Seeing is believing this summer in Boston. And after his first glimpse of the 2016-17 NBA schedule, Celtics All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas is convinced the rest of the league sees what he sees in his team. The Celtics, a playoff team in each of the past two seasons, are poised for much more with the addition of All-Star big man Al Horford and the continued growth and development of the returning core. Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com explains why a spike in national television exposure has Thomas licking his chops for the start of the season:
Boston Celtics All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas says he thinks the schedule makers got it right by scheduling Boston for 22 national-television appearances during the 2016-17 season.
“The NBA knows we’re going to be pretty good,” Thomas told reporters Saturday morning at his youth basketball camp in Reading, Massachusetts. “Teams know. Everywhere I go, everybody’s excited about the Boston Celtics and we’re just going to try to take steps forward and continue to work. And I know Brad [Stevens] and the coaching staff are doing everything they can to put us in position to be successful. So we’ve got to bring it come October.”
Added Thomas: “The NBA’s excited. Boston’s almost back. We go to 22 national TV games (after playing seven last season). That means something. That says a lot, especially when you’re on national TV and the NBA puts you on there. We’re excited about it. I’m excited about the opportunity to put a smile on more people’s faces around the world.”
Thomas said he “always dreamed of a game on Christmas” and is particularly amped about Boston’s holiday matinee with the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. He’s more excited about the overall potential of this year’s team.
“We got a big addition in Al Horford. Got my guy Gerald Green coming back to Boston,” Thomas said. “I’m excited. I think we’ve got the right pieces to go forward. Danny Ainge and those [front office] guys, they might have a little bit more work to do but, at the same time, the group that we have, I’m excited about the opportunity to get together and get things going. I’m anxious to get a new season going because it should be a lot of excitement around here in Boston.”
