Your Morning Dump…. Where Doc’s trying to cut Rondo’s minutes

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.

"You're just trying to coach the game, and look at their minutes overall," Rivers said. "Rondo's a guy, we have to lower his minutes. There's no doubt about that."

Rondo is aware that Rivers wants to cut his playing time, which stands at a team-high 39.3 minutes per game which ranks fifth in the NBA.

"I'll be very disappointed," Rondo said about playing fewer minutes, but added, "I agree."

For Rondo, fewer minutes become palatable if the C's continue to play well.

"I just want to win the most games we can before the (all-star) break," Rondo said. "Other than that, Nate (Robinson) has been playing great, especially the three games I didn't play."

With Rondo sidelined with a left hamstring injury, Robinson started in his place and averaged 15 points, 5.3 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game with the C's winning two of the three games.

"If we can do that and cut my minutes down and me get healthy, that'll be great for the team," Rondo said.

CSNNE: Rondo continues to rise to the occasion

Rondo is banged up.  His hammy is still an issue.  His feet are bugging him.  And while there's no indication that there's anything wrong with his knee after that fall… how many times can he keep falling and still get up?  Even at 24 years old, wear and tear is wear and tear.

So knocking his minutes down be even about 4 or 5 would be a big help.  It shouldn't be hard… just sit him a minute earlier in the 1st quarter and 3rd quarter and bring him in a minute later each time.  It's not much, but its a start.  

I guess it's a good thing he didn't play in the Worlds this summer, huh?  All that extra ball piled up on all the minutes he's playing?  Might not have been a great combination. 

Just listen to how quiet the Garden got when he went down.  Everyone did the same thing… they stopped breathing.  We all know how important Rondo is to this team.  If he goes down… the C's title hopes take a HUGE hit.

On Page 2:  Von Wafer is buying in

“I’m just going to be ready,’’ Wafer said. “I’m not going to get my hopes up too high or my hopes too low because that’s what I’ve been doing in the past and it kind of hurt.

Globe:  Wafer hopes opportunity knocks this time around

“We’ve got to get now one more guy to play,” said Rivers. “Von is probably the first candidate. We’ve got to figure out a way of getting him going a little bit.” 

Asked what Wafer needs to do to prove to Rivers that he’s ready, the coach hinted it’s all about consistently proving he’s bought in. 

“I don’t know,” said Rivers. “We’ll figure it out. He’s close, he’s working. He’s got to remember why we play him, and he’ll figure it out.” 

[…] “I’m doing what I’ve been doing: Coming to the gym early, getting up shots… Just listening to what the coaches say and not becoming a distraction. Hopefully they’ll notice the work I’m putting in because I want to be part of something special here.” 

ESPN Boston:  Opportunity knocks

I said it a few days ago… it's time for Von to show us something.  Without Delonte and with Ray still playing big minutes, we need someone to come in and be a shooter without costing the team at the other end. 

Von is saying all the right things right now.  He says he's never been around something like this and it's clearly something special… so he'll do whatever he needs to do to be part of it.  

So we'll see if it's all talk or if there's action behind it.  

The rest of the links:

Herald: A nasty Kevin Garnett means business |  Get ready for a late run  |  ESPN Boston:  Snapshot: Getting a big head  |  Rebound year  |  Only the young  |   Globe:  Recuperating West expects to play this year  |  CSNNE:  Garnett enjoying it while it lasts  |  MWDN:  Marquee play from Daniels  |  Celtics Blog: An assist anomaly in Boston