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.
As free agency all but dries up after a summer of unprecedented spending, we can start looking ahead to the 2016-17 season. And what better way to start than to begin analyzing the best and worst starting lineups in the league?
While there are still plenty of starting positions to be won or lost by opening night, our writers have collaborated on the five-man unit we believe will make up each team’s starting lineup, and by way of a composite score, have come up with the following rankings for the best — or worst, however you choose to look at it — starting lineups in the NBA. […]
7. Boston Celtics
PROJECTED LINEUP: Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Amir Johnson, Al HorfordJae Crowder is uber confident in Boston’s potential this season and he has every right to feel that way, especially after the Celtics signed Horford. Horford gives the Celtics an All-Star presence to pair with Isaiah Thomas and those two should be a nice one-two punch offensively, especially in the East. The Celtics also have one of the best defenders in the league in Avery Bradley (First Team All-Defense last season) and Amir Johnson is a quality rim protector. They definitely have one of the best starting units in the league.
CBS Sports – Ranking all 30 NBA starting lineups: Hint, Warriors are pretty good
Even lacking the big trade many fans desire, it’s fair to say there’s plenty of optimism among Celtics faithful for the upcoming season. The reasons are spelled out nicely in the No. 7 ranking above. In just two years, Boston has elevated from a lottery team to (at least according to this one panel of writers) the edge of elite status.
The only bad news in this article is that Toronto is ranked No. 6. The Raptors figure to be the Celtics’ prime competition for the second spot in the East, behind Cleveland, obviously.
On the good news side, the Lakers and Nets are ranked No. 28 and 29, respectively. (Insert laughing-so-hard-I’m-crying emoji.)
On Page 2: ‘Things that’ll get me on the floor’
SLAM: From now until the season starts, what are you really working on when you’re in the gym?
JB: Just trying to get better everyday. The type of stuff that I work on now is defensive stuff, things that’ll get me on the floor and a lot of stuff that people don’t like to work on. Defensively, if I keep working on that, I’ll continue to get better. Right now, I just work on a lot of defensive stuff and shooting the ball and things like that. […]
SLAM: From a personal standpoint, what are some expectations you have for yourself as you enter your rookie season?
JB: Just get better. Rome wasn’t built in a day and there’s a process to everything. Expectations for me are that I expect to get better.
SLAM – Q+A: Jaylen Brown
- “…things that’ll get me on the floor…”
- “…I expect to get better…”
- “…I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father…”
Okay, Jaylen didn’t really say that last one, but anything is possible under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Stevens.
Related: MassLive – Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown: Working on ‘a lot of stuff that people don’t like to work on’ | Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown holds Twitter Q & A: Appreciates Rajon Rondo, watches tape on Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady
On Page 3: Looking into the crystal ball
In August, real NBA news is about as rare as a Sixers win during the Sam Hinkie era, so ESPN Boston’s Chris Forsberg has renewed a tradition by inviting Celtics bloggers to share predictions on how the upcoming season will unfold.
Daily installments of “Celtics Summer Forecast” began Monday and will continue for much of the month. Several of your trusted Red’s Army correspondents are participating, so check ESPN Boston each day for our clairvoyant takes.
Here are the topics so far:
- Day 1: Everybody wins
- Day 2: Finals destination
- Day 3: Battle for final roster spots
Related: MassLive – ESPN summer forecast: How will Boston Celtics season end?
On Page 4: Hall of Fame news
Auction Item: Larry Bird @celtics dual signed home game uniform (including playoffs) https://t.co/Lw9GQgL50T (8/3). pic.twitter.com/xeocrMwwNO
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) August 2, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsIf you have a bunch of money laying around, perhaps you’d like to bid on this Larry Legend autographed uniform, or other authentic collectibles being offered by the Basketball Hall of Fame? More than 300 items are available in the online auction that runs August 3-20.
Also, if you live near Springfield, Mass., make a note of these dates when current and former Celtics players are scheduled to appear in the Hoop Hall’s “60 Days of Summer” program. All appearances begin at 1 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
- Saturday, August 13: Tiny Archibald
- Friday, August 19: Kelly Olynyk
- Saturday, August 20: Dee Brown
- Friday, August 26: Avery Bradley
And, finally: Blake Griffin in ‘Space Jam 2’?
Rumors of a sequel to the 1995 film “Space Jam” have been swirling around Hollywood and the NBA for years, usually with the name of Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James attached as the potential star. But Michael Jordan, the star of the original “Space Jam,” has another idea. Asked by a camper at his recent basketball camp who he’d pick to play the starring role in a potential sequel or reboot, Jordan went with LA Clippers star Blake Griffin.
ESPN – Michael Jordan says Blake Griffin should star in ‘Space Jam 2’
How can you argue with the talent evaluator who drafted Kwame Brown No. 1 and turned down a boatload of picks to take Frank Kaminsky? You can’t, you just can’t.
The Rest of the Links:
CSNNE – The ’86 Celtics Interviews: Episode 1 With Kevin McHale (podcast)
Basketball Insiders – Ranking the NBA’s Eastern Conference
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