NBA Player Power Rankings: MVP Candidates Continue To Clash

January 18, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 121-100. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jan 10, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (4) celebrates after scoring a basket while he was fouled against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Celtics 114-106. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics

Position: Point Guard
Age: 27 (2/7/1989)
Experience: 6th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .460/.385/.910
2016-17 Season Averages: 34.0 MPG, 28.7 PPG, 6.0 APG, 2.7 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 3.0 3PM

The Boston Celtics have a superstar point guard in 5’9″ playmaker and fourth quarter maestro Isaiah Thomas. Some may be hesitant to slap Thomas with the superstar tag, but he has firmly established himself as a legitimate franchise player.

The Celtics are 10 games above .500, sitting at No. 3 in the Eastern Conference, and Thomas is averaging 34.1 points and 5.4 assists on 50.9 percent shooting over the past 10 games.

Thomas is No. 4 in the NBA in scoring average at 28.7 points per game and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.48. Most impressively, he’s No. 1 in the NBA with an average of 10.1 points per fourth quarter on a slash line of .484/.440/.902.

Not only is Thomas scoring more points per fourth quarter than any other player in the NBA, but he’s been nothing short of elite in his efficiency.

There’s no strength more important for a player on a team with championship aspirations than being able to close out. Thus far in 2016-17, there’s no closer more dominant than Thomas has been for his 26-16 Celtics.

There may be players with more impressive resumes than Thomas, but the best closer in the NBA needs to be in the Top 10.