Your Morning Dump… where we’ve seen this movie before

Chris wilcox laying it in against detroit

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

You can't help but wonder if Boston will need to make a move at the back end of its roster this week to at least free a roster spot. If Marquis Daniels is struggling to get on the floor, you can't help but wonder if the team would be better served to free a spot that could be used to bring in a big man on a 10-day contract. As we've stressed in this space before, it's got less to do with Daniels — a truly inspiring story in coming back after lats year's spine injury — and more to do with the Celtics having a glaring need to add a big body at the moment, even if it's nothing more than emergency depth. The fact that Boston hasn't added a big man for the rest of the season seems to indicate that there's no one available out there that likely deserves more than a 10-day tryout (but maybe they can find another intriguing young big man like Chris Johnson turned out to be last season).

ESPN Boston:  How Wilcox's absence impacts the C's

I've had a few people bring this up to me now… 

This is getting a little too similar to last season.  The Celtics lose a key bench guy just before the deadline (when Marquis Daniels went down) and a west coast trip… then Danny pulls off a blockbuster deal to try to address that need.  

We're all on edge a bit lately as it is…. now with the C's suddenly finding themselves insanely short handed, everyone's looking around to see if Danny will do the same thing?  Or will he just shore up the bench with a less explosive move like the one Forsberg lays out there? 

My guess?  Quis is gone soon to clear up a spot and the C's try a patchwork approach.  Last year, I think Danny was making a last-ditch effort to win a title.  I don't think Danny does that this time around.  This time he's got the future staring at him in the face, so a huge move to shore up a need this year doesn't make sense.  He's not blowing this up for a run at the title.  The only reason he'd blow up this team now with a major deal is to find pieces for the future. 

So rest ease, C's fans.  While we've seen all of this happen before… and it seems very similar…. I think this movie will have a different ending. 

Related links:  CSNNE:  Wilcox out indefinitely  |  ESPN Boston:  Wilcox out indefinitely with cardiac issue  |  WEEI:  Wilcox not with C's, undergoing heart tests  |  Herald:  Wilcox out, sent for more cardiac tests 

On page 2:  Rondo is… despite what some people think… still working on his shooting

“We definitely saw some improvement when I worked with him initially,” said Price. “Obviously I haven’t been able to follow him on a regular basis, but he came back a couple of times and I felt like we did make some progress.

“But the hard part about that is you’ve got to stick with stuff, and I haven’t been able to follow him that closely.”

Rondo has been stubborn at times over his career with his form, but he is out in the pregame going through a full shooting regimen to find a groove.

“Confidence is a huge thing, no question about it,” Price said. “A guy out there has got to feel confident he can make the shot. If he doesn’t, it’s really hard to be consistent.

“But it’s like, what comes first, the chicken or the egg? Without improving mechanics, can you really get that kind of confidence? And then it just takes a lot of repetition doing things the right way.”

Herald:  Rondo's shooting still needs tweaking

It irks me when people say things like "it's obvious this player isn't working on such-and-such"… or if they see a guy at some event and they say "he should be working on his shooting, not at that thing"…. as if players must spend 12 hours a day in the gym with no breaks and they can't enjoy themselves at all.  

Rondo went to Price for an extended session and then went back a couple more times.  He's working on his shot.  And it has gotten better.  

I know that's not good enough for everyone.  But people have to understand one simple thing:  If it was as easy as going to Mark Price for a tutorial and spending hours a day at the gym shooting jumpers… then everyone would be Mark Price.  If it was as easy as "working on your shot" every day, then why isn't everyone in the NBA a dead-eye shooter? 

Because some guys just aren't as good at it as others.  Some will never be as good as others.  Rondo has improved and he'll continue to improve, but he's probably never going to be "automatic" from mid-range.  What we need himt to be is dangerous… a threat to make it from there… and he's getting there.  He really needs to improve the free throw shooting, which may just be a matter of confidence.  

Shooting the basketball isn't easy… these guys just make it look easy.

Related links:  WEEI:  Rondo not focused on trade talk  |  Bright lights, big game?  A Rajon Rondo meme

The rest of the links:

ESPN Boston:  W2W4: C's/Lakers  |  Herald: Doc Rivers, Celtics, ain't trippin  |  Globe: Long road ahead

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