Hoops Habit
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NBA Player Power Rankings: Russell Westbrook Pushing for MVP

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gestures from the court during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gestures from the court during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 26, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) reacts against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Celtics won 102-99. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) reacts against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Celtics won 102-99. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

15. Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics

Last Rank: No. 14

Position: Point Guard

Slash Line: .428/.353/.885

Season Averages: 32.5 MPG, 22.3 PPG, 6.3 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 2.0 3PM

Many expected Isaiah Thomas to slow down after the 2016 NBA All-Star Break. The Boston Celtics began to, but behind Thomas’s unrelenting will to succeed, the Celtics have restored normalcy and secured the team’s highest win total since 2010-11.

In 13 March games, Thomas is averaging 26.2 points on a slash line of .463/.407/.872.

Thomas’ scoring exploits have bordered on elite, and that isn’t just because of volume or the now trivial nature of his size. He’s producing at a level that even the best of scorers strive for, and he’s doing so with the efficiency of a dominant force.

Thomas is also No. 13 in the NBA in both assists per game and points created via assists per contest.

Between his scoring and facilitating, Thomas is directly responsible for 37.4 points per game. Thus, it’s not hard to see why he’s No. 12 in the NBA in Win Shares, and No. 15 in Win Shares per 48 minutes.

For what it’s worth, since the beginning of 2014-15, Boston is 57-38 with Thomas, and 26-35 without him. Enough said.

Next: Shining Again