KF Kings Prediction Poll #21: How much better can Isaiah get?

[Bricklayer]

Prediction Poll #21.

Last season little IT came out of literally nowhere to beat out our lottery pick (Jimmer) and become the best "Mr. Irrelevant" in NBA history. Now the surprise is over, teams will be ready this season, and a new competitor (Brooks) for his job has been introduced. Given his size, age, competitiveness, presumed work ethic etc., how much better will IT become?


Previous Polls
Poll #1: How Will Reke Do This Year?
Poll #2: TRob's Rookie Season
Poll #3: How Does Our PG Position Play Out
Poll #4: Marcus Thornton's Future Role
Poll #5: Will DMC Be an All Star This Year
Poll #6: Where Will We Finish in the West This Year
Poll #7: Jimmer's Future in the League
Poll #8: How Will The Kings Do On Defense?
Poll #9: What Kind of Start to the Season Will the Kings Have?
Poll #10: What Will Salmons Role Be This Season?
Poll #11: What Will The Kings Record Be Against the Lakers This Year?
Poll #12: Boogie's Numbers?
Poll #13: Cisco's Future With the Kings?
Poll #14: How Long Does Coach Smart Last?
Poll #15: How Much Will James Johnson Give Us?
Poll #16: How Well Will We Pass the Ball This Year?
Poll #17: How Many Sacto Era Greats Make the HOF?
Poll #18: Which platoon player will start the most games?
Poll #19: Who will lead the Kings in steals?
Poll #20: How many points/gm will the Kings average?

 

[DesertFox]

Was torn between top 10 and somewhat, voted for somewhat.

Of the 80-90 guys who play PG, I would put IT in the top 25 right NOW, an avg NBA starter/ contender quality 20 min+ backup. A mix of improvement and opponents getting used to him, he should still over the next 3-4 years reach playoff level starter.

But in a PG driven league, I can't see him getting close to breaking that top 5, or the top 10. If he is the starter, I think he can be on a winning team as long as he is surrounded by 3-4 better starters, but best as an elite 6th man on any team.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

I voted somewhat / a solid starter.

The thing is, if IT can manage to MATCH the production he had last year, than that would be a step in the right direction. Proving you aren't a fluke is a huge, huge deal. The other thing with Isaiah is that if he continues to put up those solid starter numbers, his leadership / fire / tenacity puts him above a lot of statistically similar players.

 

[Kingster]

Ty Lawson is a top 10 pg. No reason why IT can't get there. He's good right now. He'll look even better when he has competent players around him, especially guys who can shoot and finish.

 

[Bricklayer]

Ty Lawson is a top 10 pg.

Hmm, I wonder...

Nash
Paul
Deron
Rose
Westbrook
Rondo
Parker
Irving

that's 8. So two spots for any of these type guys:

Curry
Rubio
Lawson
Wall
Lowry
Dragic
etc.

so maybe.

 

[Spike]

My order for the next tier would probably be (based on future predictions):
Rubio
Wall
Dragic
Lawson
Curry
Lowry

Could IT get there? Not sure. He can shoot, and he can pass, but the others pull down some boards as well. My gut tells me that IT is at his ceiling - teams will adapt and he will no longer surprise. If he stays at his current level, he's still solidified himself as an NBA player for years to come, but I just don't see him improving up to that next level.

Here's why:
If you look at that top tier of PGs, most of them can pull down some boards from time to time, or, as in Paul's case, completely take a game over. I don't see IT doing either, which is why I think that second tier is his ceiling. Not that it's a bad thing, but in my mind, he's a solid rotational player who can have good nights, like Robinson.

Feel free to disagree.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

i think IT can be top 10. the guy is a natural point guard, thats what he wants to do when he has the ball. he has amazing court vision and has proven he can also hit the jumpers very well. also he plays good defense and hustles his butt off 100% of the time hes out there

 

[HereWeBoogie]

My order for the next tier would probably be (based on future predictions):
Rubio
Wall
Dragic
Lawson
Curry
Lowry

Could IT get there? Not sure. He can shoot, and he can pass, but the others pull down some boards as well. My gut tells me that IT is at his ceiling - teams will adapt and he will no longer surprise. If he stays at his current level, he's still solidified himself as an NBA player for years to come, but I just don't see him improving up to that next level.

Here's why:
If you look at that top tier of PGs, most of them can pull down some boards from time to time, or, as in Paul's case, completely take a game over. I don't see IT doing either, which is why I think that second tier is his ceiling. Not that it's a bad thing, but in my mind, he's a solid rotational player who can have good nights, like Robinson.

Feel free to disagree.

for one thing i would put Lowry way above those other guys you listed. Lowry is very underated. he can put up a triple double on any night.

but, i think isaiah is already MUCH better than Nate Robinson, so i dont agree with you on that. im not sure if he will end up a top tier point guard or not, but i think he will easily be a SOLID starting point guard in the league, not just a rotational player with an occasional good performance like Robinson........

 

[jcassio]

Don't know if he can crack the top ten, but could be close. His shooting as a rookie was better than as a college player. That suggests that he improved his shooting, and I hope he really did. But some players improve their shooting as rookies, only to digress in their second year. So there's at least a possibility that Thomas' shooting will not be at the same level as last year. If that happens, he may have a bit of a sophomore slump.
One thing he's got going for himself is inner-confidence and tenacity. With that and his physical gifts, he could very well become an all star or near all star. Anyone who thinks he's just going to be another bench spark plug doesn't see the fire that burns in the man.