|
Post by Admin on Nov 12, 2019 17:58:03 GMT -5
‘I don’t hold no grudges’: IT said he has no hard feelings toward the Celtics "I'm at a good place mentally. I got my joy back." By Deyscha Smith
AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Isaiah Thomas is turning over a new leaf.
In a profile written by Bleacher Report’s Leo Sepkowitz, the Wizards point guard detailed how the roller coaster ride of his career, from injury to trades, affected his love of the game. He said today he’s “in a good place” despite everything.
“I’m at a good place mentally,” Thomas said, “I got my joy back.”
That loss of “joy” ensued after Thomas’ final run with the Celtics during the 2016-17 season, where he was rocked both physically and emotionally. When his sister, Chyna, passed away in April, Thomas persevered and competed the next day against the Bulls, scoring 33 points in her honor. He battled through injury and led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference playoffs, only to suffer a torn labrum in his hip.
Then at the end of the season, the Celtics traded him to the Cavaliers for Kyrie Irving. Given what he had gone through, the news deeply hurt him.
His injury left him depressed, and Thomas trusted very few people. Still, despite how things went down in Boston, he holds no grudge against the Celtics today.
“Boston will always have my heart, because I went through a real-life situation there, and that city rolled with me,” he said. “I don’t wish them bad luck. It’s just, you can’t duplicate what’s real. What we had was real. There was a time I was upset. I felt like it was handled the wrong way for a franchise player. But I don’t hold no grudges.”
He said he still has “love” for the team and keeps in contact with head coach Brad Stevens. Thomas’ wife, Kayla, admitted that fans even approach him on the street and praise him for his time in Boston. She wants him to show that not only was he an impactful player then, but he still can be one now.
“I’m ready for him to prove he was a great player way before the Celtics,” she said. “He was a great player for the Celtics, and he’ll be a great player after the Celtics.”
Thomas expressed those same sentiments for himself.
“I don’t think about Boston,” he said. “I don’t want to be just, Boston.”
Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by kyceltic on Nov 13, 2019 18:17:42 GMT -5
I'm ready to go!!
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 13, 2019 18:51:56 GMT -5
Washington Wizards at Boston Celtics Game #10 The Celtics welcome Isaiah Thomas and the Wizards to the Garden as they go for their 9th straight win. By flceltsfan
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The Celtics host the Wizards for the first of 3 games this season. They will play again in Boston on March 13 and they will play just one game in Washington on January 6. The Celtics are 4-0 at home while the Wizards are 1-3 on the road. The Celtics have won 8 straight while the Wizards have lost their last 2 games and 5 of their last 6.
Isaiah Thomas will return to the TD Garden as a starter for the first time since he was traded to the Cavaliers back in 2017 for Kyrie Irving. He has been back to the Garden with both the Cavaliers and the Nuggets, but he was either injured or was a role player for those teams. He should get a warm welcome from the Celtics fans in attendance.
The Celtics will be playing their second game without Gordon Hayward and I expect that they will start Smart in his place as they did against the Mavericks. Kemba Walker left that game with a neck injury but it isn’t expected to keep him out of this game. Daniel Theis injured his finger in that game and is doubtful for this game.
I expect Robert Williams to get the start at center if Theis can’t play, as Enes Kanter is still working his way back to game shape after missing 7 games before playing limited minutes against the Mavericks. John Wall and Ian Mahinmi are both out for the Wizards with achilles injuries.
Probable Celtics Starters
Kemba Walker
Marcus Smart Jaylen Brown Jayson Tatum Robert Williams III
Celtics Reserves Carsen Edwards Javonte Green Semi Ojeleye Vincent Poirier Brad Wanamaker Grant Williams Robert Williams III Romeo Langford Enes Kanter
Injuries Gordon Hayward (hand) out Kemba Walker (neck) probable Daniel Theis (hand) doubtful
Two Way Players Tremont Waters Tacko Fall
Head Coach Brad Stevens
Probable Wizards Starters
Isaiah Thomas Bradley Beal Troy Brown Rui Hachimura Thomas Bryant
Wizards Reserves David Bertans Isaac Bonga Jordan McRae CJ Miles Justin Robinson Admiral Schofield Ish Smith Moritz Wagner
Injuries John Wall (Achilles) out Ian Mahinmi (Achilles) out
Two Way Players Garrison Matthews Chris Chibozza
Head Coach Scott Brooks
Key Matchups
Marcus Smart vs Bradley Beal Beal is averaging 26.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. He always seems to have a big game against the Celtics also. I think Kemba can defend Isaiah and so it will be up to Marcus Smart to slow down Bradley Beal. Hopefully he won’t struggle with defending him because he is not 7 feet tall.
Jayson Tatum vs Rui Hachimura
The Wizards rookie, Rui Hachimura is playing very well for them. He is averaging 13.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. Jayson Tatum is coming off a very rough game for him where he shot just 1-18 from the field. The Celtics will be looking for a bounce back game from him on the offensive end and some solid defense from him on Hachimura.
Honorable Mention
Kemba Walker vs Isaiah Thomas
Even though Isaiah says that he has nothing but love for the Celtics, he is going to want to have a big game and beat them, if for nothing else than to show that they made a mistake in trading him. He is averaging 13.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists.
Robert Williams vs Thomas Bryant
Bryant is averaging 14.8 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Time Lord, or Kanter if he starts, needs to keep Bryant off the boards, especially. The Wizards have good front court depth while the Celtics are not so deep there with Theis doubtful and Kanter still not back to full strength.
Keys to the Game
Defense - The Celtics need to make defense a priority. Defense wins games. Both teams are averaging 113.4 points per game. The Celtics can’t depend on winning a shoot out with the Wizards. They have to play tough defense to limit the Wizards scoring.
Be Aggressive - The Celtics need to be the more aggressive team from start to finish. They need to be aggressive in going to the hoop, in crashing the boards, in fighting for loose balls and in running the court. They also have to be more aggressive on defense. They have to be the team that wants it more. If the Celtics want to get a win in this game, they have to play harder than the Wizards.
Rebound - The Celtics are averaging 46.4rebounds per game while the Wizards are averaging 43.8 rebounds per game. However, the Wizards average 2.2 more offensive rebounds than the Celtics and are 5th in the league with 15.1 second chance points. The Celtics have to put out the extra effort to grab rebounds and match or exceed the Wizards efforts on the boards if they want to get a win in this game.
Next Man Up - The Celtics will have to play without 2 key starters with Hayward out and Theis likely to miss this game as well. Enes Kanter is still not back to 100% and so every player on the team needs to step up and help to fill those voids. The Celtics will need more from Wanamaker, Green and Grant Williams. They will also need Tatum to snap out of his slump and have a big game.
X-Factors
Home Game - The Celtics are playing at home and should get a boost from playing in front of their home crowd and on their home court. The Wizards have struggled on the road with just a 1-3 record away from home. The Celtics need to make the Garden a place that other teams fear.
Officiating - The officiating is always an X-Factor. Some crews call games tight and call every little thing and so the game has no flow. Some crews let teams play and allow a lot of contact. Some refs favor the home team and some favor the road team. The Celtics need to adjust their game to the way the refs are calling it.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 13, 2019 19:05:30 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by puddin on Nov 13, 2019 19:05:48 GMT -5
Knock this MoFo down on his azz a few times when he is driving to the cup.
No hard feelings Isaiah... we LUV you man.. but its war out there between the lines.
And I'd take you back in a skinny minute.... but unless and until we do the deal.....
Pud
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 13, 2019 19:06:06 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 13, 2019 19:06:46 GMT -5
Kanter & Poirier @ Center ... No Theis or Time Lord tonight ... the Clock is broken (sore ankle)
|
|
|
Post by cole on Nov 13, 2019 19:19:55 GMT -5
I expect to see a lot of Williams too.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:30:55 GMT -5
Yet another return of the Lil'Guy. Don't want to see us play down to our opponent tonight. Keep the momentum rolling and blow this team off the floor early. Love IT, but dis is bi-ness.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:41:33 GMT -5
Kanter gets the call to start.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:42:32 GMT -5
Smart starts it off with a score over IT. IT gets it back.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:43:01 GMT -5
Tatum hits his 1st shot. Good to see.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:43:39 GMT -5
Kanter draws the foul underneath.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:44:01 GMT -5
Tatum with the floater. 6 - 4 C's.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:45:03 GMT -5
Brown to Kanter for 2.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:46:01 GMT -5
Kanter draws another foul. This is shooting. C's showing poise on offense.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:46:47 GMT -5
Tatum with his own putback.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:47:25 GMT -5
Nice D by Brown there to break up that play.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:48:36 GMT -5
C's need to tighten up the defense. 13 all.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:53:05 GMT -5
C's lagging too far off the shooters. Vincent for the jumper.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:53:35 GMT -5
Kemba answers IT's 3.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:53:53 GMT -5
Smart for 3!
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:54:34 GMT -5
Marcus has definitely gotten better with his shot. Kemba for the and1!
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:54:57 GMT -5
Edwards and Green check in.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Nov 13, 2019 19:55:24 GMT -5
Grant checks in.
|
|