Your Morning Dump… Where Doc finally hints at change

Celtics

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.

“We’ve been reluctant to make many changes with our rotations and stuff
like that,” he said after last night’s 111-91 loss to Memphis. “Maybe
we have to think about that. Maybe not, but we have to think about it,
because right now we’re just sketchy. We’re not playing consistent.”
Yeah, but, you know, I’m slow to change,” he said. “I think consistency
is better, but I think at times you do have to think about it. I’m not
a big believer in change for change. If it’s not going to be a long
change, I think that’s a waste of time personally.”

Herald – Frustrated Doc Mulls Changes

We
repeatedly hear Mike Gorman say the Celtics are allowing teams to shoot
a ridiculously high percentage in the first quarter. To combat this,
Doc needs to start games with his best defensive unit. Throw Marquis
Daniels or Tony Allen into the starting five and bench Paul Pierce. 

Percentage
wise, Pierce is having one of his best shooting seasons. But something
is missing. The fire, defensive intensity we saw the past two seasons
is gone.

I'd
also bench Perk for Sheed. Wallace has slightly improved his play as of
late, but this move is more about sending a message to Perkins. He
needs to wake up and start rebounding.

The old adage – it doesn't matter who starts games, it matters who finishes them – doesn't apply to the 2010 Celtics.

On Page 2, 'Sheed maintains his optimism.

“I think we can do some real big
things here, going into these playoffs. It’s a matter of us coming
together and going out and getting wins.

“I
think we step up more in big games. But teams where they’re struggling,
or they’re not making the playoffs, sometimes we have the tendency to
disrespect them a little bit. But we can’t do that too much because
they’re in the NBA and they’re some of the elite athletes in the world.

“This
team has been there, no matter where we’re coming from — Mike [Finley] from San Antonio, me from Detroit. The guys here have won it already.
Once the big-boy shots come we’ll be ready.’’

Globe – Wallace Still Upbeat

Do the Celtics really "step up" in big games? They are:

  • 0-4 vs Atlanta
  • 1-1 vs Cleveland
  • 0-1 vs Dallas
  • 0-1 vs Denver
  • 1-1 vs Lakers
  • 1-3 vs Orlando

3-and-11 vs the top six teams in the NBA? That's stepping it up?

The rest of the links:

Globe – Grisly loss for Celtics | Gently pointing guard | Herald – Hungry Grizzlies attack Celtics | Memphis claws up feeble Celtics | ESPN Boston – Celtics stuck on spin cycle | CSNNE – Celtics home woes reach new low | Answers breed more questions | WEEI – Grizz coach says Cs still top 3 in East | Ray says teams have Cs number | Celtics Hub – Mauled | Celtics Blog – Boston, We have a problem |

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