Prior to the start of the NBA Season, was there any analyst out there who truly believed that the Boston Celtics could make the playoffs this season? Probably not. But surprisingly, the Celtics have had a far better season than expected. They are 25-36 and the eighth seed in the East is still within striking distance. They are two games out of the final playoff spot, and while it will be difficult for them to get the spot, not all hope is lost. With the acquisition of Isaiah Thomas at the trade deadline, the Celtics have been able to find their identity.
Isaiah Thomas is a solid player. He can run the point, and has the ability to play the two guard. After Thomas was able to get out of Sacramento and join the Phoenix Suns, he had the opportunity to show the league who he really is. But with the guard trio of Thomas/Eric Bledsoe/Goran Dragic, he wasn’t really able to show his true potential. Yes, he averaged 15 points per game, but there was still room for improvement. He didn’t really have the chance to run the show with Gragic and Bledsoe in front of him and so it was an adjustment he had to make.
Even though Thomas was traded from a win-now team to a club that is rebuilding, the chance for success as a player was high. He is a veteran, and is the perfect fit for this young Celtics team. While Thomas is still relatively young player, he has been in this league enough to know what it’s all about. He can also be a mentor for Marcus Smart. He also takes over at the a spot that was undermanned after the Celtics moved Rajon Ronda to the Dallas Mavericks earlier in the year.
Since Thomas was traded to the Celtics, his numbers have skyrocketed. He is averaging 21 points and just under 6 assists per game. While he does wish to start, coach Brad Stevens feels it is best for Thomas to come off the bench. That said Thomas is on the court at the end of games and is the go-to guy in crunch time for the Celtics.
With all of this going on, Isaiah Thomas has moved himself into the 6th man of the year conversation. He is a very talented player, and the Celtics made the right move by getting him. He could very well be in Boston for years to come.
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