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

Boston Celtics big man Jared Sullinger doesn’t need you to remind him that he’s dealing with one of the worst slumps of his NBA career. No, he’s very much aware. So much so that he put his cell phone on silent mode for the better part of the last week. It’ll be easier to clear out all those missed calls and text messages when his shots start falling again.

“I shut my phone off,” Sullinger said. “I don’t like talking. Honestly, the past four or five days, my phone has been completely off. Powered down. Don’t even check it. Don’t do anything. It’s just who I’ve been.”

Sullinger is in a three-game funk that culminated with him going scoreless during Friday’s loss to the New York Knicks. Rather than a pep talk from his father and brothers, who are always more than eager to help diagnose what he’s doing wrong, Sullinger sought the comfort of an empty gymnasium, returning to Boston’s practice facility to get up shots after Friday’s game.

ESPN Boston – Sullinger goes silent mode during slump

Phew. Here I was thinking Sully was just ignoring my texts all week, but Forsberg quells my fears with this report.

The Celtics are a disappointing 3-3 since the schedule lightened at the start of the month and it’s no coincidence that in dropping three straight, they’ve gotten little to no offensive production from #7. Widening the scope of Sully’s troubles to the entire month of December, it’s evident that his production is down across the board.

Sully’s averaging four fewer minutes, taking five fewer shot attempts per game and connecting on those shots at a 39% clip as opposed to 47% in November.

One can chalk up the minutes and shot reduction in December to Brad Stevens giving some of Sully’s struggling minutes to Kelly Olynyk off the bench, but Sullinger’s also made the choice for Stevens at times by getting himself into foul trouble on the defensive end.

Based off of all the stories on Sullinger since he got here, the dude clearly takes his job seriously. He comes from a basketball family, cares about how his performance affects the team and possesses a passion for the game that attributed to Danny Ainge selecting him as his stock fell in the draft due to injury concerns. If anyone’s going to do everything possible to work through what’s hopefully the nadir of a dreadful slump, it’s Sully.

The Celtics have three more winnable games this week and along with the need for Rajon Rondo to be more aggressive on the offensive end, Sully finding his groove will be the storyline to watch.

He better figure it out and turn his phone back on. Nothing worse than a full mailbox.

Related Links:

CSNNE – Sullinger hit gym after tough shooting night

On Page 2, There will be no Marcuses tonight in Philly

Neither Marcus Thornton nor Marcus Smart will be on the trip to Philly. Smart strained his left Achilles’ tendon Friday. This after being out more than three weeks with a sprained left ankle.

“He’ll rehab that and there’s a chance that he’ll play Wednesday (against the Orlando Magic),” Stevens said of Smart.

Of Smart’s recent injury issues, Stevens said, “It’s frustrating. He’s a really important part of our team, and he’s a really important part of our future, so we’re all anxious for him. He certainly is frustrated by it, just getting back and then not being able to play again.”

Thornton sprained his left calf during practice. . . .

Boston Herald – Celtics Notebook

Both Smart and Thornton have made significant contributions in the last two weeks for the Cs and were a big reason why the Celts’ bench was successful over that stretch of games. Hopefully they can make it back by mid-week, as these are games the Celtics can, and should win. It’s also a shame that James Young is still nursing his shoulder injury as this would have been a prime opportunity for him to come in and steal some minutes. Instead, get ready for lots of Evan Turner and Gerald Wallace.

Related Links:

ESPN Boston – Injury report: Smart (Achilles) out vs. Philly | Injury addition: Thornton (calf) out vs. Philly

And Finally, serious buyers’ remorse for the Hornets

Charlotte coach Steve Clifford has largely stopped using Stephenson in the fourth quarter and key stretches of games. The gulf between Stephenson and his Charlotte teammates has been growing, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Stephenson’s inability to co-exist on the floor with point guard Kemba Walker is among the primary reasons for the franchise’s desire to trade him, sources said.

Yahoo sports – Sources: Hornets targeting Nets, Pacers to unload Lance Stephenson

The Hornets inked Stephenson to a three year, $27 million contract this summer. It’s taken less than two months for the Hornets to realize Lance is far more trouble than his talent is worth.

This further proves that the best acquisition Charlotte made this summer was the ability to start making Charlotte Hornets starter jackets again.