Fansided

The Whiteboard: Give Isaiah Thomas a year before you write him off

By Ti Windisch

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 26: Isaiah Thomas #0 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 26, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 26: Isaiah Thomas #0 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 26, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Welcome to The Whiteboard, your daily source for the previous day’s best NBA content from around the internet, plus an original column. Catch The Whiteboard here on The Step Back, and subscribe to get it delivered to you via email each morning.

Isaiah Thomas is not and has never been a perfect basketball player. Nobody is. Thomas’ flaws aren’t hard to identify, as his listed height of 5-foot-9 makes it hard for IT to be a great defender. It sure didn’t stop him from becoming an MVP candidate on offense with the Boston Celtics, though.

Thomas has not been that in his first seven games with the Denver Nuggets. IT is shooting 37.5 percent from the field and 30.0 percent from 3-point range as a Nugget, and some in Denver are already (rightfully) concerned about a low-efficiency player using as many touches as Thomas does.

That concern is fair for Denver, as the Nuggets can’t afford slip-ups that could derail their fantastic season thus far. What isn’t fair is writing off Thomas because he hasn’t played well yet. It takes time for NBA players to come back from year-long injury absences, and IT has been out recovering from hip surgery since March 2018.

SUBSCRIBE. Get The Whiteboard delivered daily to your email inbox. light

Gordon Hayward is in the first season back from just about a year away from the NBA floor, and he’s averaging just over 10 points per game while shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from deep. Those aren’t Gordon Hayward numbers, because he’s clearly still getting back into his proper NBA form.

Paul George sat out almost an entire season after breaking his leg at a Team USA scrimmage and played six games in the 2014-15 season after getting healthy. George shot 36.7 percent from the field and scored less than 9 points per game in what remained of that season.

This is all very normal. NBA players need to be in game shape to play well, and it takes time for them to feel right again after missing as much time as IT, Hayward, and PG did. Isaiah Thomas isn’t perfect, but he deserves a chance to prove he can be the same flamethrower he was in Boston before he’s written off entirely.

#Content you can’t miss

Some great tweets featured in here; Chris Herring breaks down what went wrong for the Lakers

A different perspective on KD; Shane Young masterfully profiles Kevin Durant and his quiet pursuit of the greatest scorer ever title

Better late than never; Tevin Williams thinks the Rockets are finding a rhythm at the right time

It’s so fun to see randomly in games; Jared Dubin explores the zone defense renaissance in the NBA right now

This idea is brilliant; Michael Pina explores the Mavericks hiring of God Shammgod as the NBA’s first dribbling coach

You’ve got to beat the best to be the best; Casey Roshek believes the Suns have their confidence back after beating the Bucks again

Home/Denver Nuggets