WALTHAM – While most people make new year’s resolutions, NBA players have their summer offseasons to make big changes. Players often use their summers to decompress, set up a training program and add new wrinkles to their game.
Earlier this month, Isaiah Thomas said he has been working on developing Curry-esque range. On Monday, CelticsBlog asked Isaiah about the changes he has made off the court.
"I changed my diet," Thomas said. "I got a (personal) chef this summer back home, and I'm eating vegetables for the first time since when my dad used to make me. I eliminated fast food, eating out and things like that. You guys have heard it before -- I want to play until I'm 40, and I know it starts with little things like that."
Thomas—who joked that he had grown to 6-foot-1 after stretching all summer—recognized that no matter how great of shape you are in, you eventually hit an age where your body needs to be a sanctuary to keep up with you.
"Last week I got in contact with Dr. (Charles Czeisler) over there at Harvard, the 'Sleep Doctor.' I'm trying to learn how to sleep longer and sleep more because that's one thing that other than eating healthier, I don't get a lot of sleep. And that's me. Whether that's watching basketball or just watching TV or playing video games, I have to learn to get more sleep because I know that's going to help me become a better basketball player on the court. The older I get, the more I'm trying to figure those little things out to become a better basketball player, because it's not just all on the court."
But for Thomas to continue the grow, the rest of the team needs to grow with him. He had the eleventh-highest usage rate in the NBA at 29.5% last year, which ended with another playoff series where the defense focused their efforts on containing him.
While adding Horford will be a huge leap forward in taking the pressure off of Thomas, the rest of the lineup will need to be able to play with the ball in their hands. That is where Jae Crowder can make a difference. It all started in the driveway, but he has expanded his range beyond the arc. Al Horford noted Monday that when he played pickup with Crowder during the summer, he was impressed with how much Jae’s three-point shot has improved since last season.
When CelticsBlog asked what he has done to build on his improvements last year as a dribble-penetrator, Crowder doubled down.
"That, more of that. More of taking the ball out of Isaiah’s hands and letting him make plays off close out," Crowder said. "Let me drive some and kick out to him because he’s a hell of a knockdown shooter when his feet are set and just trying to get better with the ball in my hands and make plays. That’s all, just, of course, staying good at what I bring to the team. And that’s driving the ball and knocking down the shot. I just want to get better each and every year and bring something else to my game. That’s one thing I’ve worked on."
As important as Crowder’s drive-and-kick game would be, the Celtics are putting a lot of pressure on Marcus Smart to be the second ball handler. Evan Turner served that role last season effectively, despite defenses collapsing on him and begging him to shoot it. Smart has been guarded the same way and told CelticsBlog he is looking to take advantage.
"My decision-making, coming off ball-screens, working to get into the lane and finishing," Smart said when asked what he worked on this summer. "And as everybody knows, still working on my jump shot and becoming a more consistent shooter."
No matter how much Thomas improves, the offense will still have huge drop-offs unless Smart and Terry Rozier can serve as a competent secondary ball-handling duo in the half court. The team is built to run, but you can’t fast break every single play. If Smart wants to take the leap to being a starter, he’ll have to show the interior scoring ability that made him a star at Oklahoma State. He is healthy and moving into this season with momentum for the first time. With the Celtics’ open practice rapidly approaching on Friday night, it won’t be long for Smart to show off his offseason work.