Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the bigstory line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Yeah. If the NBA didn’t release schedules and TV dates last night, I’d have to lead with a tweet.
The Celtics, who added Al Horford to a young core that won 48 games last season, are expected to compete for a top spot in the Eastern Conference. There is greater interest in coach Brad Stevens and his up-and-coming squad this season after Boston was on national TV just eight times over the past two seasons (just once during the 2014-15 season). Boston is scheduled to play 10 games on ESPN, nine on TNT and three on ABC this season.
In perhaps the surest sign that the team is back on the NBA radar, the Celtics are playing on Christmas for the first time since 2012. Boston will travel to play the new-look New York Knicks in a noon ET matinee at Madison Square Garden to kick off the league’s five-game holiday slate.
Chris Forsberg on the respect implied by putting over a quarter of the C’s games on national TV.
He also throws in this tidbit:
Boston opens its 2016-17 season Oct. 26 with a visit from the Brooklyn Nets — the same team Boston has the right to swap draft spots with in the 2017 draft. After inexcusably dropping two games against the Nets during the 2015-16 campaign, the Celtics will have opening-night energy to further aid them. (emphasis added)
You know, in case anyone has forgotten about that.
A few people have pointed out that Boston has games against both Cleveland and Golden State in the first full month. Frankly, those teams haven’t been a problem for Boston. It’s teams like the Nets which, as Forsberg pointed out, beat the Celtics twice for no clearly discernible reason. Ditto that embarrassing loss to the Kobes. That needs to change.
Page 2: Where let’s make a big deal about a tweet.
I’m blessed to be from Boston. Love my city.
— Nerlens Noel (@NerlensNoel3) August 11, 2016
So. Nerlens Noel pulled all the Philly images from his account and posted a tweet about how much he loves Boston.
Later, Tom Westerholm wrote an article about Philly and Boston doing deals:
Ainge, having passed on [the draft day deal for Noel or Okafor], may believe that the Celtics could steal Noel, no matter how high the level of interest is in the big man. Before making a deal, expect Ainge to try to use Philadelphia’s lack of leverage against them as much as he possibly can.
If that makes the deal fall apart? The thinking may be “So be it.” After all, Boston has Al Horford, several other talented bigs, and excellent draft picks on the horizon. Giving up too many assets for Noel might be counterproductive.
Boston has a lot of leverage, and they may be able to package a few of their perimeter prospects and their 2018 pick for Noel. Philly won’t like that deal, but clearly they’re not getting any offers they like for Okafor either. They have to trade one of the guys they tanked for, and they’re not going to get anything like a top ten draft pick for him.
Page 3: The biggest underachiever?
Mike Dynon, Red’s Army (Hunter): Assuming James Young isn’t on the roster — a possibility, with Boston carrying 18 contracts at the moment — Hunter is next into the danger zone. I really hope I’m wrong, but Hunter shot just 36.7 percent last season. He must improve that or else he’ll have trouble seeing the floor.
Rich Jensen, Red’s Army (Olynyk): In terms of championships and playoff series, Olynyk is definitely good enough to win a game or even multiple games, but I don’t think he has the durability or the strength to play opposite the other team’s starting center night in and night out and still be a net positive for the team. And I have my doubts about Horford wanting to play center full-time as well. In fairness to Olynyk: I also didn’t think Thomas would hold up playing starter’s minutes the way he gets pounded, and he was an All-Star last season.
Ben Mark, Red’s Army (Olynyk): There’s so much positivity around this team, so it’s hard to pick a guy who might underachieve. I chose Crowder last season and, well, that didn’t go so well. I’ll choose Olynyk, whom people seem to believe will be a deadly stretch-4 next to Horford this season. Olynyk has been really slow to bounce back from injury — as evidenced by the original shoulder injury before the All-Star break last season. He’ll have to come back from injury again to start this season, and I don’t think it will be seamless.
Chris Forsberg doing his dangdest to manufacture material during the dog days of August. These are the Thursday contributions from the usual gang of idiots. Click through for plenty of words Brown & Olynyk snagged just under half of the votes in the poll, while Mike was the only guy to pick Hunter.
The rest of the links:
MassLive: NBA releases 2016-17 schedule: Boston Celtics receive 22 nationally televised games
CSNNE: Blakely: Celtics have to challenge themselves to be an elite team (video)
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