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Although they were routed in Atlanta and now face a must-win Game 6 on Thursday, the Celtics caught a big break regarding the indispensable Isaiah Thomas.
Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas suffered a mild left ankle sprain during the fourth quarter of Tuesday night’s 110-83 Game 5 loss to the Atlanta Hawks but was adamant he will play in Thursday’s Game 6.
“I’m great,” Thomas said. “Ready for Game 6. I’m playing no matter what. I’m not going to sit out. I just tweaked it. I tweaked it in Game 4 as well in the fourth quarter, so I just tweaked it again. And it hurt right when it happened, but I came back [to the locker room], and I’ll be all right.”
ESPN Boston – Isaiah Thomas on sprained ankle: ‘I’m playing no matter what’
Here’s a look at the play.
Isaiah Thomas to the locker room… this doesn’t look great pic.twitter.com/pIvRvJRt3F
— Dime Magazine (@DimeMag) April 27, 2016
All of Celtics Nation would lose hope if Isaiah’s turned ankle had been severe. It’s fair to ask the coach why IT was even playing at that point in in a blowout. (If Brad honestly thought a comeback was possible, he was the only one.)
Because the Celtics trailed 93-64 with just 10 minutes left at the time of the injury, head coach Brad Stevens was asked if he had any regrets about leaving Thomas on the floor.
“I think that’s a very valid question,” Stevens said. “With this team, I’ve seen just enough crazy stuff to think that we might be able to get back in (to the game), and give him a chance from 12 (minutes) to nine or eight (minutes) to see if it could happen. He actually had a sub at the table when it happened. So I know that’s quite a task and quite a mountain to overcome, but we’ve all seen this team do some pretty crazy things when we’re down.”
In the post-game, Thomas demanded that his squad step up in the next game. It wasn’t exactly like Larry Bird calling his teammates “sissies” in the 1984 Finals, but it was a solid, team-leader tactic.
Thomas was the center of the Hawks’ attention all night, regularly drawing double-teams and facing a wall of Atlanta defenders every time he drove to the rim. His first basket didn’t come until nearly four minutes into the second half.
The Hawks’ strategy clearly flustered Thomas, who channeled his frustrations into a direct challenge to his teammates after the game.
“It should be a sign of disrespect to my teammates for them to put two on the ball every time I have it,” Thomas said in an interview aired on CSN New England. “Other guys have to step up and make plays. That’s what it comes down to. If they try to do it again in Game 6, it comes down to other guys making plays.
“I’m going to just try to get the ball out as quickly as possible out of the trap, out of the two or three guys they have on me, but the other guys have to make shots. The other guys have to make plays for us to win.”
NESN – Isaiah Thomas Issues Challenge To Celtics Teammates After Game 5 Loss
With the Celtics missing Avery Bradley, getting nothing from a damaged Kelly Olynyk, and understanding that Jae Crowder is probably still not 100%, there’s no doubt the healthier Hawks will take the floor on Thursday with a talent advantage. But after an embarrassing loss, and IT playing the Disrespect Card, in a do-or-die Game 6 in front of a fired-up Boston home crowd, count on the Celtics’ to fight like hell to extend this series to Game 7.
Related: CSNNE – Thomas on Ankle Sprain: ‘I’ll Play No Matter What’ | Globe – Isaiah Thomas limps off as Celtics routed by Hawks | ESPN Boston – Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas on Hawks’ plan: ‘A sign of disrespect to my teammates’
On Page 2: We’re on to Game 6
The Celtics have now suffered seven straight losses in Atlanta. Last night’s, especially coming in a playoff Game 5, was easily the worst. The Hawks made only six of their first 34 shots (17.6%), yet trailed by just 29-19 midway through the second quarter. Atlanta ended up shooting 42 of 96 (43.8%) and outscored the Celtics 91-54 over the final 30 minutes. Other than that, here’s everything you need to know.
Let them slip away: Tommy – “#Celtics had them down early and didn’t put their foot on their throat.”
— CSNCeltics (@csnceltics) April 27, 2016
93-62, Hawks.
This is now the largest deficit for the Celtics at any point this year.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) April 27, 2016
Game 5 Column: Kris Humphries scored eight points in four minutes. Isaiah Thomas scored seven points in 29 minutes. End of column.
— Rich Levine (@rich_levine) April 27, 2016
Let’s never speak of this game again.
Related: Herald – Celtics hurting after big Game 5 loss | MassLive – Isaiah Thomas hurt as Boston Celtics blown out by Atlanta Hawks in Game 5, 110-83| Boston Celtics analysis: Atlanta Hawks go small, send hard traps at Isaiah Thomas | NESN – Celtics Wrap: C’s On Brink After Ugly 110-83 Game 5 Loss To Hawks | ESPN – Hawks surge to rout of Celtics, take 3-2 lead in series | CSNNE – Stars, Studs & Duds: Hawks Runs Too Much to Overcome | Globe – An opportunity squandered by the Celtics | Celtics.com – Hawks Catch Key Win by Trapping Isaiah Thomas
And, finally: From 4th to 6th?
If you were shocked that Stevens did not even make top five in the Coach of the Year voting, consider this from Red’s Army’s own Rich Jensen:
Consider: Stevens actually did worse in this year’s coach of the year balloting than he did last year, 6th vs. 4th.
— Rich Jensen (@RichAJensen) April 26, 2016
It’s true. A year ago, Stevens finished fourth with two first-place votes and 50 total points. This year he improved to five first-place votes and 74 total points, but dropped two spots in the rankings. Feel free to be outraged.
The Rest of the Links:
Boston.com – Welcome to the Marcus Smart Experience
Atlanta Journal-Constitution – Commentary: Why the Hawks’ attendance figures are disingenuous
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