Hoops Habit
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NBA Player Power Rankings: Three-Quarter Season Awards

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 22, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts with forward Draymond Green (23) after making a three point shot against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts with forward Draymond Green (23) after making a three point shot against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) dribbles past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) during the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 120-103. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) dribbles past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) during the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 120-103. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

15. Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics

Award: N/A

Last Rank: No. 15

Position: Point Guard

Age: 27

Slash Line: .427/.349/.886

Season Averages: 32.4 MPG, 21.8 PPG, 6.7 APG, 2.9 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 2.0 3PM

Isaiah Thomas and the Boston Celtics are a match made in heaven. The roster is flush with depth and quality role players, but Thomas has fit in perfectly as the go-to player in an offense that’s explosive, but otherwise lacks consistency.

Whether or not you believe Thomas is one of the Top 20 players in the NBA, his work in 2015-16 has wholeheartedly earned him a place on this list.

Thomas opened the week with 32 points and eight assists on 9-of-15 shooting in a 105-104 victory over the New York Knicks. He then scored 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting against Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and tallied 22 points in a 116-96 blowout of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Thomas is still facing the condescending compliment of, “Great for his size,” but it’s time to recognize him as he is: a Top 10 point guard.

For perspective, Boston was 20-32 at the time of Thomas’ debut with with the team in 2014-15. Since then, it’s gone 53-33 in 86 games with Thomas in the rotation—a massive jump from being a team on the outside looking in on the postseason, to one on pace for 49 wins in 2015-16.

You can break down reputations and other opinion-based factors, but Thomas is the player who Boston was missing.

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