While defense was never Isaiah Thomas’ calling card as a Boston Celtic, there was never a moment in which Celtics fans doubted the heart of the beloved Boston point guard.
And as a sub- 6-foot floor general, no one really expected Thomas to be a defensive force, either.
But the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Giannis Antetokounmpo has been taking a bit of flak online for his comments regarding defending Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler after the Heat upset the Bucks in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series.
And some of it happens to be from the King in the Fourth.
As a competitor and DPOY that’s your job to take that assignment. I know Marcus smart, Avery Bradley, kawhi woulda been like FOH I’m guarding him. https://t.co/kEHStlPiJU
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) September 1, 2020
Asked if he wanted to switch onto Butler, who hung 40 points on the Bucks in the win, Antetokounmpo replied, “No, I didn’t. Why would you ask that?”
Instead, he deferred to head coach Mike Budenholzer, which evidently rubbed IT the wrong way.
The former Celtic tweeted in response, “As a competitor and DPOY that’s your job to take that assignment. I know Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, Kawhi [Leonard] woulda been like FOH I’m guarding him.”
While there is something to be said about believing in your coach’s game plan, Thomas also has a point.
Celtics star swingman Jayson Tatum 4th in Most Improved Player voting https://t.co/ZcJMyBZAxW
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 1, 2020
One can support said gameplan while wanting that assignment, and stars typically carry enough gravity to force at least an exploratory change in plans.
Budenholzer’s reputation as a slow postseason adjuster might even benefit from pushback from Giannis, and at the end of the day he’ll need to tap into the kind of competitive fire Thomas cites if he truly wants to leave his imprint on the game at its highest levels.
It might seem like a petty swipe from a guy whose time as a star on the court has passed, but when it comes to heart there are few greater authorities in the game.
Even if he’s never been a very good defender.
