IT Drops 28 & 7, Sparking another W

March 2, 2015

Isaiah Thomas bought his first winter coat on Thursday. He also has a black and gray knitted cap that apparently isn't new, but hasn't been worn prior to the past couple of days.



But last night, the Celtics guard was the one heating up the Garden to the tune of a 28-point, seven-assist performance in the C's 106-98 win over the Hornets. Thomas has seemingly brought the heat of a July afternoon in Phoenix to the Garden. He's the first C's reserve to score 19 or more points in four straight games since Todd Day did it in 1997, according to team stat guru Dick Lipe.

Thomas has also handed out seven assists in each of the last three games. When asked what's been the spark for the team during the C's three-game win streak, Avery Bradley didn't hesitate before he said simply, "Isaiah Thomas."

When told about Bradley's comment, Thomas responded with a smile and a bit of humility.

"That's pretty nice, but it's not me, it's this team," he said. "We are playing hard and coach is putting us in a position to be successful, and that's the key. We work hard and believe in each other." The 5-foot-9 guard said he thought the team would get hot right away after the trade that brought him to the Celtics a little more than a week ago, and that Brad Stevens' system has been what's stoked the fire.

"Yeah, I expected it. We are basketball players, we have been doing this our whole lives," he said. "The system coach has us run is to go out and make a play and make the right read. When your coach has that much confidence in you, it makes it much easier to play on the court."

Thomas said the last time he played for a coach that allowed him this much freedom was when he played for Mike Malone in Sacramento. Thomas enjoyed the most productive of his three seasons with the Kings in the lone year he played under Malone last season. Despite being four games into his C's career, he already seems to be embracing the role of an on-court leader.

"No doubt, the Celtics need my skills," he said. "I have the ball in my hands a lot more (compared to Phoenix) and coach and the guys want me to make plays and say, 'We are going to follow you.'
"When your teammates are saying that, it's unbelievable for my confidence and it makes it easy for me. I just have to go out there."

Thomas scored 17 of the C's 20 points during a stretch that started at the end of the third quarter with the team down nine and ended in the fourth quarter with the score tied at 82. Perhaps the only time all night where the newest Celt didn't exude confidence is when reminded about why he purchased that winter coat.

"I'll break it in tonight, I guess," he said with wide eyes and a sigh. "Someone said it's going to be below zero."