Isaiah Thomas

Isaiah Thomas Continues Awesome Streak, Brad Stevens Unveils Intriguing New Lineup

... (4) drives between Indiana Pacers center Al Jefferson (7) and guard Jeff Teague (44) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. The Celtics defeated the Pacers 109-102. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy). Every once in a while when Isaiah Thomas takes over another fourth quarter, my mind bounces back to the first game he ever played with the Boston Celtics. Nobody knew then he would lead the Celtics into the playoffs, instantly shove the rebuilding process forward, and grow into an All-Star. Boston had high hopes for its new lefty, sure, but didn't realize he would do so much to lift the franchise. Anyway, Thomas was having a pretty normal night for him. Twenty-one points and three assists. But with five minutes left in the fourth quarter, he picked up a questionable offensive foul, then got ejected for slamming the basketball to the floor. Head coach Brad Stevens sometimes still ...

The Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas Got Better Because He Got Faster

... he decided to leave the University of Washington for the NBA, scouts remarked about his “ exceptional first step ” and ability to change direction, a necessity for an undersized point guard trying to hold his own in a league filled with bigger players. In an NBA era that features more space than ever, Thomas’s speed allowed him to flourish. He finished on the NBA’s All-Rookie Second Team following his first season and helped earn him a lucrative second contract. Now in Boston, Thomas may be better than ever, again propelled forward by his signature asset — his speed. Only this type of speed was slightly different. At 5-foot-9, Thomas, one of the NBA’s shortest players, became one of the league’s best this season because he sped up his shot. In the process, he’s elevated himself to become one of the league’s elite scorers. [ Frustrated Le Bron James desperately wants the Cavs to ...

Isaiah Thomas In The 4th

... an opposing player completely imposing his will upon the Rockets the way Isaiah Thomas did down the stretch of last week’s loss against Boston.  I wanted to go back and see what exactly happened, given that Patrick Beverley has been the second best defensive point guard in the league this season.   In watching all of Thomas’ made field goals and assists in the fourth quarter, I assumed I’d see a lot of defensive breakdowns.  In some instances, however, it was more a case of individual brilliance. Here, Beverley plays Thomas perfectly, and he nails the ‘3’ after the fake. This possession was mainly Harden’s fault in switching over so weakly, but then Ariza slides over perfectly to contest at the rim.  Thomas just hits a seemingly impossible floater with his left hand over Ariza’s outstretched arm. Here, Thomas completely breaks Beverley with a vicious right to left crossover with no big at the rim to contest.  You might have liked Harden to step up ...

No Rest, No Problem For Isaiah Thomas

... in large part to Thomas. In his last seven games on the tail end of back-to-backs, he's averaging 39.1 points per game, which included a 52-point outburst against the Miami Heat in late December. Thomas set a franchise record by producing a 29-point fourth quarter that night. That Miami game came at the end of an absolutely brutal December schedule that saw Boston fly halfway around the world as part of 15 flights in a road-heavy slate. The Celtics had a more agreeable January in terms of road games but this month's schedule featured four sets of back-to-backs, including one instance of the much-feared stretch of four games in five nights. Boston went 3-1 during that stretch, which culminated with an overtime victory in Milwaukee on Saturday. Thomas scored 37 points while carrying the Celtics early in that Milwaukee game. Despite all his fourth-quarter heroics this season - he leads the NBA by averaging 10 points per game in the fourth quarter - even Thomas looked mortal while going scoreless over the final 9:33 of Saturday's game. That his teammates were able to pick him up was an encouraging sign for Boston. The Celtics play six more ...

Isaiah Thomas Named A Reserve To His Second Straight All-star Game

... including Washington's John Wall, Toronto's Kyle Lowry and Charlotte's Kemba Walker. Thomas has been admittedly swayed by his own success, not only this season but also last year, when he met one of his idols. Allen Iverson, during his first all-star appearance in Toronto. On Wednesday night the Garden crowd serenaded him yet again with an MVP chant. "It’s stuff you dream of as a little kid," he said. "Always say, to be the guard and play for the Celtics and for them to be chanting MVP, it doesn’t seem real. So I’m just, for now, I’m staying in the moment. I’m embracing it. These fans are everything to me.". The idea of Thomas not making the team, of coursel, was unthinkable considering his incredible run. In the wake of Wednesday night's 38-point performance against Houston, Thomas is seconbd in the NBA in scoring with an average of 29.1 points per game, behind only league leader ...

Thomas Scores 37 To Lead Celtics Past Bucks In Ot

... 10, 2016: A fan displays his support for former Heat star Dwyane Wade after his return to Miami. In his first career game in South Beach as a visitor, Wade helped the Bulls win 98-95. Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports. Nov. 9, 2016: Wizards guard John Wall (2) continues to yell at Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) even after being ejected during the second half in Washington. Wall was tossed for the second straight game, but the Wizards won 118-93. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports. Nov. 8, 2016: Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) rises up for a one-handed flush over Nets defender Justin Hamilton (41) during the first half in Brooklyn. Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports. Nov. 7, 2016: Bulls guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives to the bucket for a layup between a pair of Magic defenders during the first half in Chicago. Caylor Arnold, USA TODAY Sports. Nov. 6, 2016: Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) hurries the ball up court against Trail Blazers defender Damian Lillard (0) during the second half in Memphis. Justin Ford, USA TODAY Sports. ...

With Floyd Mayweather In The House, Isaiah Thomas Delivers Knockout Punch

... of deep 3-pointers right in front of Mayweather and even took time to dap him up after one of them - knocking some of the bling straight off Mayweather's wrist with an emphatic slap. Thomas and Mayweather are longtime friends, and Thomas jokes that the Celtics "usually win when he's in the building." Mayweather was shown on the Garden's Jumbo Tron during one fourth-quarter timeout, and he playfully held up the Celtics' cap of a companion as the crowd roared. Immediately after the final buzzer, Mayweather asked Thomas for his game-worn jersey and Thomas obliged, hoping for a gift in return. Floyd Mayweather was enjoying the show that Isaiah Thomas and the Celtics put on in the fourth quarter. Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports. "I wanted that jewelry," Thomas said of Mayweather's glitzy chains and wristwear. "I didn't want the jacket. That's too small for me. I wanted that jewelry.". Thomas made 7 of 12 shot attempts in the fourth quarter, including three 3-pointers. TD Garden serenaded him with now-familiar "MVP" chants as he attempted free throws with 72 seconds to play. After hitting a pull-up 3-pointer in transition in a one-point game with about seven minutes to go, ...

Morning Tip Q&a

... for others. I’m just trying to stay in attack mode and trying to take what the defense gives me. And they’ve been giving me a lot. Me: Why has the team’s defense been up and down. IT: First off, we haven’t had a full, healthy squad for a while. I think the last two weeks is the first time when everybody’s been healthy, and our defensive ratings have been up. And that’s a big plus for us, because we are a defensive-minded team. But we do need our good defenders to be out on the floor - Jae Crowder, Al Horford, Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley. And we didn’t have that at the beginning of the year. And I think that was a big reason why our defensive numbers were down. Me: What does Jae bring, specifically, with his ability to defend on the wings. IT: He can guard multiple positions, and you need that in today’s game. And he can sit down and guard one through four, and that’s very versatile. That helps our team. Me: And how is the continuity with you and Avery growing. IT: It’s at a high level. We’re ...

Marcus Keene Has Taken College Basketball By Storm

... after Thomas, but he stands eye to eye with him, at a diminutive 5’9. Given Keene’s success, it’s no surprise that, other than height, they share one key trait: grit. Sure, Malik Monk is putting up ridiculous numbers in Lexington and Lonzo Ball might be the most entertaining player in college basketball, but no one is outscoring Keene. He is averaging a nation-high 29.8 points per game, nearly five points better than the next best scorer, Valparaiso's Alec Peters. “I got the ultimate green light,” Keene said, adding that his head coach, Keno Davis, let’s him shoot pretty much whenever he wants. But it hasn’t always been that easy for Keene. He started his career at Youngstown State as a shooting guard. After a rough patch there, serving primarily as a set-up 3-man, despite efficient play, Keene found a change of scenery at CMU. He had to sit out the 2015-16 season due to NCAA transfer policy, but used the time off to his advantage. He credits that year as being monumental in helping him adapt physically to the game, especially in his transition to point guard. And what ...

Isaiah Thomas Was Furious Over Claims He Talked Trash About Dennis Schroder’s Mother

... Isaiah Thomas doesn’t seem to be cooling down in the foreseeable future. The two went after each other during last season’s first round with Thomas — after the series-deciding Game 6 — even telling Schroder, “We’ll meet you in the back.” The Hawks and Celtics met for the first time Friday since that contentious playoff series, and according to the Hawks point guard, Thomas crossed the line. Schroder told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Thomas talked trash about his mother and family. “I’m playing basketball. If he think that he got to curse at my mom or say some dumb stuff about my family, that has nothing to do with basketball. That’s his choice. I’ve got too much class for that. Next one, we are going to get it.”. Once Thomas saw the quote, he tweeted directly at AJC Hawks beat writer Chris Vivlamore and denied the claims. @CVivlamore AJC not sure what the quote is referring to but one thing is certain I would never disrespect/talk trash about anyones family/mom. — Isaiah Thomas (@Isaiah_Thomas) January 14, 2017. Come Sunday, Thomas was still furious about Schroder’s ...

Isaiah Thomas’ 41 Points Lead Celtics Past Pistons

... January. The loss also trimmed Cleveland’s lead for the top spot in the Eastern Conference to 2 1/2 games over Boston. Heat 104, Nets 96: Goran Dragic scored 20 points, Dion Waiters added 19 and the Heat pushed the NBA’s longest current winning streak to eight games. James Johnson had 17, Rodney Mc Gruder scored 13 and Hassan Whiteside added 12 for Miami. Waiters and Dragic combined to hand out 17 assists for the Heat, who took the lead for good with a 17-0 run late in the first half. Miami outscored Brooklyn 33-12 from 3-point range. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 16 points for Brooklyn (9-39), which has lost six straight and 17 of its last 18. 76 ers 122, Kings 116: Robert Covington had 23 points and 10 rebounds to rally Philadelphia to the victory. The Sixers overcame 46 points from De Marcus Cousins and won again without injured center Joel Embiid, who sat out with a left knee contusion. He also will not travel with the Sixers ...

Celtics' Isaiah Thomas Is A Fourth-quarter Killer, But Which Team Is He Killing

... have the right parts around him. OK, so what are some possible solutions. 1. Keep tightening the bolts. The Celtics' issue seems to be that they essentially play up or down to the opponent. They have a 127 defensive rating (and are outscored) when leading by 6-10 points in the 4 th. It's not that the Celtics can't play good defense, because when they are tied, their numbers are terrific. They appear to let their guard down when they're up, and perhaps there isn;t as much subbing offense for defense in these situations. Also, Boston's defense isn't improving. January has seen both their worst overall and 4 th quarter defensive numbers of any month this year. Notice that this has also been the month when Isaiah Thomas has gone on this insane tear and established himself as a big-name player, which creates this strange predicament of a player perhaps being the only possible cure for the very problem he helps ...