We have no way of knowing how high Mason can go. Is there any reason to think he has peaked already?
I get the comparisons to IT, and there are some similarities. But here's two places where there is NO similarity: Mason plays tough defense and Mason is a willing passer.
Excuse me but if you don't think Isaiah is a willing passer you don't know what you are talking about.
Isaiah is brilliant at drawing in the defense and kicking to the open man. This was part of what was infuriating about him leaving us.
The failed GM failed to recognize his gravity, that is, his ability to tilt the floor to him and demand attention to the benefit of teammates.
There is NO doubt the guy likes (loves) to get his, and that is because he is damn near unstoppable.
Yet his scoring efficiency justifies the frequency of his shot attempts.
If Isaiah was NOT 57% TS over his career (until his blistering 62% TS last year, posting one of the BEST offensive seasons EVER for a PG) perhaps you could draw the reasonable conclusion the guy is too ball dominant and needs more of sharing-is-caring mindset.
The fact is Isaiah has been remarkably consistent as scorer while finding his teammates in a fairly optimal ratio. He has improved from his days as Kings.
His assist rate with the Celtics was 33% (from around 25% his first few years). For a Top 20 scorer, this is a spectacular.
Ball hogs don't post a 33% assist rate. So let's just put this nonsense aside implying that Isaiah is an unwilling passer.
I am still a HUGE fan of his, cannot wait for his return to the Cavs, see him team up with LeBron and wreck havoc on the NBA and destroy the Warriors in the NBA Finals like we DESTROYED them last night.
There's one more important point on this:
When you are only 5'9" like Mason or IT or DSJ (6'0) you don't have the same passing angles as a guy like De'Aaron Fox or John Wall or even Lonzo Bust. These latter guys can see over the top and make passes the little PGs cannot always make. Therefore it is NOT a lack of willingness it is a matter of feasibility.
Now onto the comparison to Mason.
When I was scouting Mason, the first thing I thought was Isaiah. The difference in my mind was (and is) Mason stronger, Isaiah faster. But both guys can go into the teeth of the defense and bounce off. They can create separation through their lower center of gravity to turn the corner. They can get where they want to go when they want to go there.
This aforementioned quality is why I was ripping on Lonzo Bust and one of the reasons he projects no better than Austin Rivers level. (They were guarding each other last night and it was not shocking to me the similarity in their physique and playing mannerisms). To be a star PG you have to be able to go in among the tall timber with fearless abandon, take the contact, shoot with touch, drop off or lob up to teammates. Isaiah AND Frank both possess these glowing attributes. Lonzo Bust does not.
Frank may be the better perimeter shooter than Isaiah. Isaiah is money when he gets hot. Frank with 50% from the arc at Kansas, and 53% so far with us (9-17 ) seems like he is always hot.
De'Aaron had bit of a bounce back game after his struggles vs the Clippers despite his modest numbers (6-4-4-2) and sideline view in the crunch. He was getting penetration and dropping off or kicking at. As he develops I expect he will be doing this non-stop and causing migraines to the opponent. One difference between Fox and Mason (and Isaiah) is that in addition to the blazing speed, Fox has sight angles that will allow him to make passes these guys cannot make.
The Kings point differential after last nights dominant performance is down to -10.4 from -13.8 less than two weeks back. Incremental progress, baby! We will be under 10 points with a strong game tonight.
As I stated at the time, the Blazer win after the 46-point debacle was the potential inflection point for this team, with extreme adversity guiding the proper path forward, precipitating the new backcourt, the move of Willie to the bench with Koufos and Boggy, and the emergence of Frank.
They say change occurs when the pain of remaining the same exceeds the pain of change. Well, the pain induced by the loss in Atlanta was precursor to the necessary change this team needed. Since then we are 3-3 following our 3-11 start with a point differential commensurate with a 65-70 loss season. The team is showing positive signs. I think Vlade will be getting a better nights sleep than insomnia inducing play earlier in the month .
Winning with 110 points despite only 5 from Buddy Buckets is a good sign. That is a Spurs-esque.
Joerger limited Buddy minutes to only 15 because he needed his best defender on Klay and it worked. Temple got 30 minutes to chase and harass him. It took Klay 20 shots to get 21 points and keeping him put of his groove precipitated his miss in the closing seconds to give the Warriors the lead.
The other two guys I want to mention are Boggy and Willie:
Willie is finally doing what I frankly thought he would NEVER do. And that is he is holding his position in the key with enough force and presence to make plays. He is staking his territory! He is saying I belong here! I belong in the league!
If you are going to swat Draymond when he drives the lane (as he did) or catch the lob or roll and rise and slam (as he did) you have to be strong in the prime real estate. And this is what Willie is finally doing. He is not budging and ceding ground as readily.
How much of this as to do with increased strength, maturity, experience, improved mindset, or teammates that look to get him involved with easy set-ups is a matter of debate, but ultimately irrelevant. What matters is that it is occurring, better late than never!
I have given Willie a hard time in contrast to Myles Turner, since they came in the same draft class, but another who bears contrast is Nerlens Noel, a former Kentucky product too, and former 6th pick too, who if memory serves turned DOWN the Mavs 4 year 70 million offer and signed the QO instead to become an UFA. He may be regretting that!
Noel is 8 months younger but been in the league longer due to one-and-done and KU versus Willie's three collegiate seasons. Willie and Noel project as similar type players, high risers, opportunistic scorers, capable defenders. Right now their respective seasons are on divergent paths with Noel getting DNP-CDs. Noel has been benched while Willie makes incremental progress.
The point is the broader perspective is warranted to draw make more objective assessments.
Thank you Omri for fouling the three point shooter (Temple) to enable us to get the 4 point possession when were down 4 points with 2:00.
Omri FTW!
Thank you Boggy for calmly eviscerating the DPOY on the final play!
Draymond thought he had him sized up.
But you cannot size up the Leader of the Horde. He is sizing up you!
DPOY got sized up and dressed down and left flailing at air and the Trophy Police are coming to seize your property!