The Cleveland Cavaliers are on something of a hot streak right now, as the team has ripped off four wins in a row to move to 9-7 on the season. It’s a great sign for the Cavs, which had gotten off to a slow start as they have tried to respond to the loss of Kyrie Irving by folding some new players into their rotation.
Cleveland’s biggest offseason addition still has not suited up this season, but according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, he took a major step forward on Sunday. While it was only 5-on-0 drills, Isaiah Thomas participated in a practice with the team.
Isaiah Thomas also participated in some 5-on-0 at practice, and is on court shooting now.
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) November 19, 2017
Thomas followed these drills up by doing some work that tested his hip, as he was going coast-to-coast while getting shots up.
Isaiah Thomas is running full court and shooting at both ends
— Joe Vardon (@joevardon) November 19, 2017
After practice, Thomas spoke to Vardon and said that this was the hardest that he has ran during his rehabilitation. Thomas also praised the team for how it has let him recover at his own pace, partly because he doesn’t want to rush back from this injury and risk shortening his career.
“I’m protecting myself, so, even if they wanted me to hurry back, I’m not going to hurry back, just because I’ve got a long career ahead of me and an important summer as well,” Thomas told cleveland.com. “So, I’ve got to make sure I’m 100 percent healthy before I step out on the floor. But these guys have not rushed me one bit. They’ve taken their time with me and I appreciate that. Because most teams, they want you out there, especially if things aren’t going well.”
Thomas has never really been paid like a superstar, so it makes sense that he wants to cash in on the success that he’s had over the last few years when he hits free agency next offseason. Both Thomas and the Cavaliers seem totally fine with making sure he gets back to 110 percent before he hits the floor, and even if it might take a few more weeks for that to happen — Vardon mentioned that he’s still on pace to return at the beginning of January — it’s great to see that he’s making progress.
(Via Cleveland.com)
