Isaiah Thomas has big plans for 2019, and those begin with something he hasn’t done since his Boston Celtics days: make the postseason.
The former playoff standout whose hip injury and exit from Boston has put him into comeback mode is motivated as a member of the Denver Nuggets. Thomas struggled with the Cleveland Cavaliers and didn’t make enough of an impact on the ever-changing Los Angeles Lakers to stick around after his contract expired. The high hopes he had for free agency instead became an act of reclamation, with Thomas hoping to find a team that would give him a chance at a career rebound.
That team is the Denver Nuggets, and Thomas is bullish on their playoff chances this year. Irving matter-of-factly said the Nuggets will have a long season: longer than the 82 games that make up the regular season. He spoke at a KSE Partner Summit on Friday and said he’s ready to do whatever it takes to get back to the playoffs.
“It’s a long season of 82 games—plus the playoffs, which we will be making this year.” – IT. pic.twitter.com/EBTv3xDI4Z
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) August 24, 2018
Thomas averaged just 15.2 points and 4.8 assists in 32 games last season, but that kind of confidence can go a long way on a team that got close last season. And there’s certainly reason to expect a playoff run for a Nuggets team that still has Nikola Jokic on it and improved its depth by signing Will Barton.
If Thomas can have a career resurgence and Michael Porter Jr. can live up to the potential many thought he had before his back injuries in college last season, Denver could be an intriguing postseason team in a loaded Western Conference. Isaiah Thomas already has a lot to play for with Denver this season, and now he has a prediction to back up as well.
(via The Sporting News)
