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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.
Could Rondo really be that far ahead of his teammates in the readiness stage.
“What do you think?” said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. “I mean, honestly, what do you see? Yeah, he is. Ray’s right there. Ray is playing terrific too. And Kevin defensively is pretty good. Offensively we still have to get him going more. But Rondo is just playing terrific. And we’ve got to allow him to be terrific. We shouldn’t get in his way, and that’s what we’re doing.
“This is his team right now, until everyone else gets going.”
Herald: Celtics just can't wait
Rajon Rondo has to think score first right now. He's the best scoring option, especially when Ray doesn't have it.
I don't know how long it will take, or if it will ever happen, but the Celtics offense of the past is nowhere to be found. Without Rajon Rondo killing himself on drives, the C's would have had nothing last night.
I keep telling myself I'm going to wait until the end of the month to start getting really worried… but if the Celtics don't get it together soon, they could be 4-8 in a blink (Chicago, Indiana and Oklahoma City are the next 3 opponents). That's not an appetizing thought.
Related links: CSNNE: Blakely: This is Rondo's team now | ESPN Boston: The amazing, aggressive Rondo | WEEI: This is Rondo's team, now he needs help | Globe: Video: Rondo on the Celtics offense
On Page 2: Mickael Pietrus "was one of our best players"
"That’s Mickael Pietrus," he said. "I’m going to fight for my teammates, I’m going to fight for my coaches, and I’m going to fight for the Celtics."
On a night Boston's Big Three struggled to provide a spark, coach Doc Rivers raved about the new guy's gutsy effort.
“[Pietrus] was phenomenal," said Rivers. "I thought we was one of our best players in the game. He clearly gave our team energy, played hard, turned the ball[-handler] — he’s exactly what we need. And it’s just going to get better. Even if it didn’t, I’d take it. Really. He was terrific, he really was. His energy, his joy — he brought joy to the game. You know, you can just see it. He was so happy to play, and really the only reason he came out was because he was dying. He was getting tired and I had to take him out.”
ESPN Boston: Pietrus brought joy to the game
Pietrus provided a spark off the bench that got the Celtics back into the game. You could look at his intensity as a huge reason the Celtics even had a chance in this one.
Which really re-enforces the fact that this team is a total work in progress. With Pietrus here now and, hopefully, only getting better, it will change how Doc apportions minutes. Pietrus might have finished the game if he wasn't gassed.
The Celtics have lost games 5 games, but they had a chance to beat the Knicks, Miami, Indiana and Dallas. If the C's executed better, hit a few shots they'd normally make… maybe were in better shape or had Paul Pierce at 100%… and we're looking at maybe a 6-3 or even 7-2 team.
Of course, that didn't happen. But it could happen once this team more closely resembles its finished product. I just hope that happens soon.
Related links: Herald: Pietrus finally hits the floor
The rest of the links:
CSNNE: Zero second chance points an issue for the Celtics | West returns to the Garden in a big way | Celtics fall to Mavs, drop below .500 | Talking points | ESPN Boston: KG: "We will get better" | WEEI: Celtics get Nowitzki'd | What did Delonte mean to the Celtics? "toughness" | Celtics search for an identity | Herald: No excuse for this one | West recalls "great things" with Green | Time for Big 3 to play big | Globe: Mavericks finish off Celtics | West wanted a return | Nowitzki shifted gears | MWDN: Doomed by Dirk's late shot
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