Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
When Isaiah Thomas made a 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter to continue his methodical dissection of the Pistons, one fan in The Palace’s lower bowl had seen enough.
“Hey,” he yelled, “play defense on that dude!”
Thomas finished with 34 points and six assists in 30 minutes, leading the Celtics to a 113-103 win. He once again looked like the player who had electrified TD Garden before missing eight games last month with a back bruise.
“We couldn’t contain Isaiah Thomas,” Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. “We could not keep him out of the paint. We couldn’t stop him one-on-one on drives or on pick-and-rolls.”
Over 18 games with Boston, Thomas is averaging 0.978 points per play as pick-and-roll ball handler, which places him in the 93rd percentile among all league players. For comparison’s sake — and to showcase just how much of a boost he’s provided there — Rajon Rondo averaged 0.576 points per play in 22 games for Boston while ranking in the 16th percentile earlier this season.
Thomas has also provided the fourth-quarter scoring Boston so clearly lacked in recent seasons. Entering Wednesday’s game, Thomas had scored 37.7 percent of his total points in the fourth quarter this season (385 out of 1,022). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that was the highest percentage among the 104 players who have scored at least 800 points this season, ahead of Jamal Crawford (36.7 percent) and Aaron Brooks (35.6).
Just look at Boston’s offensive rating. Before the All-Star break, the Celtics averaged 101.0 points per 100 possessions (23rd overall) over the first 51 games of the season. Since the All-Star break, the offensive rating has climbed to 102.6 (15th overall).
But here’s the stat that really pops: Boston’s offense is 7.3 points better per 100 possessions with Thomas on the court, and the number is even more pronounced when you focus on the 18 games he’s appeared in. The Celtics own an offensive rating of 108.8 when Thomas is on the court, and it nose-dives to 99.6 when he’s off.
Those statistics are staggering, but not surprising.
Anyone who has watched the Celtics regularly over the last few months knows the impact Isaiah Thomas is making on this team. I hate to say it but… Rajon who?
It’s simple. Thomas is a phenomenal offensive player. He can bomb away from 3 and get to the rim at will. He’s fully capable of carrying this team on any night (just ask Stan Van Gundy). These are 3 things I didn’t not know about Thomas prior to his arrival in Boston. He’s much better than I ever imagined.
Granted, he’s not Dennis Johnson on defense, but Brad Stevens has the luxury of pairing him with Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley.
The offensive dynamic of the back-court may change as Smart’s game evolves, but for right now, guard play is not a problem.
Related: Herald – Thomas leads C’s past Pistons | CSNNE – SVG: We couldn’t contain Isaiah
On Page 2, Brad Stevens is the anti Claude Julien.
Jared Sullinger was a starter when he suffered what was later learned to be a stress fracture in his left foot just before the All-Star break. But he’s a Celtics reserve now, and that’s where his coach says he’ll likely remain the rest of this season.
Brad Stevens would like to work him back into the mix, but with things going well, there is concern about messing with the formula.
Last night, Sullinger had four points in 10 minutes as the Celts took down Detroit, 113-103. He played just 3:45 in the second half as the C’s bench outscored its Pistons counterparts, 73-31.
“I’m just going to go with who’s playing well,” Stevens said. “You just kind of gauge and see who’s playing well, and we’ll roll like that. I don’t think there’s any reason to do anything but figure out who’s playing the best and go with that.”
No surprise here. Earlier this year we saw Brad Stevens ride his bench in crunch time of games when Rondo and Jeff Green weren’t going well.
Now Brad is keeping a rusty Sullinger on the bench while playing Brandon Bass and Jonas Jerebko. Bass certainly deserves the minutes (13.6 ppg, 56% FG and 6.3 rpg in March.
For those who don’t follow the Bruins, Julien is driving B’s fans insane with his line shuffling and reluctance to sit poor performing veterans.
In Brad, I trust.
And finally, LeBron James might rest the next two games… vs Boston.
Though not finalized, LeBron James hinted he’ll sit the next 2 games. Both are against Celtics so it could affect playoff race/seedings
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) April 9, 2015
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The Cavs clinched the 2nd seed in the Eastern conference last night and they cannot catch the Hawks. If Boston can hold off Brooklyn for the 7th seed (both are 36-42 but C’s own tie-breaker), they’ll meet Cleveland in the first round.
Yippee.
The rest of the links:
CSNNE – Celtics move into 7th place | Globe – Smart to play in 2 summer leagues | WEEI – 5 things we learned as Thomas, C’s motor past Pistons
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