Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas dominated the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Wizards, averaging 43 points, 6.5 assists, and 2 turnovers. But the last two games in Washington were a struggle for the two-time All-Star. He averaged 16 points, 4.5 assists, and 4 turnovers, and the Celtics lost both times.

“I think [the Wizards are] doing a good job of not only being there with the guy defending the pick-and-roll, but also the next guy in help,’’ Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “I think they’re really loading up, and so there’s sometimes a look of two guys, sometimes a look of three guys that are all in that vicinity.’’

Stevens said the team reviewed film Monday and has identified options to counteract the Wizards’ approach. At the other end of the floor, Washington has made no secret of its desire to attack the 5-foot-9-inch Thomas, either by posting up taller players against him or by having them simply shoot jumpers over him.

In Game 4, Thomas contested 12 Washington shots, the same number as Celtics guards Avery Bradley, Marcus Smart, and Terry Rozier combined. After being mostly silenced in Games 3 and 4, Thomas now has a minus-0.6 net rating in these playoffs.

That figure is due in large part to the fact that Washington’s starting unit has been so formidable, posting a plus-45.2 net rating over 69 minutes, meaning it is outscoring Boston by an average of 45.2 points per 100 possessions.

“That starting five is a tough group,’’ Stevens said. “They play well together. They complement each other well.’’

Starts and stops

Stevens has not used the same starting lineup in consecutive games during this series. Gerald Green started Games 1 and 3 while Amir Johnson got the nod in Games 2 and 4.

Over the first three games, the Celtics were ransacked in the opening quarter and outscored by a total of 49 points. Even though they fell behind, 8-0, in Game 4, they regrouped and took a 24-20 lead at the end of the period.

Stevens did not say what his plan would be for Game 5, but he mostly sounded pleased with the starting unit from Game 4.

“I thought we really played better than the 8-0 start,’’ he said. “I thought that even though we were down, 8-0, I felt good about the shots we were getting. I felt pretty good defensively.’’

Stevens said his team played defense “tremendously’’ on the first possession of the game, but then Washington’s Otto Porter drilled a difficult, contested long jumper.

“I was really pleased to be in the position we were at the end of the first quarter,’’ Stevens said. “Even the first couple of possessions of the third, I felt pretty good about. Obviously they steamrolled us on that 26-0 run after that. But I felt good about the way we started, that’s for sure.’’

Bradley ailing

Bradley, who Sunday suffered his second hip pointer of these playoffs, did some light shooting Monday and Stevens is hopeful he will be able to practice Tuesday.

In Game 2, Bradley suffered a right hip pointer and twice left the game to receive treatment before returning to close out Boston’s overtime win. With about five minutes left in the second quarter of Game 4, he injured his left hip when he collided with Wizards center Marcin Gortat on a screen.

“We’ll know more when we come back [Tuesday] morning,’’ Stevens said.

Open and shut

After Game 4, Stevens said it seemed that his team had missed a lot of open shots that he “felt really good about,’’ particularly in the first half. According to the NBA’s player tracking date, he was right.

Boston made just 21 of 48 uncontested shots, or 43.8 percent. The Wizards, meanwhile, made 22 of 37 uncontested tries (59.5 percent).

Homing in

The Celtics and Wizards have played eight times this year during the regular season and playoffs, and the home team has won all eight games. That gives the Celtics some peace of mind, because Game 5 will be played at TD Garden, and if the series reaches a seventh game, that will be held in Boston, too.

“This place, there’s no place like it,’’ Stevens said. “It’s special to be able to get a chance to coach and play at TD Garden.’’

“It’s got us pumped to go home,’’ Celtics guard Terry Rozier said Sunday. “We have time to recover, rest, and be ready. We want to go on our run, and we have to do that at home.’’

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.