You're looking at the stats as if they're the only thing that matters. And then when we try to put those stats in proper context we get accused of making excuses for Tyreke.
I'll tell you what I see from watching the games -- In the head-to-head comparison, Tyreke is the better rebounder, scorer, and defender. Isaiah is a better shooter. Looking at their entire body of work (including all three seasons for Tyreke) the playmaking is probably about equal. Thomas' assist to turnover ratio is better, but not by a lot. And he's not facing the same caliber of individual defenders and double-teams that Evans is. Tyreke draws the best defender on the other team every game, whatever position he plays.
Paul Westphal had an offensive playbook that looked like this:
(1) Inbound ball (2) Good luck!
I think it's pretty amazing that Tyreke managed to average as many assists as he did in that lack of a system. In addition to ostrasizing Cousins, the reason Westphal got fired is that his "everyone is a playmaker" approach to the offense wasn't helping anybody. At the start of this season we had Thornton, Salmons, and Evans taking turns attacking the basket or pitching the ball out to shooters who couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. Remember what Salmons' and Outlaw's outside shooting percentages were after the first month? I looked it up: Salmons was 12 for 55 on three pointers by the end of January and Outlaw was 3 for 21. That's 20% on 76 shots between the two of them. I watched most of those games, I'm sorry to say, and Tyreke was the only reason the score was as close as it was.
You keep criticizing Tyreke's lack of development but where in your comments do you account for the fact that Tyreke was already very good to begin with? Yes I'm disappointed as well that his development curve hasn't mimicked that of Westbrook or Rose but he's got an entirely different set of teammates and a different coach to contend with. The head coach isn't the only factor in player development, but they do dole out the minutes, assign roles, and devise the offense. Remember how good Westbrook and Durant were with PJ Carlesimo in charge? Is it coincidence that both of them got a lot better once Scott Brooks took over? The sad thing is that Tyreke was playing as well as he's ever played just before Smart moved him to SF and stopped giving him the ball.
Let me start by saying that I never said those stats were the be all end all. I actually have said that stats do not at all tell the whole story, but they are better than throwing out that the winning % with Tyreke at PG is slightly better than with IT at PG. Also, for your point that I don't give Tyreke credit for how good he was to begin with? I have stated numerous times now that I think he is a very good player. What else do you want me to say? He had a very good rookie season and he deservedly had high expectations. His season wasn't AS good as his stats told, but he still had an amazing rookie season, there is no doubting that. The last two seasons he has definitely played worse as other teams have figured him out. How much longer would you be willing to simply throw the whole team around Tyreke without improvement before you realize maybe he isn't going to be a superstar in the NBA? 1 year? 2 years?
There's no question Reke is the better rebounder.
Although Tyreke definitely has better defensive tools, IT actually plays better defense on PGs. Tyreke should be the better defender, but he just isn't. I don't know if it is effort, basketball IQ, or that he just isn't being taught how to play good defense.
I don't think Tyreke is the better scorer. IT has a much more diverse offensive game that is able to flow within the offense and simply plays much smarter. He attacks with much more care and it shows when he averages 48% vs. Tyreke's 41.5% at PG. Tyreke is very strong at getting to the rim, but he only has a right hand. Even when he goes to the left side, he tries to finish with his right hand. As we all know, he basically has no shot. Let it be known that I do believe Tyreke is already a very strong offensive player, but until he develops more of an offensive repertoire (how has he not even developed a floater?), he isn't going to become a player that is good enough to focus your whole team around. Simple as that.
For playmaking, it really depends how you define it. IT easily has better court vision, but when going to the rim he isn't able to attract as many defenders to switch onto him so he can't set people up in that way as well as Tyreke. IT turns the ball over less as well.
No, it is not amazing that he averaged that many assists. He had the ball in his hands the majority of the time and it is extremely hard not to rack up some assists that way. He is still a decent passer, but he doesn't do a whole lot besides the drive and kick (which isn't necessarily a knock on him as guys like Rose rely on the same thing to set up teammates).
I rely heavily on what I see to judge players. Tyreke doesn't have incredible athletic talent like Lebron, Rose, Westbrook, etc. nor does he have the smooth, refined game of guys like Manu, Roy (man, I miss that dude), Harden, etc. To me, that puts a limit to how good of a player he can be. No doubt he can still be a very solid player in this league, but I just don't think he is someone you place above the rest of the team.