Isaiah Thomas‘ spectacular antics throughout the last two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals haven't just been the product of a torn heart and his individual brilliance, but also of a surgically analyzed plan of attack provided by one of the best to ever do it.

The 5-foot-9 point guard admitted to the media that he has received tips from Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant, a person that has been instrumental of his adjustments through the first round of the playoffs and him coming into his own in the last two games against the Washington Wizards.

“He definitely helps,” Thomas told reporters, via ESPN's Chris Forsberg. “He tells me what he sees and what I should be watching for in film.”

“Mentally, he's just on another level from anybody I've ever met. We were on the phone for 30 minutes, I emailed him my film and he watched every second of it and he was telling me what times to go to and what to look at certain plays and things that I didn't look at when I watch film. Mentally you can just tell he's just one of the greatest ever.”

Whether it is the dissection of game film or an uncanny ability to sense weakness as soon as spotted, The Black Mamba has made a career of that sixth sense and his uniquely-analytical touch seems to have rubbed off on Thomas, who has torched the NBA in the fourth quarter.

Thomas' efforts blossomed in Game 2, putting up 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime period to throttle the Wizards in a career playoff-high 53-point night.