Bad night won’t stop IT
It’s one thing to be brash and bold when you’re busting up the league and confounding crunchtime defenses geared to smother you. So give Isaiah Thomas credit.
The Celtics’ three games since he appeared in the All-Star Game have been among his worst, particularly in his signature quarter, the fourth. And last night Thomas’ franchise record of 43 consecutive games with 20 or more points came undone with his rickety 19 in a disturbing 114-98 loss to Atlanta.
But, while certainly not as jovial as usual, he hadn’t lost his edge.
“No,” said Thomas when asked about disappointment in the snapping of the streak, “I’ll break it again. I’m not worried about it. I’ll break it.”
The reason he came so close to keeping the run alive was a 10-for-10 effort from the free-throw line. Otherwise, he was 4-for-21 from the floor, his worst shooting night of the season (the previous low was 6-of-21 against Sacramento in December).
“They didn’t do nothing special,” Thomas said of the Hawks. “It’s just I missed a lot of shots in the paint that I usually make. I got to where I wanted to. That wasn’t just me, it was our team (the C’s were 34-of87, .391). We missed a lot of shots that we usually make, and you’ve just got to tip your hat off to the Atlanta Hawks.”
The level of brilliance in the face of concerted resistance Thomas established during his 20-plus-palooza made last night noteworthy.
“I mean, it’s incredible,” said Brad Stevens of the 43 straight. “I didn’t even know it came to an end. It’s incredible. What’d he have … he had 19. His consistency scoring the ball’s been incredible. Yeah, we’ve talked about that a lot. He’s had an incredible run at it, and you’re going to have nights like that. That’s certainly the case. But you know, again, I think we should also credit Atlanta. I feel like Atlanta deserves to be credited for (last night); I thought they played great.
“They were really aggressive on him. They were really tough on him. They bodied him up. They were physical. They had a bunch of different guys on him at different times. They were very active off of the screens. I think they’re one of the best teams in the league using their hands — in a legal way. I mean, they’re just really active with their hands. And then the biggest thing against this team that we’ve struggled with all the way back to last year is just finishing at the rim.”
Finishing has been an issue against the Raptors and Pistons, as well, since the break. Thomas has made just 20-of-61 shots from the floor following the weekend in New Orleans, and he is 5-for-28 in his last five quarters. In his favorite frame, the King of the Fourth is 3-for17 in his last three.
He was not pointing to the imaginary watch on his wrist last night, his signature move in the last quarter when he’s going off. Against the Hawks, the NBA’s leading final-period scorer had just two, while committing three of his season-high seven turnovers.
“We won (Sunday against Detroit), so that’s not a problem,” Thomas said of the recent slips. “(Last night) it just was an off night for me. You have those. And when we played Toronto, they showed two or three guys. So I mean, I can’t run through the whole team. I’ll be all right. That’s what teams are game-planning to do.
“I mean, the whole world knows what time it is in the fourth quarter, and they’re game-planning to stop me. I’ve just got to figure it out, and I will. It’s all right.”
Having proven he can face down defenses and score, Thomas knows the next step requires the ability to burn opponents when they throw additional people at him.
“It’s about making the right play,” he said. “If there’s two guys on me, I’ve got to give the ball up. I’ve done that for the most part this whole year, and (last night) I was careless with turnovers, but it was just one of those nights. I mean, 82 games, you’re due for one of those. We’ll be back and playing better (tomorrow).”
But tomorrow means the Cavaliers, the team that has appeared all season to be beyond the Celtics’ grasp. And despite Cleveland’s obvious advantages and ability to throw a blanket on him, Thomas is well aware that the standards for him no longer shift for the competition now that the 5-foot-9 torchbearer set the bar to this height.
“That’s how it is when you want to be great,” he said. “I’m not worried about it.
“I put the work in to have those expectations, so I’m ready for it. It’s fine with me. These nights happen.”
In the midst of what would have to be considered at least a pothole on the 2016-17 road, Isaiah Thomas isn’t shying away from the spotlight.