I think the key is that we have two seasons on either side of that top five finish where they were mediocre at best, and it's not like they're adding better defenders with each season, they're moving sideways or getting clearly worse (Amir -> Morris) and yet nobody is talking about this from what I've seen.
NovU wrote:Isn't that why it's worrisome. Effective undersized players becoming sudden minus contributors in supposed prime and capable years(agewise) regardless of the issues, minor or major. In fact, Isaiah could be looking at to become a first undersized guy in a long time(since Stockton?) to play at high level entering the 30s. Or derailed as that's where the concern lies at the moment.
Stockton wouldn't be undersized. Neither is Lawson technically.
I wasn't pointing out undersized players "suddenly" becoming minus players I was saying there's never been a player like Thomas, period. Calvin Murphy 40 years ago is the only thing even close. And even he wasn't putting in buckets like Thomas has for multiple seasons. We simply don't have a comparable player. Really, of many sizes, let alone under six foot.
There are a number of sub six foot guards who played as well as they always did through 28 and into their 30s, but none of them were really All-Stars or had other issues like Damon Stoudamire or Nate Robinson. My use of Brandon cut out the years before Brandon had his career ending injury as before and after he never scored even close to Thomas and he was still not yet 30.
Guards hitting the wall at 30 is still a thing but it's been diminished since the rule changes and medical advances. Iverson actually arguably played better until he got to Detroit. Tim Hardaway had his best run after age 28. Chris Paul hasn't dropped off before 30, neither did Mookie Blaylock. Kevin Johnson had effectively a second career after 28. Darrel Armstrong's entire career was after 28. Mike Conley seems to be aging fine.
And Thomas isn't yet even there, him hitting 30 is still two years away, not this season which is the only season that matters for both the Cavs and Celtics because they're both going to be using him as a one year rental scorer for the most part.