In the playoffs when teams are game planning it's going to be tough. Like if they were to face the Cavs, JR Smith would basically just shoot over him like he was a chair. I watched Derozan and Lowry basically do this in the 4th quarter of their game a week and a half ago. Derozan got going just dominating against switches on IT2 and forced them to put Crowder and Smart on him but by then it was too late, he was rolling and it was over.
oh for sure..
the harsh reality is he should be a backup PG but.. his offensive upside is crazy right now.
this guy should be on to score a bunch of points and forcing starters out of their normal rotation.
but his defensive drawback will always kill him in the offs.
Celtics were a top 3 defense last year with Isaiah starting 80 games. The reason the defense has regressed this year is because Bradley & Crowder regressed. And for all that talk about Isaiah should be a backup? Who on this team should take his place? 36% shooting Marcus Smart? Summer league superstar Terry Rozier? Or what, you gonna bench him next year for a 19 year old rookie? The Celtics are supposed to go out and trade likely valuable assets for another starting PG? He has his flaws for sure, but if you want to list the problems the Celtics have and what's holding them back for being contenders he's not close to being in the top 5.
As far as the playoffs, last season the Celtics did not lose because Isaiah was a defensive liability. They lost because A) Injuries to 2 of their 3 best players, B) Getting destroyed on the boards and C) Historically awful 1st quarter play, a trend that started late last season and carried over into the playoffs.
