Isaiah Thomas no longer overthinking
Mar 11, 2011, 11:56 AM | Updated: Apr 4, 2011, 7:52 pm
Photo credit: Associated Press
MyNorthwest.com staff
Washington guard Isaiah Thomas joined Brock & Salk on Friday to discuss the Huskies’ 89-87 win over Washington State in the Pac-10 tournament opener and their next game against Oregon.
Thomas had 21 points – 16 of which came in the second half – and 11 assists, one short of the tournament record. With guard Venoy Overton suspended for the tournament, Thomas played the entire 40 minutes for the first time in his career.
On whether he’s tired after playing 40 minutes: “Just a little tired. Throughout the game you’re always going to get tired, but now, my body is good. I’m rested and ready for tonight. So I know my guys are ready too.”
On what was said at halftime, when UW was down by 8 points: “We talked about (how) we don’t want to go home early. We’ve worked so hard through the summer, the whole season not to leave our mark early. We just wanted to come out and play hard and leave it all out on the floor. … We played hard and fought and kept faith and we got the win. So I’m just so proud of my teammates for just keeping at it and working hard to get that.”
On how much hustle plays change the game: “It changes the whole aspect of the game, period. It changes momentum, gives momentum to your team. It’s March Madness and those type of plays are going to win you games. Plays that you are getting on the floor, plays that you’re getting elbowed in the face but you still come up with the ball. You’ve just got to give it all you’ve got and I felt like I did that at the start of the second half and it (spread to) my teammates. And then it was all she wrote after that.”
On whether a part of his game disappeared after the loss to Arizona and was rediscovered last night: “You could say that. But it was just like you said earlier, it was just me out there thinking too much and not just playing basketball. Now I’m just playing basketball and playing to win, not worried about ‘Am I doing good or bad?’ and not looking to the bench for if I made a mistake or not. I’m just going out there playing, leaving it all out on the line, and at the end of the 40 minutes seeing where we are. And hopefully we’re on top. That’s what makes it so much better.”
On how he realized he was thinking too much: “Just watching film. Knowing yourself, and knowing that when you think too much you kind of hold back. You’re not as aggressive as you should be and (you’re not) out there making plays. I’ve been playing basketball my whole life. It’s not hard. You’ve just got to go out there and leave it all on the floor.”
You can listen to Brock & Salk’s conversation with Isaiah Thomas here.
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–Photos and the box score from Washington’s win over Washington State