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.
Well, it wasn’t optional Wednesday when the Celtics played the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. The Celtics played as hard as they have in some time, giving themselves a chance to win.
“I thought the whole game, we played hard,” said Celtics coach Brad Stevens, who later added, “I can lay my head down at night and feel comfortable when we compete like that.”
But they still left the building with a loss, by a score of 111-105, which extends their downward spiral. The Celtics (13-23) have lost a season-high-tying six straight and nine of 10.
At this point, playing hard counts as a victory for a team that has struggled lately in that department, as they played until the final buzzer, trying to pull off a comeback to overcome a 4-point deficit in the final 10 seconds before falling short.
“Give them credit,” said Clippers coach Doc Rivers, who earned a season-sweep of his former team. “They’ve been struggling. We had a chance early to get a knock-out – we didn’t. When you give a team life, then it’s desperation for them, and you can see that in the way they were playing. They almost pulled it out.”
Ugh. I hate these “at least they played hard story lines.”
It’s all well and good in the short term, but it’s also a cold reminder that this team is awful and the bar remains very, very low.
And thank you Doc Rivers for the words of support. It means a lot coming from a “never quit” guy like yourself.
Yes, I’m extra grumpy today. This frigid weather is wearing away my normally cheerful disposition.
Related: Herald – Celtics bad streak hits 6 | ESPN Boston – C’s take step forward as effort returns | Globe – Celtics must continue to fight | CSNNE – C’s show no quit in loss
On Page 2, Jared Sullinger can’t stop committing flagrant fouls.
When you look at the replay of the flagrant call on the foul Sullinger committed against Blake Griffin, it’s unlikely that the league will rescind this one.
“When I first saw it, I thought he [Sullinger] tried to pull back at the end,” said Celtics head coach Brad Stevens. “But they (officials) told me he got him [Griffin] on the neck prior to that. They felt comfortable with it and that’s their call.”
We’re not even at the halfway point of the season and Sullinger has already racked up five flagrant foul points.
That does not include the one he had rescinded on Wednesday afternoon that was replaced by the one he picked up on the Griffin play Wednesday night.
“It’s part of the game,” Sullinger told reporters when asked about the flagrant fouls. “I just have to adjust. I tried to wrap him up … I guess I got to make another adjustment.”
Jesus, Sully.
The adjustment is pretty simple. Don’t hit people in the head.
Related: Herald – Foul play weighs on Sullinger | ESPN Boston – Sullinger remains in flagrant trouble
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston – Griffin dunks on Hump | Herald – Brooks kicks off some rust | Brooklyln Game – For a moment, KG was the man | CSNNE – Doc remembers Cs struggling too |
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