Boston Celtics: Should Isaiah Thomas Be A Regular Starter?

Isaiah Thomas is the leading scorer for the Boston Celtics this season by averaging 20.8 points per game, and he is even getting more opportunities to score so far this season because he has been put into the starting lineup for eight out of 11 games.

Thomas did not start in the first three games of the season because the Celtics had a fully healthy starting backcourt with Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley, but once Smart got injured for their contest with the Indiana Pacers on Nov. 4, the former sixth man has not left the starting lineup.

Between the Smart injury and Bradley injury, Thomas has started the past eight games for the Celtics. Boston has gone 5-3 with Thomas in the starting lineup, and in two of their losses, either Smart or Bradley were out.

Thomas started in 21 regular season games for the Celtics last season. He also never started in a playoff game last season, but the Celtics have found some success with him in the starting lineup this season. So should the team stick with Thomas as the starting point guard or go back to their prior starting lineup?

Backcourt Breakdown

Thomas has been on a tear for the Celtics so far this season, clearly showing that he is go-to scorer for the team, but he’s also becoming a great facilitator for Boston, averaging 6.3 assists per game. When he attacks the rim, he always seems to make the right pass to a big man down low or to a shooter around the perimeter. He is one of the only players on the roster that can create for others while attacking the rim.

Thomas isn’t shooting well from the field compared to his percentages in the past. He is shooting 41.8 percent from the floor and 30.6 percent from deep, but he’s also playing a lot more than he’s used to. The reason why this conversation about him starting is so interesting is because Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart make up one of the best defensive backcourts in the league, but Thomas adds way too much scoring to be coming off the bench.

Thomas is not known for his defense, but neither Smart or Bradley are known for their shooting, facilitating or scoring. Smart did have that recent game against the Oklahoma City Thunder where he played out of his mind on both ends of the floor and recorded 26 points, so it is hard to see coach Stevens benching Smart.

Bradley found success coming off the bench in Boston’s last game against the Dallas Mavericks. He hit his first four shots when he came off the bench, and he added 18 total points for the game. It was just one game where Bradley came off the bench and it showed that he can still find success, but it is going to take a little time to find out what is the best combination for the backcourt.

Overall

Thomas is done being a sixth man for the Celtics. His scoring and facilitating needs to be a presence right from the start, and the only way that can happen is if he is the starting point guard. Smart or Bradley will obviously be the other backcourt starter, but right now it’s hard to tell which player is the better fit to start alongside Thomas.

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Bradley and Smart might be a little unlucky because now their starting role is in jeopardy, but it was only a matter of time before coach Stevens realized that their leading scorer and best playmaker needs to be in the starting lineup permanently.