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

“There’s a buzz around the city of us making the playoffs again and making a louder noise with core guys we’ve got here and the guys we’ve added,” said Sullinger.

And it’s nicer, too, when your fans aren’t conflicted.

“Oh, for sure,” Sullinger said. “It’s always reassuring when our fans are behind us 100 percent instead of just 75 percent. So it’s awesome.”

But, hey, it could have been worse.

“This was easy here,” said Evan Turner. “I was in Philadelphia where they were so vocal about it. You’d show up to the game and they’d be screaming, ‘Tank!’ and chanting Andrew Wiggins’ name. I didn’t pay much attention to what was going on with all that here last year, but I just know it was nothing compared to having a whole crowd chanting a kid’s name. It was kind of sick.”

To keep things pleasant, the Celtics know their task tonight: Make the Nets stink so they don’t have to.

Boston Herald – Celtics ‘tank’ful for full support

From a fan perspective, this season has started off as, and will continue to be, an absolute joy to watch. Development, improvement and a second consecutive playoff appearance is the hope that all green-teamers have for this group. Let’s leave the losing to Brooklyn.

Personally, at least a few times during the week I stop and remember that unprotected Brooklyn pick belongs to Danny Ainge and immediately feel better about my life. I’m sure the front office and ownership feel the same way. Bulpett argues that the players do, too.

The players probably don’t think about the Brooklyn pick in the same terms that fans do, though. They likely are far happier that no one around the team, be it Ainge, Wyc Grousbeck or Steve Pagliuca are feeling a sense of unease around their promising start to the season. There’s no way that the entire organization was 100% behind securing the seven-seed last year.

That tension was likely felt by players to some extent, so this year’s feeling of playing ball unencumbered by mock drafts and lottery odds has to be liberating. Players like Jared Sullinger and Evan Turner can’t and won’t sit around like I do, imagining Ben Simmons in green due to the Nets’ misfortunes, or a trade that’s sweetened by a Brooklyn pick, which lands a bona fide superstar in Boston. That’s because Sullinger or Turner could become expendable in either of those situations.

They can, however, play free and play to win without hearing from fans or turning on sports radio about the benefits of losing more games. Heck, Felger and Mazz all of a sudden like this little Celtics team. It’s funny, because when the same group of guys went 24-12 last year they were absolutely horrified and unimpressed.

It’s amazing what this first of potentially three Brooklyn picks has done for the players, fans and the media. Sit back and enjoy, because the picks, and hopefully wins, just keep on comin’.

On page 2, Marcus will miss the next two

Boston Celtics point guard Marcus Smart will not travel on the team’s upcoming two-game road trip because of what the team termed a “lower left leg” injury.

Smart appeared to bang knees with Brooklyn’s Thomas Robinson trying to defend in transition with 9:26 to play in the fourth quarter of Friday’s win. The team initially said Smart suffered a left knee bruise and would miss the rest of the game. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Smart would have an MRI to further evaluate the injury.

The team said Saturday that Smart will not travel for games in Brooklyn (Sunday) and Atlanta (Tuesday). Boston is back home on Wednesday night to play host to Philadelphia.

ESPNBoston – Boston’s Marcus Smart (leg) out vs. Nets, Hawks

The Cs went 2-1 without Smart just two weeks ago when he sat out with his mysterious toe injury and that, along with this brief stint of recovery, seem to be nothing more than precautionary in nature. With the way he plays defense, though, one has to wonder if these small bumps and bruises will continue to occur, and then add up to something more serious.

The Celtics’ perimeter defense was still pretty stout in Smart’s absence, but they’ll miss his presence on Tuesday when Jeff Teague takes the court.

Avery Bradley, the newly-minted sixth-man of the year candidate, will likely be thrust back into the starting line-up tonight and next week. It could also mean a little more time for RJ Hunter.

Related Links: Boston Herald – Smart to sit out tonight

And finally, PORZINGIS!!!!

Carmelo Anthony and Derek Fisher insist they knew months ago that Kristaps Porzingis was capable of this type of performance.

Porzingis had 24 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots to lead theNew York Knicks to a 107-102 victory over the slumping Houston Rocketson Saturday night.

Anthony long ago brushed off the uproar that followed the Knicks using the No. 4 pick on a player who was perceived to be a long-term project.

“It was concern from people who didn’t know,” Anthony said. “People didn’t know what to expect. Nobody had ever seen him before and people were all so upset that the Knicks drafted him.”

ESPN – Kristaps Porzingis’ double-double, seven blocks lead Knicks over Rockets

Our own KWAPT put it best: Hate the Knicks & their idiot fans and almost happy this guy is doing well just to spite all the morons who vehemently booed him on draft night

This guy isn’t just doing well, he’s dominating on some nights just one month into his first season in the NBA. His ceiling is absurdly high and if the Knicks become not only a playoff team but a contender over the next handful of seasons, he’s going to be the primary reason why.

He’s one of the main reasons the East has been more competitive and more fun to watch at the start of the season.

The rest of the links: ESPN Boston – Avery Bradley thrives off bench, but for how long? | Boston Globe – Avery Bradley playing well off the bench | CSNNE – Celtics performing at high level on road  | Mass Live – The Boston Celtics have the NBA’s top-ranked defense after 12 games