[BleedGreen808Participant]

 Last night against the Miami Heat, Thomas dropped a career high 52 points on 15/26 fg, 9/13 from 3, and 13/13 from the free throw line.  After having a solid 23 points through 3 quarters he exploded for 29 4th quarter points.  In the final frame he was 9/13 from the field, 6/8 from 3, and 5/5 on free throws.  This was on the 2nd night of a back-to-back and the 3rd game in 4 days.  

It’s been amazing to watch him turn into an All Star player these last couple years.  For a guy who was considered too small and was the 60th pick in the draft who could have imagined this level of success.  After this game IT moved into 1st place among Eastern Conference scorers with 27.7ppg which is also good for 5th in the NBA.  In the month of December he averaged 11.6 points in 4th quarters.  It’s incredible to watch what he is able to do at 5’9.   Can’t believe Boston got him for Marcus Thornton and a Cavs 1st round pick(Skal Labissiere).   

Here is the video of the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeqFKVZYcZA

Here are some facts to show how historic this performance was:

-His 52pts was the 4th highest in scoring output in the regular season in Celtics History behind only Larry Bird and Kevin McHale(5th if you include the post season).  Also the highest scoring game in TD Garden passing Paul Pierce’s 50.  

-His 29pts in the 4th quarter was the 2nd most points in a 4th quarter behind Wilt’s 31pts in his 100pt game.  

-His 9 3 pointers ties the Celtics franchise record held by Antoine Walker.  

-Most points by a player listed as 5’9 or shorter since Calvin Murphy had 57 in 1978.  

-He is the 7th player to have at least 52points and 0 assists(joining players like Kobe and Melo). The last guard to have 50pts and 0 assists was Michael Redd in 2006.  

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Hopefully he is the ONLY point guard to have over 50 points and 0 assists. Although I bet Dana Barros tried.

Oh, and props to Calvin Murphy.

[markfitz14Participant]

He goes off and can score through traffic at will. But is he good enough to pair with another star player to compete against the Cavs? The Celtics front office needs to figure out if he is the guy or not. Is he a player to pair with another All star. Should they cash the chips in and make a trade? Or sit tight?

IT is making it really hard to wait for this draft prospect to join th team.

  

[r377Participant]

Sacramento Kings drafted Whiteside in 2010 and Thomas in 2011 and let both go for next to nothing.

If you go back further to 2001 they also drafted Gerald Wallace.

That’s 3 All-Star calibre players they let go before they developed…..

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

Maybe turn it around… players start developing once they leave the Kings 😉

[BeastMode716Participant]

 I remember Iverson & what an unstoppable scorer he was but w/ your best player that much of a defensive liability b/c of his size it becomes a situation of diminishing returns in a sense that that team can only go so far & would never win a Title.

I was skeptical this sense: Boston claims their goal is a Title so how can they win a title w/ IT as their best player.

But when IT missed time this year it became VERY clear that Boston in it’s current form is no where near a Title contender & IT actually elevates them Enormously.

When I remember last year when Boston did not even have Horford yet & think back & imagine what that team would have done without IT & it would have maybe not even been an 8 seed.

So I have Completely changed my opinion. I was always Luv’d the guy b/c how can you not root for a 5’9” dynamo but now I realize that IT should actually be a top 5 MVP candidate this year. Boston is utterly Helpless w/o him & he is a Remarkable talent.

 

 

 

 

 

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