasol, Duncan, Lowry, KAT, Favors, Milsap, GA and Melo.

Giannis?  no.  he hasn't proven anything yet.  the others, yes but KAT is getting there based on future projections.  Would add Horford, Milsap, Ibaka, Bosh, Hayward for sure.   Dirk if he was a little younger.     Probably Conley.  Maybe Parker based on his game savvy in crunch time.

Key consideration --> while IT is really something on the offensive end, he's still a defensive liability.  I'd gladly sacrifice some of the offense for a PG that provides a better all-around game-->better D, more of a passer than a shooter, able to provide help on the boards and isn't rendered an easy bucket in a post-up situation.

[Csfan1984]

I think we would need to make a list of top 15 players and then see whether IT is part of the next 5 best guys.

 Curry
 Lebron
 Kawai
 Durant
 Westbrook
 Lillard
 Harden
 A Davis
 Paul George
 Chris Paul

 So there is 10 guys you would clearly take over Thomas. Here are some more names now it's not so easy to say I'd take then over Thomas.

 Cousin's Punk loser.
 Derozan
 Klay Thompson
 Butler
 Draymond Green
 John Wall
 Drummond
 Love
 Irving
 Wade
 Aldridge

 So that's 21 of the better players in the NBA. How many on the second list would you rather have over Thomas.

All +BG and maybe another 2 or 3 guys

Edit add; the other guys I'd also put ahead of IT
Marc Gasol, Duncan, Lowry, KAT, Favors, Milsap, GA and Melo.

Giannis?  no.  he hasn't proven anything yet.  the others, yes but KAT is getting there based on future projections.  Would add Horford, Milsap, Ibaka, Bosh, Hayward for sure.   Dirk if he was a little younger.     Probably Conley.  Maybe Parker based on his game savvy in crunch time.

Key consideration --> while IT is really something on the offensive end, he's still a defensive liability.  I'd gladly sacrifice some of the offense for a PG that provides a better all-around game-->better D, more of a passer than a shooter, able to provide help on the boards and isn't rendered an easy bucket in a post-up situation.

GA and KAT are putting up #s right now though which is I would absolutely take them. Those others you listed are more like ties with IT for me so didn't list them. But good you added them to give them credit.

For me IT is a 25-35 range player because he is indeed a defensive liability and he good use better traditional PG play/style.

[PhoSita]

I think he's got an argument for the 15-20 range but so do a lot of guys.

[Timdawgg]

I think he is close but I am positive he is in the top 25.

[slamtheking]

I think we would need to make a list of top 15 players and then see whether IT is part of the next 5 best guys.

 Curry
 Lebron
 Kawai
 Durant
 Westbrook
 Lillard
 Harden
 A Davis
 Paul George
 Chris Paul

 So there is 10 guys you would clearly take over Thomas. Here are some more names now it's not so easy to say I'd take then over Thomas.

 Cousin's Punk loser.
 Derozan
 Klay Thompson
 Butler
 Draymond Green
 John Wall
 Drummond
 Love
 Irving
 Wade
 Aldridge

 So that's 21 of the better players in the NBA. How many on the second list would you rather have over Thomas.

All +BG and maybe another 2 or 3 guys

Edit add; the other guys I'd also put ahead of IT
Marc Gasol, Duncan, Lowry, KAT, Favors, Milsap, GA and Melo.

Giannis?  no.  he hasn't proven anything yet.  the others, yes but KAT is getting there based on future projections.  Would add Horford, Milsap, Ibaka, Bosh, Hayward for sure.   Dirk if he was a little younger.     Probably Conley.  Maybe Parker based on his game savvy in crunch time.

Key consideration --> while IT is really something on the offensive end, he's still a defensive liability.  I'd gladly sacrifice some of the offense for a PG that provides a better all-around game-->better D, more of a passer than a shooter, able to provide help on the boards and isn't rendered an easy bucket in a post-up situation.

GA and KAT are putting up #s right now though which is I would absolutely take them. Those others you listed are more like ties with IT for me so didn't list them. But good you added them to give them credit.

For me IT is a 25-35 range player because he is indeed a defensive liability and he good use better traditional PG play/style.

just based on the list we agreed on, IT is already down into the 40's and that's without really going through the league rosters.
Examples: Some regard Harrison Barnes as a prized player (I put him in the same bucket as GA).  Wiggins, Monroe, Bledsoe (when healthy).  Dwight (when healthy and motivated certainly is better).  Completely missed Blake Griffin who's obviously better.  Brook Lopez?  solid argument for him too.  Beal (when healthy, in the discussion but I'd have to be sold on him right now as better).   Deandre Jordan?  maybe - an argument could be made.

bottom line, IT may be the best/most important player on the C's but he's not a top player in the league and a lot of very good (and even some not so good) teams can boast of having someone (or multiple people) who are better.

[manl_lui]

I think he might be, he certainly is playing like one, I think he is averaging 25 and 8 right now which are all great numbers. I admit when rumors came up a few years ago when we offered Rondo for IT or even Curry (http://espn.go.com/boston/nba/story/_/id/7631850/sources-boston-celtics-aggressively-trying-trade-guard-rajon-rondo), I certainly said no both times...

or even Perk for Harden at first before accepting Green

I wonder if this means that Danny is good at talent evaluation? At that time, Rondo was an all-star, championship guard, IT was playing for a lowly Sac team, and Curry wasn't even MVP yet, and probably had ankle injury

Perk for Harden was pre-Rockets Harden