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Isaiah Thomas has been through the proverbial ringer with regards to injury rehabilitation. He was shut down for the final 11 games of the 2017-18 season after undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery, but he recently returned to action. However, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone knows it will take some time to get the veteran ball handler back up to speed.
Via Sean Keeler of The Denver Post:
“(With) Isaiah, I think it’s a fine line,” Nuggets coach Mike Malone said of his veteran point guard, who proved to be a non-factor off the bench — four points, two turnovers in 11 minutes — during a 111-104 setback to Utah on Thursday at the Pepsi Center, the franchise’s fifth home loss in 32 contests. “He’s trying to find his rhythm and get comfortable with the ball in his hands and making plays. “On the other hand, he’s also got to understand how we play, and move the ball and get guys involved.”
Thomas, who's now serving as a reserve, has always been known as a dynamo of energy on the court. He continues to progress, but he also knows the results won't show in one day.
“Yeah, it is (hard working out kinks),” Thomas said. “But I mean, I’m in this position. I’m here to help anyway I possibly can. And that’s what I’m going to do. And I know it’s a marathon — we’re not going to get it all in one day or one week or one month. Just got to keep working.”
In five appearances with the Nuggets this season, Thomas has turned in averages of 9.8 points on 41.8 percent shooting from the field (36.4 percent from beyond the arc), 1.8 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per contest.
It seems Malone is still in Thomas' corner:
“Isaiah’s one of those guys that can miss five in a row [but] it will not deter him taking that next shot,” Malone told The Denver Post. “And that’s what I love about him.”
Thomas and the Nuggets will be back in action on Saturday night, when they'll welcome the New Orleans Pelicans to the Pepsi Center. Tip-off is set for 9:00 p.m. ET.
