Brace yourself for Isaiah Thomas getting suspended

.@StuJackson32 on why he believes that @Isaiah_Thomas will receive a one game suspension from contact w/ Schroder: https://t.co/J2eOPop2Yh

— Justin (@AusCelticFan) April 23, 2016

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“The rule here is very clear,” Jackson said, “and it’s a very bright line, albeit that you’re making a decision on a very key player in this playoff series. And for that reason it makes it difficult but the league office is supported by the rules that all the teams and all the players are very aware of. And in my mind, he will get suspended for one game.”

After the game, Thomas said he did not fear any additional punishment because he did not mean to hit Schroder. Jackson believes the Celtics point guard’s explanation may not sway the NBA league office.

“I hear what Isaiah is saying,” Jackson said. “At the same time, if you look where the incident took place on the floor, in transition, it’s rare for a player to stop at that point on the floor, extend his hand and swing and make contact with a player. So if you’re waving to somebody in the crowd or a teammate, or motioning to a coach, I think that that reasoning doesn’t really hold water for me. So again, I think they’ll look at this. This is really tough. The fact that Isaiah is trying to absolve himself of any culpability here is not unusual. It’s unfortunate that it happened and the contact wasn’t severe, but it did happen and the rule is clear that he swung and in this case made contact with the player and should be suspended.”

Mass Live

Brian Windhorst just said on ESPN that it is "likely" that Isaiah Thomas gets suspended for game 4.

— Chris Curtis (@_ChrisCurtis) April 23, 2016

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I do not have a good feeling about this. The NBA doesn’t mess around when there’s contact to the head during a non-basketball play.

Some people are faulting Schroder for running directly at Thomas. That’s fine. But IT should have let the collision happen and maybe Schroder would be the one facing a suspension for a head butt. Swinging the hand is not a smart play. Isaiah needs to be smarter.

If he’s gone for Game 3, this series is over.