Isaiah Thomas is Fixing his Shooting

For almost the entirety of this season, Isaiah Thomas has been the main offensive contributor for the Boston Celtics. His talent and ability to create shots for himself and others is clearly on another level when compared to his teammates and he is leading the way with points and assists. The only problem has been that Thomas has shot well below the standard he set last year.

Thomas is a volume shooter, making it more difficult to maintain high percentages. However, that did not stop him from being incredibly efficient last year. He shot 41.1% overall and 34.5% from three. In his short time with the team last year, Thomas was immediately the main option, taking 13.6 total shots per game and 7 per game from three.

Thomas established a level of trust anywhere on the court. He was a top knock down three point shooter for the team and he was even better when driving to the rim. Not much changed this season then. Thomas continued a similar role, only this time he did it with the starting unit and was given even more responsibility.

The problem was that, at the beginning of the season, the increase in volume and responsibility was leading to worse results. There was a time when it looked like Thomas may never recapture the shooting percentages he established last season but that is long behind him.

Thomas is now sooting an improved 42.1% overall and is just behind pace from three at 33.5%. Throw in that he has brought his free throw percentage up from 86.1% to 89.2% and Thomas is really starting to come into his own with the role on the starting unit. Thomas’ recent hot stretch has brought him back to the averages of last season with a ton more volume. Thomas is taking three more shots per game but he is being smarter with his shots.

The biggest difference in Thomas’ game this year has been his ability to pass the ball. Thomas had a huge jump form 5.4 to 6.7 assists per game this year and it has changed his overall mentality. Much more so than last year, Thomas is looking to pass first. He is looking to use how the defense reacts to his attack in order to create for his teammates and it is leading to higher percentage shots for everyone. Either he is creating openings for his teammates or defenses are respecting his ability to pass and are giving him another weakness to take advantage of.

Dec 30, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) drives to th ehoop against Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) and center Roy Hibbert (17) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

Thomas’ overall shots are up but his three point shoots are down from 6.6 to 6 shots per game. Thomas is at his best when he is driving to the rim and he is embracing that role this season. Thomas is looking to generate contact or find an opening inside and if there are no options open he is doing a great job of kicking it back out.

Thomas’ game became more well rounded this year and the only thing that was lacking was that shooting percentage. Now that he is bringing that back up he is starting to grow into the player that the Celtics wanted him to be when they acquired him at the trade deadline.

Thomas has been as good if not better in almost every other category this season. He is averaging more points, more assists, more rebounds, more steals and fewer turnovers. His overall box plus minus is +1.1 from a season ago and he has improve his defensive rating from 109 to 104. Thomas is really getting comfortable in Brad Stevens’ offense and he is figuring out exactly what kind of role he needs to play.

Thomas is not the only player that has increased his volume without sacrificing efficiency and it is because of a better defined role. Jae Crowder has also vastly improved his three point shooting, while taking more shot attempts per game. Its the same story for Kelly Olynyk, who has seen his three point percentage jump above 40% while taking 0.4 more three point attempts per game.

There is a lot of talk about the inconsistency in the Celtics’ lineup but there are players who continue to flourish despite that and Thomas leads the way. With all the youth and inexperience the Celtics have an adjustment period should have been expected. Thomas began the season with signs of a decline in shooting percentage but that is behind him now.

The Celtics have responded to their four game losing streak with two of their stronger wins of the season and the hope is that with the team being the healthiest they have been all year, they can finally start to settle into a consistent rotation. The even better news is that it is not inconceivable to think these players will continue to improve.

More from Hardwood Houdini

The Celtics depend on ball movement and team chemistry and anyone that is on the court will benefit from a steady rotation. Thomas continues to lead the way for the Celtics on the offensive end and even if he will need help from the coaches and may once again be snubbed, Thomas is playing like the all star that the Celtics needed him to become.

Home/Celtics News