New Orleans Pelicans: Isaiah Thomas will play a big role

There is a possibility that with injuries, Isaiah Thomas will play a big role for the New Orleans Pelicans and could be that final piece that they need to make it to the NBA Playoffs.

With three Pelicans’ guards out right now due to injury, Thomas may need to step in and play right away once he is cleared for duties with the Pels.

Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram are also both out with injuries, which has hurt because the Pelicans offense primarily flows through both of them.

Thomas will most likely come off the bench as the second option at PG with Kira Lewis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker day-to-day.

With Josh Hart out, I.T. will need to be that spark coming off the bench for the Pelicans. Being shorthanded at the guard position, Isaiah Thomas will be the primary scorer coming off the bench, which is a big ask for a guy who hasn’t played this season.

Bench points have been hard to come by for the New Orleans Pelicans all season. They are being outscored 153-225 off the bench in the last five games. Josh Hart has been that guy to come off the bench and put up double-doubles, but with his thumb injury, IT will try to fill that role to get the offense going.

In the latest competitive game Thomas played, he scored 19 points on 7-15 shooting and had several highlight plays to lead Team USA against the Bahamas in the FIBA AmericCup qualifying game.

There is a lot of hope to see Thomas return to his 2016-2017 form when he was 5th in MVP voting. Pelicans’ fans are hoping to see more of that from him going forward as he looks eager to play and a lot healthier.  Thomas has not played an NBA game since February of 2020.

https://twitter.com/isaiahthomas/status/1378365888110460929?s=20

As a veteran of the NBA, Thomas’s role will go beyond scoring as he can also be the veteran leader for the team to guide the young players and mold them. He was a leader on the Celtics during his time in Boston. Thomas can be a similar leader for the New Orleans Pelicans, providing mentorship to their young players even if he is no longer an MVP candidate.

Isaiah Thomas might be the answer the New Orleans Pelicans are looking for. The role he plays will be much different than the one he had in Boston. He’s not “the guy” anymore or even close, but he can provide a spark off the bench and give the Pels the veteran guidance that they desperately need.