Isaiah Thomas

Isaiah Thomas Named All-star Reserve

... tied the league mark with four selections, with reserves Draymond Green and Klay Thompson joining two teammates announced as starters last week — Durant and Stephen Curry. ‘It’s a blessing,’ a thankful Westbrook said in a televised interview after scoring 45 points in Oklahoma City’s win over Dallas. ‘I never take it for granted. I’m honored, obviously, to play in the All-Star Game.’. Other West reserves include Sacramento’s De Marcus Cousins, Memphis’ Marc Gasol and first-time selections Hayward of Utah and Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers. — NBA (@NBA) January 27, 2017. ‘Bout time! Congrats big fella!’ Clippers guard Chris Paul tweeted to Jordan, who entered Thursday as the NBA’s rebounding leader. The Eastern Conference reserves are Indiana’s Paul George, Cleveland’s Kevin Love, Toronto’s Kyle Lowry, Atlanta’s Paul ...

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

... reserve point guards to also make the team, 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 Russell Westbrook (30.1), who will be a reserve on the Western Conference team. Thomas has now scored 20 or more ...

Marcus Keene Has Taken College Basketball By Storm

... 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 a point guard he has been. Keene’s priority remains helping his teammates get better, and this year he has doled out 5.3 assists per game, the second-most in the MAC, with the league’s third-best assist rate. But Keene’s instant offense helps his team the most. “It just so happens that I’m a good scorer and our team needs me to score,” Keene said. Most of America only knows him for his 50-game outburst against Miami (OH), but is clear that he is much more than that. Keene knows this better than anyone. “I feel like I’m still under the radar,” he said. Keene’s efficiency numbers are strong, though not other-worldly. ...

The Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas Got Better Because He Got Faster

... about new stories from Power Post. Sign up to follow, and we’ll e-mail you free updates as they’re published. You’ll receive free e-mail news updates each time a new story is published. You’re all set. By Neil Greenberg By Neil Greenberg January 24 Follow @ngreenberg. Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics is second in NBA scoring with a career-high in three-point shooting. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images). Isaiah Thomas was always fast with his feet. When 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 ...

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

... funny because Thomas has pulled them out of so many fourth-quarter dilemmas since that night. It feels normal now when he scores 14 points over the final six minutes, like he did Thursday night to hold off a late Indiana Pacers comeback try. It's anything but normal, though. Fourth-quarter Isaiah Thomas is a flash of light headed straight for the rim, a natural disaster for opponents, and about as close to inevitable brilliance as a 5-foot-9 basketball player will ever get. Thomas has now scored 201 points over 168 fourth-quarter minutes, which equates to 57.4 points per 48 minutes. If he scored at the same rate throughout the entire game, while maintaining his current playing time, he would be averaging 39.8 points right now. Best of all, he's doing it while helping his team. The Celtics own an absurd 119.4 offensive rating in fourth ...

Thomas Scores 37 To Lead Celtics Past Bucks In Ot

... Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) spins as Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (13) defends during the second quarter at Verizon Center. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports. Nov. 18, 2016: Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson passes the ball while defended by Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas in Denver. Isaiah J. Downing, USA TODAY Sports. Nov. 17, 2016: Rockets forward Montrezl Harrell dunks against the Blazers in Houston. Erik Williams, USA TODAY Sports. Nov 16, 2016: Clippers center De Andre Jordan (6) reacts to a foul call in the second half of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Spor. Nov. 15, 2016: Le Bron James fights for position with De Mar De Rozan during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. Jason Miller, Getty Images. Nov. 14, 2016: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) ...

No Rest, No Problem For Isaiah Thomas

... better than his nearest competitor ( Russell Westbrook , 30.9) for scoring on the second nights of back-to-backs. The only player in the last 20 years to average more points per game on the second nights of back-to-backs is one of Thomas' idols, Allen Iverson, who averaged 34.9 points during the 2004-05 season. "I know the thing about back-to-backs, you just have to lock in a little bit more," said Thomas. "It’s more mental than anything because you’re tired. You’re obviously tired from playing the night before. I just try to stay locked in, try to take advantage of my opportunity, and make the plays my teammates need me to make.". -via ESPN Stats and Info. The Celtics are 8-3 in the second game of back-to-backs this year thanks 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 ...

Morning Tip Q&a

... and I always have. It’s just something that I’m pretty good at, I guess. Me: Does it surprise you that the fourth quarter isn’t for everyone. IT: No. It’s for the best players. Not just saying I’m one of the best players, but you’ve seen it, if you’re a fan of the game of basketball. Whether it be Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, [the] fourth quarter is where they really lock in and take over games, and I always wanted to be one of those players. "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.". Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas, on his 4 th quarter scoring prowess. Me: In terms of how you get looks in the fourth, is it different than at other points in the game. IT: I think so. I’m looking to score even more in the fourth. Lately, coach has been starting me in the fourth quarter. I guess, it’s just to get a better rhythm. I’ve been trying to be aggressive to score and to make plays 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 ...