BOSTON -- To get to this level, Avery Bradley and Isaiah Thomas have had to beat out some major odds.
Bradley was a first-round taken in the teens who found himself not just playing with a trio of Hall of Famers, but eventually replacing one (Ray Allen) who still had quite a bit to offer the game.
And then there was Isaiah Thomas, the last player taken in the 2011 NBA draft.
He went from being a player considered a long shot to make an NBA roster, to an NBA all-star last season.
Together, they form a backcourt tandem that’s one of the best in the NBA.
“They’re both two good players that keep getting better,” said Celtics head coach Brad Stevens. “They’re sharing the ball, they’re both being appropriately aggressive when the opportunity presents itself. They’re both skilled shooters. They complement each other well.”
And when you look at their numbers compared to arguably the league’s best backcourt -- Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson -- their numbers are as good and in some instances, better this season.
Boston Celtics
Bradley and Thomas are averaging 46.0 points per game this season compared to the Curry/Thompson tandem that’s scoring 39.0 per night. Boston’s 1-2 backcourt punch also has the edge in assists (11.2 to 8.7) and 3-point percentage (.415 to 28.0) and trail Golden State’s all-star duo in 3s made by just one (28 to 27).
Regardless of what the numbers are, Thomas has felt he and Bradley are indeed on the short list of elite backcourt tandems in the NBA.
I asked Thomas recently whether he felt they stacked up favorably with the best backcourts in the NBA.
“For sure,” Thomas said. “Two guys from Tacoma (both Thomas and Bradley grew up in Tacoma, Washington) … we’re up there. I’m not saying we’re the best but we play and feel like we’re the best. You talk about backcourts, you can’t leave us out. That’s our mindset this year. We’re coming for all top backcourt guys. We’re here. Avery has improved so much this summer with his playmaking and shooting ability and I’m trying to improve as well.”
What makes their success even more impressive is that most games, both Thomas (who is 5-foot-9) and 6-2 Bradley are smaller than the player at their respective position.
“Avery he’s the best defender in the world, on ball defender in the world,” Thomas said. “That’s his niche. Me, I’m not backing down from nobody. That’s the only thing that comes with me. I’m going to play with my heart, play the way I know how and show people I’m here. We have the same mindset but go about it in different ways.”