J-Speaks: Devastating Loss for Celtics' Floor General

At the start of last weekend, the Boston Celtics and their two-time All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas were on cloud nine as they were the No. 1 Seed in the Eastern Conference heading into the 2017 NBA Playoffs. They seemed poised for a march for at least the Eastern Conference Finals with a matchup with the defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers. Today those dreams are in jeopardy and it all began with a devastating loss before they even took the court for their First-Round tilt with the No. 8 Seeded Chicago Bulls.

Chyna Thomas, Isaiah’s young sister died in a one car accident in the early hours of Saturday morning in the Washington State. She was just 22 years old.

According to a police report, Thomas passed away at the scene of the accident after her car slipped off a highway and struck a pole at around 5 a.m. west coast time. It was also reported by the police that she was not wearing a seat belt.

A. Sherrod Blakely, who covers the Celtics for Comcast SportsNet New England said to NBATV’s Vince Cellini on the late Saturday night edition of “Gametime” that while he did not speak specifically to Thomas about this devastating loss, but he did talk to a couple of employers of the Celtics and they said to him that they are just devastated about what transpired.

“We are terribly saddened by the tragic loss of Chyna Thomas. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Celtics organization are with Isaiah and his family.”

Before the game, Thomas who the NBA nation and basketball fans in “Beantown” and across the country that seen him play, especially this year know him for having a jovial smile on his face and expressing joy and love for being on the court, that was non-existent for the most part as he warmed up prior to Game 1.

There were a couple of instances during TNT’s NBA Tip-Off Show, where he just took a seat on the TD Garden front seat and was crying.

“I’m not feeling comfortable with him sitting on the sidelines crying like that,” Charles Barkley said during the pregame show about Thomas, who was being consoled in that moment by his starting backcourt mate and longtime friend Avery Bradley, whose known Thomas since they were 11 to 12 years old growing up in Tacoma, WA. “To be sitting on the sidelines a few minutes before the game crying that makes me uncomfortable for him. That’s just not a good look in my personal opinion.”  

In leading up to Game 1, the Celtics and Thomas spoke in the lead up to the contest how they would handle the emotions that Thomas was going to experience throughout the game, which head coach Brad Stevens, whose record is 2-9 in the postseason talked to the press about prior to the game on Sunday.

“We talked little last night and again today about as he goes through it and if he feels like he needs to not, then whatever he wants,” he said.

“I think that one of the things that I’ve learned having been through situations in the past that there’s really no right or wrong answer. It’s whatever is right for him.”

Prior to the introductions of the starting lineups, there was a moment of silence in the arena for the passing of Chyna Thomas, where Thomas again had tears going down his face.

That was followed by a massive ovation by those in attendance and after he Thomas was introduced, Thomas was greeted and surrounded by his teammates.

Thomas by the numbers played like the MVP candidate he was throughout the regular season with a game-high of 33 points, six rebounds and six assists on 10 for 18 from the field, and 10 for 12 from the charity stripe, but the Celtics loss 106-102 to fall behind 1-0 in the series. Thomas did not speak to reporters following the loss, but Stevens and starting center Al Horford did and gave nothing but praise to their starting lead guard.

“He was incredible,” Stevens said during the postgame presser. “He’s an amazing player. An amazing person and days won’t get any easier for him, but he somehow plays like that.”

Horford who had 19 points, seven boards and eight assists in the Game 1 loss said of Thomas during the postgame that, “It’s a difficult time for Isaiah, and his family and for us as well. We wanted to come out and be able to win this game, but there are bigger things than just basketball and for us it’s we not take anything for granted and really pull through at this time. I feel like this will make us stronger and were there to support Isaiah.”

In leading up to Game 2, the question was how would Thomas and the Celtics handle a very delicate, but real situation going forward.

It was reported by NBATV/NBA on TNT’s Dennis Scott that Thomas was going to play in Game 2 and then travel home to Washington to be with his family.

 “We’re just family and no matter what goes on, we’re always going to have each other’s back,” Bradley said on Monday after practice. “He’s a special person. Special player and I know that as this playoff series goes continues, Isaiah going to continue to play well and I’m going to continue to support him. He’s going to play for his sister.”

Stevens said to the press that Thomas is trying his best to compartmentalize when he’s around the team that he is working on what he needs to work on, despite all that has occurred.

“We were together for some film. Some walk through and we’ll be back together tomorrow, but I think he’s as good as can be I guess,” he said.

In Game 2, Thomas had 20 points, but was just 6 for 15 from the field, including 1 for 5 from three-point range and a rough 7 for 13 from the free throw line as the C’s lost versus the Bulls 111-97, losing their second straight at home to fall behind 2-0 in the series.

Whether Thomas will be back to his normal self again or not, one thing is for sure if the Celtics are going to get back into this series with Game 3 happening tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN, it is up to the rest of the team to pick up their play and be as present as Thomas has been the first two games of this series, despite the loss of his sister.

The best place that they can start is on the glass, where they are a -23 (97-74) through the first two games, including 32-23 on the offensive glass, with 20 of the second chance boards coming in Game 1 on Sunday night.

“I don’t think there’s anything bigger than that,” Celtics forward Jae Crowder, who had 16 points in Game 2 said after the game about the Celtics inability to rebound and to control their turnovers. “I just think if we take care of the stuff that we as a unit can control, will put ourselves in much better position to win the game.”

Last week, the Boston Celtics and their leader Isaiah Thomas were riding high with dreams of making a serious playoff run, which they have not done since 2010, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in The Finals in seven games. It is also the last time that the C’s made it past the opening round of the postseason.

As they head into Game 3, they are staring at an 0-2 deficit, their starting lead guard suffered tragic loss that none one would wish on their worst enemy and by the end of this weekend, their dream season could end.

If there is one thing that this group of Celtics has shown this season, especially now is that they are together. There for each other. Respect one another and they will compete to the very end.

Also, this tragedy has brought to the light for the rest of the organization is that life is precious and should not be taken for granted.

The best example of this is something Blakely said to Cellini that Thomas brings his son Jalen to practice and to every Celtics home game every chance he gets.

“It speaks to the commitment he has to family and how important it is to him,” he said about Thomas. “When you see, something happens like this with his sister Chyna, it hurts.

Sherrod also said that the entire Celtics’ family was hurt by this tragedy because Thomas is a part of this family and when he is in pain they are all in pain.

While the pain may never go away from the loss of his sister at just 22 years of age, the one thing that Thomas does have is his wife and children and his basketball family, who love him and respect him and understand that they will not have their season conclude without a fight and Thomas will be there leading the way.  

“Even though he wasn’t screaming or usual Isaiah, he still went out there and fought and made us want to fight harder for him,” Bradley said about Thomas’ Game 1 effort.

“You can say whatever to him, but our actions really let him know that we care for him. This is his sanctuary being on the basketball court. So, for us to make him feel happy. Make him feel like we have his back. I feel like as brothers, that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

Thomas on Wednesday released a statement where the thanked the Celtics, the fans and the entire NBA for their support following the passing of his sister that stated, “This has been without question the hardest week of my life.… I truly appreciate all of the support you’ve shown me the past several days and the thank you for respecting my privacy as I continue to grieve and heal with my loved ones at this time.”

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 4/16/17 6 a.m. edition of NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by State Farm with Vince Cellini, Caron Butler, and Sam Mitchell, with report from A. Sherrod Blakely of Comcast SportsNet, New England; 4/16/17 6 p.m. of TNT’s NBA Tip-Off, presented by Autotrader with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal; 4/16/17 6:30 p.m. Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs, First-Round series Chicago Bulls versus Boston Celtics with Brian Anderson, Kevin McHale and Dennis Scott; 4/18/17 12 a.m. edition of “Inside the NBA” on TNT, presented by Kia with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal, with report from Dennis Scott; 4/19/17 ESPN news crawl during the 5:30 p.m. edition of “Pardon the Interruption,” presented by Crown Royal Regal Apple with Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon; www.nba.com/games/20170416/CHIBOS#/video/matchup and www.nba.com/games/20170418/CHIBOS#/video/matchup.