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.
The Celtics trailed by as many as 22 and were never really in the game, as the Nets shot 56 percent from the floor. Many of their points came in the paint, where the Nets outscored the Celtics, 62-30.
The 62 paint points marked a season high for the Nets. It was also the third most that the Celtics have given up all season, trailing March 16 in New Orleans (70) and March 9 in Detroit (64).
“We have to be better in our paint,” Stevens said, diagnosing what has been a disturbing trend of late.
“We need to pull in more. It’s one of those times where you just have to say, ‘OK, it’s time to muck the paint up again,’ and we didn’t do it well enough. And never more evident than that they could take four or five dribbles in the post and we don’t react to it multiple times today in isolation.”
Don’t worry Coach Stevens, I have a solution to the defensive problems in the paint.
Joel Embiid.
Jabari Parker laid an egg in his NCAA tournament debut: 14 points on 4-14 FG in Duke’s upset loss to Mercer. CSNNE has a recap of the NCAA players on the Celtics radar in the draft.
On Page 2, Paul Pierce did everything but sell popcorn.
So when it came time for the T-shirt toss, well, the Brooklyn version of The Truth figured he still had a good inning or so in his arm, and he helped convey some garments into the crowd.
The same crowd that was chanting, “Thank you, Celtics,” presumably for trading Pierce to them and not just for giving their Nets an easy night at the office.
“I’d like to get some popcorn and go into the stands and sell it,” Pierce said later with a laugh, acknowledging his T-shirt transport.
He gave the Nets 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting in just 19 minutes in this one, but he has provided so much more to a team that was given up for lottery lint early in the year only to recover and stand five games over .500.
“What I thought I was getting is exactly what I got — a veteran guy that’s a great leader, that really understands the game and raises it for big games,” said (Nets GM Billy) King. “He knows how to raise it and raise his teammates up for those big games.”
Very happy to see the Truth and Brooklyn Nets playing well as the playoffs approach. He and KG will have my full support.
Pierce had some fun last night with Rajon Rondo as RR drove the lane for a dunk.
No dunks allowed, even for friends.
Related: CSNNE – Celtics have no answer for Pierce
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston – Brooklyn blowout | The quest for progress | CSNNE – Bradley’s career best can’t save Celtics | Herald – Celtics defense rests | Globe – Brad Stevens has ties to Mercer
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