BOSTON -- All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas said those who believe the Boston Celtics are better without him dont even believe what theyre saying.Thomas, sidelined by a groin injury, wasnt with the team when it posted a lopsided 117-87 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. That led to speculation on Boston sports radio and local TV about whether Boston might be better without Thomas because of the ball movement the team displayed in his absence.Asked if hed heard any of the chatter before Fridays 101-94 loss to the Toronto Raptors, Thomas downplayed it.Theyre a better team without me. The ball moves better without me. I see it all, Thomas said. They gotta write something. They say the stupidest things so they get the headlines and everybody can talk about it. I cant control that. At this point, I laugh about it now. Because its like, if you really think that, OK, thats fine. I know what I mean to my teammates, I know what I mean to this organization and to (coach) Brad Stevens. The ball moved a little better without me. I guess so.Added Thomas: It is what it is. But people that say that, they dont even believe it. They go home at night, theyre not believing that. Theyre just saying it to get a reaction. Im trying my best not to react. If it was anybody else, we wouldnt be talking about that. Im 5-9, thats the only reason why they say that. Im fine with that. I know what I bring to the table. My teammates know what I bring. As long as they are happy, Im fine. Im not going to react. I try not to. I try to think of what Kobe [Bryant] said: Be a lion. Just lock in and dont worry about what others say.Thomas, who missed his second consecutive game Friday against the Raptors, is hoping to be back on the floor Wednesday when Boston visits the San Antonio Spurs in a national TV game on ESPN.Thomas strained his groin late in the first half of Mondays loss to the Houston Rockets. He flew home to Boston early and received a platelet-rich plasma injection Wednesday. Thomas is hoping to travel with the team on a two-game road trip that starts Sunday in Oklahoma City, even as team decision-makers encourage him to take it slow in his recovery.I want to play but [team brass] keep telling me no, Thomas said. They keep wanting to be very patient with this because they dont want to reinjure it. Its an injury that can get reinjured and be a problem the rest of the season. So I dont want that. And on top of that, it gives me time to heal all the other injuries I have.Asked who might make the final determination about when he can return to action after hes medically cleared, Thomas suggested it was team president of basketball operations Danny Ainge.The big dog, Danny, hes really not in favor of [me] going [on the upcoming trip], but Im trying to convince him to just let me go, Thomas said. I think they -- if Im there, they know Im going to try to play. Im shooting for Wednesday for the most part. I think thats more realistic than Sunday. Hopefully I can play on Wednesday.Thomas is hopeful the plasma?injection will expedite his return and said Friday was one of the days where its felt its best.Stevens noted that a groin strain can typically sideline a player for 10-14 days, but believes Thomas will be back sooner.Weve talked about Isaiah being pretty ambitious in his return, said Stevens. And hes been getting treatment around the clock, so well see. Hell be officially listed as day-to-day.Added Stevens: Our medical staff is great. ... They feel like hes not looking long term. Its not going to be a long-term [injury], for sure. We have to make sure we dont bring him back [Friday] or too soon so that it doesnt become one. Discount Nike Vapormax Nz . The lawyers filed a 33-page amended complaint Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, expanding on the suit originally filed Oct. 3 in New York Supreme Court. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz last week refused to compel Selig to testify in the grievance, and Rodriguez then walked out of the hearing without testifying. Nike Vapormax Nz . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. 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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Rams say defensive end Robert Quinn is in stable condition after checking himself into a hospital with an illness thats unrelated to football.Coach Jeff Fisher said Monday that Quinn is still undergoing tests but things look encouraging after speaking to him and his wife, Christina. Fisher did not provide details about the nature of Quinns medical issue.He is feeling much better, Fisher said. He kept saying to me over and over, `Coach, I just want to get back and get my body right and get on the practice field as fast as I can.The sixth-year pro from North Carolina and 2011 first-round draft pick has two sacks this season along with two forced fumbles, giving him an NFL-best 19 since 2013.He has been with the Rams for his entire NFL career, emerging as a key starter and the top pass-rusher on their vaunted defensive line. He played in the Rams 9-6 road victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.ddddddddddddQuinn, 26, underwent back surgery last December and spent much of the offseason recuperating. He has started six of the Rams nine games this season while overcoming a series of minor injuries.Quinn was diagnosed with a tumor below his brain while in high school. The tumor has caused headaches when it isnt properly drained, but Quinn has said the tumor is checked regularly.Along with his standout play, Quinn has made headlines this season for his decision to raise a fist during the national anthem before every game. Following the lead of San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Quinn called it a silent protest against police brutality and other racial injustices.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '