Stevens diffuses controversy
Brad Stevens and Fred Hoiberg go way back. Both are former college coaches who made the jump to the NBA and the two have held a long relationship.
So when it comes to what Hoiberg said about Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas Sunday night — suggesting Thomas travels “on every possession” — Stevens respects the Bulls coach’s opinion and moves on. There’s no ill will or feud brewing here.
Stevens was dismissive when asked about those comments.
“I’m not gonna say what I would or wouldn’t do with regard to with what somebody else chooses to say,” the Celtics coach said. “That’s certainly, any time you’re in front of a podium, you have the right to say whatever you want to say. Ultimately, I’m not putting a lot of weight into that. I think Isaiah’s one of the best scorers in the league, and like the other really good scorers, he’s hard to guard because of his skill, his change of pace and his explosion. You go through the guys in the league that are hardest to guard, there’s a reason they’re hard to guard.
“I think ultimately, I think highly of coach Hoiberg, I’ve known him for a long time. Whatever he wants to say is his prerogative, and I’m focusing on our team and coaching our team.”
Stevens was asked if he thinks Thomas carries the ball.
“I don’t. No,” he said.
Butler needs to zip his lip
The complaint about Thomas wasn’t the Bulls’ only gripe about the C’s following Game 4. Jimmy Butler, via the media, sent out a warning to Marcus Smart, after the two chatted nose-to-nose during a double technical foul moment in the second quarter.
Avery Bradley suggested the C’s have an issue, too, and it’s connected to Butler’s 19-for-23 free throw performance.
“I think he shot 23 free throws. More than us? Yeah, let’s just leave it there,” Bradley said. “I don’t want to get fined.”
Bradley had a right to be impressed by Butler’s 23 attempts. The Celtics as a team only attempted 22, including 13 by Thomas.
In fact, the Bulls forward ended up joining some elite company with that free throw performance.
According to stat guru Dick Lipe, Butler’s 23 attempts were the third most against the Celtics in a playoff game since 1964, bettered only by Wilt Chamberlain (8-for-25) in 1966 and LeBron James (18-for-24) in 2012.
Green keeps delivering gold
Thomas has a running prediction that Gerald Green will win a playoff game for the Celtics, and since the scorer has been added to the starting lineup, Thomas’ words may be adding weight.
The swingman scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half of Sunday’s Game 4 win in Chicago, and for the second straight game opened up the floor for his teammates. Look for that Stevens adjustment to continue.
“He can shoot but also penetrate, so it put pressure on the defense,” said Al Horford. “I’ve just been very impressed with how professional he is, really embracing this opportunity.”
No the only Isaiah in town
Rajon Rondo had the cast on his broken right thumb removed, but he’s still not expected to play in Game 5.
With him out for at least one more game, there’s another player named Isaiah to take note of in this series — Isaiah Canaan, who Hoiberg said will start in Rondo’s place.
Canaan scored 13 points off the bench in Game 4, and seemed to give Chicago a lift where it needs it most. Without Rondo, the Bulls’ offense has at times looked lost.
But Canaan won’t be sneaking up on Stevens. When he coached at Butler, Canaan’s Murray State team nearly upset his Bulldogs in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Canaan scored 14 points in that game, going 4-for-4 on 3-pointers.
“I have a great deal of respect for him,” Stevens said. “He’s a shot maker, he’s a tough guy, he brought a great deal of energy (Sunday) and played really well.”