The Case For Isaiah Thomas As MVP

                                                                                                         (Boston Globe)

​Let me start off by saying this: Entering this season, I wasn't the biggest Isaiah Thomas fan. I thought he was an above-average scorer, and his ability to move the ball was suspect. I also believed that he wasn't even the second most clutch player on the Celtics, behind Bradley and even Crowder.

​But let me tell you, ladies and jellyfish, what Isaiah Thomas is doing right now is spectacular. Not only has he made me look like a moron, but he's also played his way into the MVP conversation with the likes of James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Not bad company to be in at all. 

​Isaiah Thomas has absolutely taken the NBA by storm and, at 5'9", what he is doing is absolutely unreal. He's currently the second highest point scorer in the NBA at 29.9 PPG, he's averaging just shy of 7 assists per game and, when it matters most, in the fourth quarter, Isaiah Thomas is averaging 10+ PPG in the 4th. Yes, that's good for first in the NBA. Now all that is well and good, but he's also anchoring a Celtics team to 2nd in the Eastern Conference and only 2.5 GB of LeBron's Cavs.

​Now when you look at the supporting cast of the 3 players in the MVP race (Harden, Westbrook, Thomas), IT probably has the 2nd least amount of help, behind Russell Westbrook. But OKC is 6th in the West, despite Russ averaging a triple double for the season. And, unfortunately, that probably will screw him over in the race. But look at the talent around Harden: he has Eric Gordon, Patrick Beverley, Clint Capela, Ryan Anderson, and Nene. That's probably good enough to put together a starting 5 that could bring the Rockets to the playoffs in the West (right now 3rd). Now look at who Thomas has: inconsistent Horford, streaky Crowder, injury-plagued Avery Bradley, and Amir Johnson. You remove IT from that lineup (considering he has single-handedly won them about 5-7 games this year), and you see the Celtics on the outside looking in, or barely in the playoff picture.

​Yes, the Rockets have the 3rd best record in the NBA. And although Harden averages over 11 assists per game, guys still have to put the ball in the hole for them to count. And the Rockets have plenty of players that can put the ball in the bucket. Aside from Thomas, I don't really trust anybody on the Celtics to shoot the ball.

​Obviously Harden is the favorite, and likely going to win the award hands-down. But there is definitely a case for... wait for it... "THE LITTLE GUY!"

Jordan Leandre
​@Jordan_BBS