Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas is used to being a pain the backside of opponents. Now it’s the pain in his backside that’s keeping him from being a pain.
Waddling gingerly to meet with reporters at the team’s training facility on Thursday, Thomas said he’s experienced uncomfortable swelling near his backside after landing hard on that region while being fouled on a drive to the hoop late in Monday’s win over the Miami Heat.
Thomas sat out Wednesday’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies and is expected to miss Boston’s upcoming back-to-back. He’s targeting a potential return on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers, but that will hinge on how the swelling subsides.
“It’s been bad,” said Thomas. “It’s been hurting when I stand up, sit down, so it’s like nothing’s comfortable. I’ve been very uncomfortable the last few days. I’m just trying to get this swelling out as fast as possible, then once I can tolerate the pain, I’ll be alright.”
ESPN Boston – For Thomas, injury a real pain in the butt
Isaiah Thomas is in some serious pain. When he landed hard on his back and elbow during Monday night’s game in Miami, you could tell immediately that he was in rough shape. And if you still had doubts, the next defensive trip, he slipped and could barely get up. It was like he was a superhero losing a battle with his arch enemy during the final scene, and had to use all his remaining strength just to stand. Now, he’s standing… because it’s too painful to sit.
As a result, Thomas will be out for the two games over the weekend, which is a good thing. If the Celtics plan on making the playoffs and making some noise once they’re there, they will need Thomas. Of course, Brad Stevens is working some serious coaching necromancer skills, getting these guys to play hard as a team, no matter who is on the court. But Thomas right now is their best player, and they will need him then. They have to get there first, and keeping him iced for now is good. There is zero need to rush him back, even if for some reason it means they lose out on the playoffs.
On Page 2, We celebrate Bird’s record 60-point game
Perhaps he even invented one or two new moves along the way. He finished with 19 points in the quarter, including 11 in the final 3 minutes and 10 seconds as the Celtics took a 100-89 lead into the final quarter. “I could feel it at the end of the third period,’’ said DJ in the aftermath. “He made a shot – the real high one? – and I said to myself, ‘watch out. He already had 42 points and he was just getting hot.’***
ROBERT PARISH, Celtics center, 1980-94: He told us at halftime that nobody could stop him so just give him the ball and get out of the way. Then he went out and started taunting the Atlanta players on the floor, the ones on the bench, their coaches, even the referees. He was talking so much trash he was buried in it. It was one of those nights when he could have drop-kicked the ball in. I loved it. ^
Boston.com – “It Was Like Living A Video Game’: An Oral History of Larry Bird’s 60-Point Game
Chad Finn of the Boston Globe does a simply remarkable job with the piece linked above. He pulls a Jonathan Abrams and treats all C’s fans to a glorious oral history of Bird’s record breaking 60-point game. Just about every major (and some minor) characters all are quoted and share their own perspective of that day, including Larry Bird and Scott Wedman discussing the 5k they ran the day before. Simply a must read so go do it now if you haven’t already.
Finally, Gigi is a legend
Before games, Datome can be found with a cup of coffee in his hands. Unlike other players who prefer sports drinks, he sticks with a hot beverage.
“It’s just something to wake me up a little bit,” he explained as he stirred. “I got used to a shot of espresso back in Italy. Here, everywhere I go, I just find a big quantity of coffee and I enjoy it. I drink it straight black. I just need caffeine.”
Basketball Insiders – Who is Luigi Datome?
Jessica Camerato has a nice profile of the best Italian player in Celtics history, the Legend, Gigi Datome!
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston – Easy to embrace these Celtics
Boston Globe – For Isaiah Thomas, it’s painful (literally) to watch Celtics
Boston Herald – Isaiah Thomas out til Monday, lucky injury wasn’t worse
CSNNE – Celtics’ Thomas says injury is unlike any he’s had before
MWDN – Bass reveling in Celtics’ revival
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