After Game 5 of the Boston Celtics’ first-round NBA playoff series against the Chicago Bulls, Avery Bradley tried to praise teammate Isaiah Thomas for his admirable defensive effort.
Thomas’ response: “Nah, don’t hype me. … I’m fine with being the worst defender (in the league).”
Fast forward to Monday, when the NBA released its All-Defense teams and vote getters.
All-Defensive Teams. pic.twitter.com/6nHEg8BpjR
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 26, 2017
Recognize anyone familiar on that list?
That’s right: Thomas, all 5-foot-9 (or less) of him, received exactly one All-Defense vote.
As you might imagine, people were a bit perplexed that the Celtics’ primary defensive liability actually landed on a list of the NBA’s best defenders.
Isaiah Thomas (who got a vote for All-Defensive team) ranked dead last out of 86 point guards in ESPN's defensive real plus-minus.
— Brian Witt (@Wittnessed) June 26, 2017
But Thomas getting a vote was great news for Twitter, which had a field day with the bizarre result.
https://twitter.com/billbarnwell/status/879386285403766784
https://twitter.com/HoopDistrictDC/status/879388740732542977
Isaiah Thomas got a vote? Someone is a sick individual….
— Matthew Jensen (@matthewfjensen) June 26, 2017
Isaiah gets an All NBA Defense vote
Me: pic.twitter.com/I8rhUwIgz7
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) June 26, 2017
Thomas actually tweeted his reaction to the All-Defense teams Monday, but he was more concerned with the fact that teammates Bradley, Marcus Smart and Jae Crowder didn’t make the cut.
https://twitter.com/Isaiah_Thomas/status/879396873198383104
https://twitter.com/Isaiah_Thomas/status/879404135673495552
Bradley actually received more votes than second-team member Giannis Antetokounmpo but didn’t make the cut because he plays guard and failed to garner more votes than Tony Allen or Danny Green. All things considered, Bradley easily would have made All-Defense — he was a first-team selection last year — had he not missed 27 games this season.
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Thumbnail photo via Brad Mills/USA TODAY Sports Images