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.
Speaking at a back-to-school event at the Roslindale Community Center on Wednesday, Thomas talked about how much he is looking forward to building on what the Celtics did after acquiring him at last season’s trade deadline, but bristled at both the idea he is destined to be a bench player for the rest of his career and his recent Sports Illustrated ranking as the 88th-best player in the NBA.
“Disrespect,” Thomas said of the rank. “But that’s someone else’s opinion and I’m going to prove them wrong. It’s nothing new. It’s not like I woke up and saw that and it was the end of my day. I didn’t lose any sleep. You’ve still got doubters out there — people who don’t believe in you. I feel this organization does believe in me, and loves the things I do, so I’m going to continue to build on that.”
As for his role in that organization next season, Thomas stated that he is not exactly content with being a sixth man going forward.
“Hell no, I’m not warming up to that,” Thomas said. “But at the end of the day, I’m going to do whatever it takes to win, whatever is best for the team. I do want to be a starter. Who doesn’t? One of the goals in my career is to be a full-time starter and be one of the best little guys to ever play the game. That’s still a goal of mine. But at the end of the day, I’m a great teammate.
“I’m not going to be going into the coach’s office and being mad, if that’s the decision to have me coming off the bench.”
MetroWest Daily News – Thomas motivated to accomplish more with Celts
It’s a tall task, for sure, and Thomas has a group of former “little guys” he respects a whole lot.
“Allen Iverson,” Thomas said first. After a brief pause, he continued, “Isiah Thomas — the older one. Nate ‘Tiny’ Archibald. There’s a lot of them. But I want to be the best guy to ever play under 6-foot. That’s a goal of mine and I’m going to try to reach that.”
If we’re being exact, Iverson (6’0″), the older Thomas (6’1″) and Archibald (6’1″) were all listed at 6-feet or taller. Assuming that’s the cut-off, their heights give the younger Thomas a better chance of reaching his goal. Still, he will have to surpass legends like Calvin Murphy – the shortest player, at 5-foot-9, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
MassLive – Isaiah Thomas aims to be ‘the best little guy to ever play the game of basketball’
To play in the NBA, one must be ultra-motivated; to do it at 5’9” means you’re one of the most competitive people on the planet. Sounds like Isaiah Thomas.
What’s not to like about him? He’s driven, takes slights to heart, and will prove you wrong, son. His personal goals are as big as they can be, but he stays within the team framework. He backs down from nothing and no one.
Remember when he was traded by the Suns and less than a week later returned to Phoenix to destroy them with 21 points? And stared them down while he was doing it? I want guys like that on my squad. Can’t wait to see the little man for 82 games.
Related: MassLive – Terry Rozier shares (very) high hopes in Twitter Q & A
On Page 2: Founding father of small ball
Tom Heinsohn, who is entering the Hall of Fame as a coach, is a founding father of the small-ball era. The Golden State Warriors won their championship in June by borrowing from ideas introduced by Heinsohn in the 1970s. […]
“If you were Wilt Chamberlain or Bob Lanier or Walt Bellamy or any of the other 7-footers, you hated to play against Dave Cowens because you’d be running your butt off to catch up to him, and you would be bending your knees on defense on the perimeter, which was something they never did. That was the object of it. I had a feel for what we were doing, because I was Dave Cowens in college in this offense. I was the center of the Holy Cross teams and I was a prime ballhandler. I led the team in assists in college. I grew up playing as a guard in high school, so I had a feel for the passing – and Dave took to it. As he was learning what we wanted him to do, I was eager to have him shoot the ball coming up on the break in the trailer spot.”’
NBA.com – Big man Heinsohn adapts small ball while on bench
Kudos to Ian Thomsen for making the connection between the Heinsohn-led Celtics and today’s small-ball style. Anyone who’s listened to Tommy on Celtics telecasts knows within five minutes that he endorses the running game as the only way to play. Size, he believes, is not as important as ball movement, quickness and pace.
In that regard, Tommy was in the right place at the right time as head coach during the ’70s. When Red Auerbach drafted the 6’9” Cowens, the plan was to play him at power forward. Everyone thought he was too short to fill Boston’s desperate need for a center. But Tommy conceived a style of offense that enabled Cowens to thrive at the five against the seven-footers who were the foundation of other teams during that era.
Cowens was quick, ferocious and relentless. Comparing him to players of today, his skills were like a combination of Kevin Love and Draymond Green: He could score in the low post, shoot from distance, rebound with anyone, and defend at an all-NBA level, even while giving away height.
Tommy’s system and Dave’s talents were a perfect match. Cowens won two championships, the 1972-73 MVP and membership in the Hall of Fame. And, no doubt, Tommy’s innovations are what earned him his own upcoming Hall of Fame induction as a coach.
“When I was playing and coaching, it was a players’ game. Players were given control of what they did on the floor. We had generalized principles, but it wasn’t specific. My idea was to free up everybody so you weren’t looking over at the bench to see if you should or shouldn’t take the shot. A good shot was any shot you think you can make…”
That was a Tommy Heinsohn quote, but it also sounds like something Steve Kerr would say, doesn’t it?
If you have seven minutes, enjoy these highlights of Heinsohn, Cowens and the 1974 Celtics wrapping up the title in Game 7, on the road, against 7’2” Kareem and the Bucks.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_cyvav5tvk]On Page 2A: Bonus Tommy
The newest members of the Basketball Hall Of Fame, Jo Jo White & Tommy Heinsohn, with today’s first pitch/shot! pic.twitter.com/UNBETlTd92
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) September 2, 2015
Tommy still has the shooter’s mentality. Surprisingly, he didn’t take a hook shot.
And, finally… For real, Doc?
Celtics coaches current and past mingle on Garden floor as part of ABCD Hoops Dreams event. pic.twitter.com/h21DoiJ17i
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) September 2, 2015
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Brad Stevens and Doc Rivers were together on the parquet for a charity event, and Doc got people’s attention when he basically said that, if not for L.A., Paul Pierce might have returned to Boston to finish his career. Not sure if any reporters – or Brad – asked a follow-up, but it’s likely Doc was just telling us what we wanted to hear. We should be used to that.
Related: MassLive – Doc Rivers suggests Paul Pierce wanted to sign with one of two teams: Los Angeles Clippers or Boston Celtics | ESPN Boston – Doc Rivers wants to keep Paul Pierce healthy for playoffs | Doc Rivers praises his successor in Boston
The Rest of the Links:
ESPN Boston – Celtics Summer Forecast: Trouble ahead? | CSNNE – Three potential Celtics breakout performers | Yahoo – Source: Glen Davis out 8-12 weeks after ankle surgery | CBC – FIBA Americas: Canada responds with rout of Cuba | Sports Illustrated – SI.com’s Top 100 NBA Players of 2016: 30-11 | Pro Basketball Talk – Michele Roberts says NBA, union already negotiating, hope to announce deal by end of season
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