Written by Chris Forsberg at ESPN.com
Boston Celtics big man Al Horford often sits down with assistant coach Jay Larranaga before games to watch video clips that highlight areas of focus for that night’s opponent. Before Wednesday’s Game 5 against the Washington Wizards, Larranaga informed Horford of an unusual tweak that Boston might utilize, but he didn’t really have much video to showcase it.
“He was like, ‘Isaiah might come over and screen for you,'” said Horford, a smile creeping across his face at the suggestion that Boston’s 5-foot-9 point guard would be the one holding up Horford’s beefy defenders.
But there was Thomas in the opening minutes of the first quarter, recognizing that Washington’s defense was swarming him even when he didn’t have the ball. So as Horford stood alone above the 3-point arc, Thomas essentially ran into 6-foot-11 Marcin Gortat and, with Bradley Beal already attached to Thomas’ hip, created a human force field for Horford to fire away with a 25-foot 3-pointer that helped fuel Boston’s double-digit first-quarter run.
“As a basketball player, you’ve got to read what the defense is giving you, and they’re really having two or three guys on me at all times,” Thomas said. “So what I’m trying to do is give other guys space, create space for others and also be a good screen-setter.”
Let that sink in. Isaiah Thomas: screen setter.
“I’m versatile,” Thomas said. “I do it all.”
Horford finished with 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting with seven assists, six rebounds and three blocks. Avery Bradley scored 25 of his playoff career-high 29 points in the first half as the Celtics built a comfortable cushion. And, pouncing whenever the Wizards relaxed on him, Thomas added 18 points and nine assists in a 123-101 triumph at TD Garden.
The Celtics lead the best-of-seven series 3-2. Game 6 is Friday in Washington.
After getting steamrollered by big runs in Games 3 (22-0 in the first quarter) and 4 (26-0 in the third quarter) in D.C., the Celtics flipped the script on Wednesday night. Boston utilized a 16-0 first-quarter run and got a boost from Bradley’s offensive outburst to lead for 44 minutes, 42 seconds in a game that featured just one lead change.
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