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Isaiah Thomas believes he paved the way for load management in the NBA

Isaiah Thomas believes he paved the way for load management in the NBA

By Mike DePrisco November 13, 2019 6:05 PM

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Isaiah Thomas doesn't just think his hip injury paved the way for load management in the NBA, he knows it did. 

As Thomas prepares for his real return to Boston, a city he spent two-and-a-half seasons in before he was traded to Cleveland in the Kyrie Irving trade, he reflected on the hip injury that has derailed his career. 

"I don't feel like it, I know I did," Thomas said when asked if he thought he took the bullet that has helped create load management. "That's players being smart about their body, worrying about themselves which you should. The most important thing is yourself."

Thomas was in the midst of one of the best offensive seasons in Celtics history when Karl-Anthony Towns fell on top of him and injured the All-Star guard's hip. Thomas decided to play hurt, knowing his team leaned on him for almost all of their offense. 

When the injury continued to flare up during the playoffs, Thomas pushed on and led the Celtics to an Eastern Conference Finals berth after downing the Wizards in an epic seven-game series. Despite his hip injury causing major concerns for his long-term production, Boston traded him, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and two draft picks for Kyrie Irving. 

Thomas experienced a brutal 2017-18 campaign with the Cavaliers before he was traded to the Lakers midseason, and then eventually had to miss significant time on the Nuggets the following season after electing for hip surgery. Thomas never cracked the rotation in Denver, and now hopes to regain his place as one of the league's premier offensive threats in Washington, D.C. 

"The organizations most of the time, they care about what you can do for them, they don't care if you get hurt," he said.

Playing hurt has cost Thomas a lot of money and his status in the league, which is something current NBA superstars aren't willing to risk.

Whether you agree with load management or not, the risk that comes with playing hurt, as we've seen with Thomas, far outweighs the benefits of a player like Kawhi Leonard playing both games of a back-to-back.

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WATCH: Rui Hachimura throws down a vicious dunk and lets the Heat know it

WATCH: Rui Hachimura throws down a vicious dunk and lets the Heat know it

By Mike DePrisco December 06, 2019 8:50 PM

Rui Hachimura is one of the more soft-spoken players on the Wizards, but you wouldn't be able to collect that from his highlight dunk Friday night in Miami. 

Early in the second quarter while the Wizards were riding the momentum from their win over Philadelphia the night before, Hachimura threw down a loud one-handed slam to give them a 12-point lead. 

Then he let out a scream to let the entire arena know what they just witnessed. 

Hachimura has struggled most of the year with finishing through contact inside. Over the last two weeks, he's had the two best games of his career against the Clippers (30 points) and Sixers (27) due in large part to the rookie playing with more physicality offensively. 

The Wizards have to like what they've seen out of Hachimura already this season, and these kinds of incremental growths are all you can really ask for from a first-round pick. 

Hachimura seemed to hit a wall two weeks ago, but he adjusted tried playing with more physicality and it's paying off for him. 

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Jimmy Butler dominates as Wizards' valiant effort in Miami falls short

Jimmy Butler dominates as Wizards' valiant effort in Miami falls short

By Mike DePrisco December 06, 2019 8:44 PM

It would've been easy for the Wizards to rest on the excitement of Thursday night's win over the Sixers and phone it in against the Heat before a Friday night in Miami. 

But they didn't, and while they didn't come up with the win, the Wizards showed resolve and grit against one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. 

Here are the top takeaways from the 112-103 loss. 

Wizards forced to use their depth

Coming into the game the Wizards were already down CJ Miles, Jordan McRae and Thomas Bryant with long-term injuries, but then Ian Mahinmi was scratched so he didn't have to play a back-to-back and Isaiah Thomas was ruled out with the same calf injury that kept him on the sidelines against Philly. 

So Scott Brooks reached deep down his bench and deployed some lineup combinations he's rarely had to go with this year. Moe Wagner and Ish Smith got the start alongside Bradley Beal Isaac Bonga and Rui Hachimura while Davis Bertans, Troy Brown and Chris Chiozza were his top reserves. 

At one point, the Wizards fielding a lineup of Chiozza-Brown-Bertans-Bonga-Schofield. Per Cleaning the Glass, those five players have yet to share the court together this season. 

But the Wizards played well. They weren't flat on the second night of a back-to-back, which many would have expected coming off such a great win at home the night before, and they matched the intensity of a consistently hard-playing Heat team for most of the game. 

That's a sign of good culture, which is something the franchise has prioritized in a rebuilding year. I'd be excited to see how they handle the Clippers at home after getting their doors blown off in LA not too long ago. 

Bertans' trade value keeps growing

Davis Bertans showed out on the big stage against the Sixers Thursday and continued his hot streak from deep in Miami. He finished with 19 points, going 5-13 from three, and it's clear defenses are insanely worried about him coming off screens. 

With an expiring $7 million deal, Bertans is a prime trade target for contenders who need bench scoring and floor spacing. 

Before the year it would have been blasphemous for the Wizards to get a first-round pick for Bertans, but now? I'd be surprised if they don't get at least one for him if they wish to deal him. 

An elite uniform night

It's "City Edition" season in the NBA and the Wizards and Heat brought it Friday night. 

The Wizards went with the "Stars and Stripes" for the second night in a row, while the Heat sported another iteration of their famous "Miami Vice" jerseys. 

I move for both uniform combinations to be made permanent additions for years to come. 

Rui Hachimura vs Herro and Nunn

This game featured three of the best rookies the game has had to offer in Rui Hachimura, Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn. Herro turned in the best game by a healthy margin with 22 points, but Hachimura proved he's at a similar level as those two standouts. 

The ninth overall pick turned in another solid line with 14 points, six rebounds and a loud dunk. 

Hachimura seemed to hit a wall two weeks ago but is now back to showing key improvements in every game. 

The Wizards have to be thrilled with what they've seen so far out of the rookie and it's exciting to think about his upside on both ends of the floor running alongside Beal and John Wall. 

No answers for Bam Adebayo

Bam Adebayo may be one of the most versatile centers in NBA history. 

He has unreal foot speed and instincts on defense that allows him to guard just about everyone on the floor, and his ball-handling on offense is unprecedented for such a young big man. 

On Friday, the Wizards' shaky paint defense had next to no answers for Adebayo, who ended up with 24 points and 13 rebounds on 10-16 shooting. 

The good news for the Wizards is there aren't many players like Adebayo in the league today, but at some point, they're going to have to figure out how to defend the paint. 

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