Thomas wants Feb. 11 focus on 34
CELTICS NOTEBOOK
Isaiah Thomas finally gave in to a growing outcry last night and requested the Celtics not hold a video tribute for him on Feb. 11, the same night the team will retire Paul Pierce’s number.
The Cavaliers guard, who originally had declined a tribute on Jan. 3, wanting to be honored on a night when he was actually playing and had his family in attendance, had initially requested the Feb. 11 date — with the Celtics accepting.
He posted the following statement on Twitter last night:
“I’d like to thank the Celtics for their gracious offer to play a video tribute on Feb 11th celebrating my 3yrs in Boston. But since it appears this has caused some controversy w/Paul Pierce’s night I’d ask the Celtics instead to focus all of their attention on #34’s career.
“I look forward to coming back and playing in Boston on Feb 11th and see all of the great fans whom I will always remember for their love and incredible support the past few years.”
Earlier in the night, Tony Allen had expressed shock to hear about Thomas’ request. For Allen, who won an NBA title with Pierce in 2008, the double billing is unthinkable.
“Talk about Paul Pierce, don’t mention his name, and guys’ names that don’t stand in the same frame,” Allen, now a member of the Pelicans, said before last night’s game. “So big salute to my boy Paul Pierce. My big brother, Ubuntu, NBA champion.
Told that Pierce has spoken out against the idea of a Thomas tribute during his own special night, Allen said, “Yeah, I’m with Pierce, man. Nobody put in more work than Pierce. Anybody disagree? OK. Paul Pierce put in big work, man. Why would they honor him on that same day? “Why would they do that?” When it was pointed out that Thomas’ tribute would likely be played on the Garden HDX big screen during a timeout or a break between quarters, Allen said, “Make it real short and sweet man, real short and sweet. Let my man get his jersey retired, man, let him embrace that, man. He put a lot of blood, sweat and tears in this organization, and capitalized and had good results. Struggled with the team. I remember losing 19 straight with that man. Turned back around and won a championship.”
Working in Hayward
Gordon Hayward has begun individualized work with some of his younger teammates, including film work with rookies Abdel Nader and Semi Ojeleye, sharing stories from when he was a young player fighting for playing time.
The Celtics forward, who had the brace removed from his surgically repaired left leg last week, is also being slowly blended back into the practice routine, strictly as an observer, naturally.
“We haven’t talked about travel yet, but we spent yesterday afternoon together obviously and caught up quite a bit there,” coach Brad Stevens said of attending Monday’s game between his old team, Butler, and Providence College in Providence. “But he’s been doing his consistent workouts. He’s consistently got his routine with regard to his rehab. He’s doing some spot shooting. Very, very light. The other day, I had him shoot a free throw in practice to determine whether we’d do the last drill or not. And he made it, so we didn’t do it. He’s doing all that he can right now.”
As always, caution is paramount. “We want to be giving him the comfort to know that we all know it’s a long road ahead.”
Stevens finds inner fan
Stevens cherished his opportunity to attend the Butler/Providence game as a fan, and claimed he had no instinct to start viewing the game as a coach.
“No way. Completely free. I enjoyed cheering,” he said. “I find myself a little bit more emotionally engaged, probably. As far as like riding the highs and lows of the game. And I love sitting and being around it. One of these days, that’ll be my seat. And I will thoroughly enjoy it.”