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.
The crowd? The crowd loved it. The fight had returned, and the Celtics were back to their agitating, aggressive, energetic selves. Minutes into the fourth quarter, Turner (16 points, four assists) slammed home a dunk to tie the score and Kelly Olynyk (11 points) finished an and-one to give the Celtics the lead. Over in the front row, Bill Walton looked around in amazement as fans went bonkers around him. Bill Belichick? Yeah, he enjoyed it too. The Celtics showed the Patriots head coach on the Jumbotron and he stood up, clapping, to lead the cheers.
The TD Garden grew loud, so loud, as Jae Crowder (13 points, six rebounds) scored buckets in the paint and Avery Bradley turned up the on-ball pressure like few other men can. Turner, Kelly Olynyk and Jonas Jerebko took turns making plays off the bench and, somehow, the Celtics pushed the margin out late in the fourth quarter. Watching portions of the turnaround from next to the Boston bench, Bill Russell must have grown proud.
MassLive – Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics complete incredible comeback, stun Miami Heat, 98-88
If the Celtics had lost — and they trailed by 24 at halftime — they would have dropped to the sixth seed and created a rematch with the No. 3 Heat, perhaps better than playing the Hawks or Hornets.
Instead, Celtics pride took over. Legends from the 1966, ’76, and ’86 title teams were in the house, and they participated in a halftime tribute. With Bill Russell watching intently, Bill Walton sitting next to buddy Kevin McHale, and Patriots coach Bill Belichick chomping on popcorn, the Celtics responded with a 60-26 run for a 98-88 win.
Globe – Celtics’ win, not playoff opponent, was important
The night didn’t begin well. The Celtics came out in their grey, sleeved uniforms, which literally no one likes. They sleepwalked through the first half, showing little effort and even less intensity, in a baffling repeat of Monday’s Charlotte fiasco. The Cs fell behind by 26, and the booing was loud. All this while members of the 1966, 1976 and 1986 championship teams looked on.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets were ahead 21-4 in the first quarter of their final game, jeopardizing the lottery position of the pick Boston owns. Total disaster.
It looked like the positive feelings that had developed over the first 79 games of the season were going to be wiped away by failures in the last three games on the schedule. Even worse, how could anyone feel good about this team’s prospects if they collapsed going into the postseason?
Fortunately, we don’t have to think about that. The Cs caught fire and engineered the biggest comeback of the season across the entire NBA (also reminiscent of the 2002 Eastern finals). The Garden crowd was going crazy, as if the playoffs had already begun. Boston won by 10 and their mojo that had vanished was suddenly back.
Even the Brooklyn game turned out right, with the Nets losing to clinch the third-worst record.
But that wasn’t the only insanity. Atlanta lost, Charlotte won, and the four teams ended up tied in the standings at 48-34. Incredibly, Miami won by losing, moving up to third seed by virtue of tie breakers. And Boston, instead of having home court advantage and playing the Heat (0-3 against the Celts this season), must travel to Atlanta for the first two games of the best-of-seven. The Celts were just 1-3 versus the Hawks this season.
In the end, the Celtics didn’t get the top-four playoff seeding that they so badly needed. That may come back to hurt them. But they did regain their spirit and their trademark never-give-up style. That could prove to be the most important factor of all.
Related: CSNNE – Celtics Go on 20-0 Run Vs Miami (Video) | Celtics Get Opportunity for Redemption vs. Hawks | All That Celtics Effort for Nothing?! Well, Yes and No | Celtics Use Legends As Motivation for Comeback vs. Heat | Celtics Rediscover Identity Just in Time for Playoffs | NESN – Celtics Wrap: C’s Stage Incredible Comeback, Stun Heat 98-88 In Finale | Bill Belichick, Celtics Legends Fire Up Home Crowd In Epic Comeback Win | ESPN Boston – Legendary comeback sends Celtics into postseason with confidence | CBS Boston – Celtics Erase 26-Point Deficit, Beat Heat 98-88 | MassLive – After crazy comeback, Jae Crowder, Boston Celtics will still open playoffs away against Atlanta Hawks | Herald – Celtics welcome chance to take on Hawks
On Page 2: The playoff schedule
— NBA.com (@NBAcom) April 14, 2016
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NBA – First-Round Schedule | MassLive – 2016 NBA Playoffs: Full TV schedule, where to watch, what channels the games are on
On Page 3: Thank you, Brooklyn!
The unprotected pick that they will get from the Brooklyn Nets in June’s NBA draft will have the third-best shot at becoming the top overall pick. […]
In the last 20 years, teams with the third-worst record have wound up with the top overall pick four times. While those odds aren’t the greatest, you have to remember that the Celtics began this season as the fifth-youngest team and have a core of talented, playoff-worthy players who are all around 25 years old or younger.
CSNNE – Nets Pick Gives Celtics Third-Best Shot at Top Overall Pick
The wait is almost over. The Nets finished with the third-worst record, giving the Celtics a 46.9% chance at a top-three pick, 31.3% at top-two, and 15.6% at the No. 1 pick. Now we just have to wait until the lottery on May 17. Maybe this time…
For complete details about the lottery and the draft, check out tankathon.com.
On Page 4: Wyc has the team’s back
“I’m comfortable with where this team is now because I’m not just looking at this season. I’m looking at the summer, at next year, at Brad [Stevens’] tenure and Danny [Ainge’s] tenure and where this team is going,” he said. “I will be inconsolable if we don’t win the first round but I will not blow up the team over it. I’m with this team whether or not we win one round, two rounds or three rounds. Let’s see what happens.”
He added that he would be “annoyed and sad” if the Celtics don’t get out of the first round, “but the plan is the plan and I love where we are.”
CBS Boston – Wyc Grousbeck On Celtics’ Postseason Expectations, Offseason Hopes
This interview with the Celtics’ owner was excellent. Wyc stood up for his guys and spoke with the passion of a lifelong fan. The conversation took place prior to Wednesday night’s Miami game, and Wyc was adamant that the only “must-win” game on the horizon was Game 1 of Round One. Click the link above to listen (article contains a video and a separate audio clip).
Another nugget was this:
Wyc Grousbeck hints to @FelgerAndMazz on @985TheSportsHub that the Celtics may send Isaiah Thomas as team rep to NBA Draft Lottery.
— Brian Robb (@CelticsHub) April 13, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsLet’s hope this comes true, as long as it doesn’t interfere with any playoff games.
And, finally: Farewell, dude
You probably heard about the retirement last night in Los Angeles. Although Red’s Army is a Celtics site, we would be remiss not to offer congratulations and best wishes to a great, long-serving Laker. We speak, of course, about LA’s athletic trainer, Gary Vitti.
Oh, wait, you thought we meant that other guy? We already gave our thoughts about that.
The Rest of the Links:
MassLive – Boston Celtics rumors 2016: Jay Larranaga a candidate for Sacramento Kings head coaching job
CBS Boston – Stevens: Loss To Hornets Was Celtics Worst Home Game Of Season
CSNNE – Thomas Receives Auerbach Award, Promises ‘Deep Run’ | The End of a Dynasty … And What a Way to Go | Sherrod Blakely’s 2015-2016 NBA Awards
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