IT is 12th in NBA in PER stat

[detour]

I saw that on twitter (@EnigmatikBGDB). According to basketball reference, current PER leaders (excluding guys who played just a couple of minutes):

Paul 31.5
Westbrook 31.2
Harden 30.2
DeRozan 30.0
AD 29.8
Kemba 29.0
Durant 29.0
Butler 28.6
Kawhi 28.2
Curry 28.0
Cousins 27.6
IT 26.7
Lillard 26.4
Hill 26.1
Antetokounmpo 26.0
LeBron 25.4
Griffin 24.9
Whiteside 24.1
Conley 24.0
Wall 23.6

This is not a definitive list of current player value but interesting. I posted this because, for example, I am not a fan of giving Isaiah max going forward, but sometimes we tend to underrate how valuable he is.

[Chris22]

IT is a very good player and incredibly brave.

[Rosco917]

The Celtics depend much too much on the offensive scoring production of Thomas win basketball games. The Celtics are an easy team to prepare for in a series.

Simple, concentrate on IT, let the remaining Celtics beat you.

I agree his stats are impressive.

[LarBrd33]

Thomas has been amazing.  His scoring is up, but so is his efficiency.  In terms of pure stats, he's been the #17 best player in the league in EFF.  Avery Bradley has been 29th... huge start from both of them.

[alldaboston]

The Celtics depend much too much on the offensive scoring production of Thomas win basketball games. The Celtics are an easy team to prepare for in a series.

Simple, concentrate on IT, let the remaining Celtics beat you.

I agree his stats are impressive.

I don't like this take as a fan, but you're somewhat correct unfortunately.

Unless, of course, players like Avery and Jae, Kelly, and Marcus can take the next step (Avery has already started doing this). And with guys like Horford now in the mix, there's more options around Isaiah, and more options that the defense has to watch out for. If we had a player like Turner this year off the bench, in addition to the guys we already have, we would be very tough to stop in a series. Still, we have a few improved options around Isaiah this year.

[GreenWarrior]

AB's jumper and scoring disappears in the playoffs/big games. his offense is way too inconsistent.

[alldaboston]

AB's jumper and scoring disappears in the playoffs/big games. his offense is way too inconsistent.

well, he was injured all of last season vs. atlanta series

but he also seems like he's improved the ways that he can score. so, how about we see whether he disappears this year in "big games", or not?

[Phantom255x]

You think IT could "settle" on something like 22-24M/Year to stay here in Boston.

Not a max-contract, but hopefully he would be okay taking a small hometown discount to stay?

C's do have his bird rights as well.

[alldaboston]

You think IT could "settle" on something like 22-24M/Year to stay here in Boston.

Not a max-contract, but hopefully he would be okay taking a small hometown discount to stay?

C's do have his bird rights as well.

I think so. I've laid out my thoughts on his contract situation before a few times, so I'm not gonna go too into detail, but essentiallly, it comes down to this: no team is willing to pay him a max contract for the same reasons that we aren't willing to pay him a max contract. Also, most teams in the league already have their franchise point guard for the next several years. This is also the first city that has legitimately loved Isaiah and taken him in and helped make him who he is as a player today. Isaiah knows that last part too. All of these factor are why I think Isaiah will strongly want to be back here, and since the rest of the league has a franchise PG and/or is wary of paying The Little Guy max money, he will resign in Boston, posssibly with, like you said, a home town discount too.

[jambr380]

The Celtics depend much too much on the offensive scoring production of Thomas win basketball games. The Celtics are an easy team to prepare for in a series.

Simple, concentrate on IT, let the remaining Celtics beat you.

I agree his stats are impressive.

I don't like this take as a fan, but you're somewhat correct unfortunately.

Unless, of course, players like Avery and Jae, Kelly, and Marcus can take the next step (Avery has already started doing this). And with guys like Horford now in the mix, there's more options around Isaiah, and more options that the defense has to watch out for. If we had a player like Turner this year off the bench, in addition to the guys we already have, we would be very tough to stop in a series. Still, we have a few improved options around Isaiah this year.

People sometimes forget that these players were not available (or barely available) in the Atlanta series last year. I am not saying it cost us a chance at getting Durant as he seemed to have already made up his mind, but losing a series we likely would have won with a healthy squad was at least a little anti-climactic.

Hopefully we will get Horford and Crowder back soon and show that we are a dynamic team to be recokoned with and not so dependent on IT.

[GreenWarrior]

AB's jumper and scoring disappears in the playoffs/big games. his offense is way too inconsistent.

well, he was injured all of last season vs. atlanta series

but he also seems like he's improved the ways that he can score. so, how about we see whether he disappears this year in "big games", or not?

what happened last night?

I keep hearing about his improved vision and ability to pass the ball but the more I see the less I want to see the ball in his hands.

[alldaboston]

AB's jumper and scoring disappears in the playoffs/big games. his offense is way too inconsistent.

well, he was injured all of last season vs. atlanta series

but he also seems like he's improved the ways that he can score. so, how about we see whether he disappears this year in "big games", or not?

what happened last night?

I keep hearing about his improved vision and ability to pass the ball but the more I see the less I want to see the ball in his hands.

are you seriously blaming the loss on Avery??

also, i guess you want none of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0c4fvl3GFQ

did you want to lose by 50?

[GreenWarrior]

AB's jumper and scoring disappears in the playoffs/big games. his offense is way too inconsistent.

well, he was injured all of last season vs. atlanta series

but he also seems like he's improved the ways that he can score. so, how about we see whether he disappears this year in "big games", or not?

what happened last night?

I keep hearing about his improved vision and ability to pass the ball but the more I see the less I want to see the ball in his hands.

are you seriously blaming the loss on Avery??

also, i guess you want none of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0c4fvl3GFQ

did you want to lose by 50?

a highlight reel... ?

[alldaboston]

AB's jumper and scoring disappears in the playoffs/big games. his offense is way too inconsistent.

well, he was injured all of last season vs. atlanta series

but he also seems like he's improved the ways that he can score. so, how about we see whether he disappears this year in "big games", or not?

what happened last night?

I keep hearing about his improved vision and ability to pass the ball but the more I see the less I want to see the ball in his hands.

are you seriously blaming the loss on Avery??

also, i guess you want none of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0c4fvl3GFQ

did you want to lose by 50?

a highlight reel... ?

"the more i see..."

you're seeing the wrong things.