IT missed four games in mid-December. In his 21 games prior to the injury, he basically averaged his 2015-16 All-Star level stats:
26 PPG 6.1 AST 2.6 TRB .424 FG% .331 3P% .886 FT% .572 TS% .482 eFG%
Then he got hurt, the green won a game in Orlando, and all the 'Celts are better without IT' and 'He's just a sixth man' talk started. In the 15 games since his return, here's how IT responded to the jibba-jabba:
31 PPG 6.2 AST 2.8 TRB .497 FG% .429 3P% .937 FT% .668 TS% .593 eFG%
More cray-cray, he's actually been elevating his game to greater heights in January. In the six games he's played this month:
31 PPG 6.5 AST 3.7 TRB .493 FG% .516 3P%
None of these impressive statistical jumps take into account how he has become the King in the Fourth, absolutely carrying this Celtics team repeatedly in late clutch situations.
Right before our eyes over the past 15 games, IT has elevated his game from All-Star to Superstar.
Submitted January 14, 2017 at 10:11AM by ShootZeeGlass