Fact or Fiction: Isaiah Thomas is now an NBA Superstar

[vjcsmoke]

Isaiah Thomas has shown the X factor to us time and time again this season.  Going off in the 4th quarter and winning us multiple games.  Going off for career highs of 44 and then 52 points just to top it!  Recently and convincingly winning a matchup against all-star point guard John Wall, 38 to 9.

Oh and by the way he is in the top 5 in the NBA in scoring as of today with 28.2 ppg.  Of the top 5 scorers in the NBA he has the highest 3 point shooting percentage at 37.8%.

Stats:
1   Russell Westbrook, PG   OKC   40   34.7   31.0   10.2-23.9   .427   2.0-6.2   .328   8.6-10.5   .819
2   Anthony Davis, PF   NO   37   37.1   29.1   10.5-21.2   .496   0.6-1.9   .300   7.6-9.5   .796
3   James Harden, SG   HOU   41   36.6   28.6   8.3-18.8   .443   3.1-8.9   .349   8.9-10.5   .846
4   Isaiah Thomas, PG   BOS   35   33.9   28.2   8.7-19.2   .456   2.8-7.4   .378   7.9-8.8   .906
    DeMar DeRozan, SG   TOR   38   35.7   28.2   10.1-21.4   .474   0.4-1.5   .246   7.6-8.9   .844

Does anyone doubt anymore that Thomas has arrived?

Forget his defense for the moment which is league average, which is an accomplishment for his size.

But regardless of size, Thomas steps up when it counts, and he scores as well as anybody in the game.

Give us another star to play with IT and Horford and we can legitimately contend for a title.  Poll question remains: in your eyes has IT turned the corner, is he an NBA super star?

[PhoSita]

We can always argue about what the term "superstar" means as opposed to simply "star."

I think it's clear he is a legitimate #1 scoring option. 

I think it's also clear he's a defensive liability.  However, plenty of other lead scoring guards in this league, given the way the game is played and officiated now, are defensive liabilities.


IT isn't good enough to carry a team on both ends, and he's probably not getting you past the second round as your clear cut best player.

But he's probably a top 20-30 player in the league, and he's really, really good.

[saltlover]

Fiction.

I think he's on his way, but he needs to carry a team through a post-season series, when the opppsing team tries to shut him down but can't, before he's arrived.

I expect that to happen in April and May, but until then, not quite. Now he's a star, but superstar requires more.

[Clench123]

He's a star but he's our superstar

[vjcsmoke]

Top 20-30?

I would argue top 10.  top 15 at worst.

Can you really name 10 other players you'd rather have the ball in their hands for the Celtics when we need points scored and the win?

Isaiah has become an elite NBA scorer.  The comparisons to Iverson are not amiss imo.

[moiso]

I just read an article on this topic on espn insider, I think.  The conclusion was that Thomas and Kyrie Irving are stars who are a notch below superstars Curry, Westbrook, and Paul because their defense is so bad.  The Cavs are literally no better with Irving on the court than they are with him on the bench or on the injured list. 

[hpantazo]

I just read an article on this topic on espn insider, I think.  The conclusion was that Thomas and Kyrie Irving are stars who are a notch below superstars Curry, Westbrook, and Paul because their defense is so bad.  The Cavs are literally no better with Irving on the court than they are with him on the bench or on the injured list.

That's a load of crap. Irving was a huge reason why they beat GSW in the finals. Huge.

As for IT, he's close, but as others said until he brings us deep into the playoffs he's not quite there yet.

[bdm860]

This is going to be a semantics argument about the term "superstar" but here's how I see it:

If you asked me if Thomas is now an All-Star lock - fact.
If you asked me if Thomas is now an All-NBA caliber player - fact
But is Thomas a superstar? - TBD.

Superstar in my book, you got to be able win a playoff series putting the team on your back.  Or in the very rare cases of guys like McGrady and Garnett at least put on a dominating performance while the rest of your team fails to come through.

If Thomas is healthy and the C's get knocked out in the 1st round, or get swept by TOR in the 2nd round, anything less than something like 30ppg from Thomas and I probably don't consider him a superstar.

[seancally]

I just read an article on this topic on espn insider, I think.  The conclusion was that Thomas and Kyrie Irving are stars who are a notch below superstars Curry, Westbrook, and Paul because their defense is so bad.  The Cavs are literally no better with Irving on the court than they are with him on the bench or on the injured list.

That's a load of crap. Irving was a huge reason why they beat GSW in the finals. Huge.

As for IT, he's close, but as others said until he brings us deep into the playoffs he's not quite there yet.

Yeah, I don't agree with that either - for one thing, Steph, Westbrook and Harden are not great defenders. You could argue they aren't even good ones.

[Moranis]

Thomas is not a superstar.  Those are special players, Thomas is not a special player.

[celticsclay]

Thomas is not a superstar.  Those are special players, Thomas is not a special player.

[celticsclay]

We can always argue about what the term "superstar" means as opposed to simply "star."

I think it's clear he is a legitimate #1 scoring option. 

I think it's also clear he's a defensive liability.  However, plenty of other lead scoring guards in this league, given the way the game is played and officiated now, are defensive liabilities.


IT isn't good enough to carry a team on both ends, and he's probably not getting you past the second round as your clear cut best player.

But he's probably a top 20-30 player in the league, and he's really, really good.

Thank you yet again for a nice level headed response

[PhoSita]

Thomas is not a superstar.  Those are special players, Thomas is not a special player.

I can accept the idea Thomas is not a "special" player, so long as we understand that the list of "special" players currently in the league is very short.

[Celtics18]

Tough crowd.

I say, yes, he's a superstar.

[celticsclay]

Thomas is not a superstar.  Those are special players, Thomas is not a special player.

I can accept the idea Thomas is not a "special" player, so long as we understand that the list of "special" players currently in the league is very short.

Moranis has him ranked about 65th in the league right behind sullinger.