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.
"I had to use two timeouts in the first half to remind us that we actually had an NBA game to play and that we needed to play," a ruffled Rivers told reporters in Chicago. "I thought that was the worst loss for us this year, with the way we approached the game.
"Then in the second half, I just thought Chicago, they were too tough for us. Their toughness made us let go of the ropes. You could see it; we wanted to use all the excuses all night. I just thought Chicago was too tough for us tonight."
"Listen, I'm just pissed at the way we played," Rivers said. "Honestly, the playoffs are the furthest thing from my mind. We haven't been that way, but we were tonight."
"We were cool tonight. We were the cool Boston Celtics, that's who we looked like. Walking the ball up [and] we couldn't get the ball inbounds. No one wanted to work. We were the cool Celtics, and there's nothing about me that's cool, I can tell you that. We don't play basketball cool."
ESPN Boston – Doc Rivers: C's play unacceptable
Doc Rivers had to see this coming. The Celtics are consistently inconsistent with their effort. But it's his job to motivate the troops. We can only hope the players respond with a big time effort in Indiana on Saturday.
Due to my advanced age, I was unable to watch the second half collapse. I had the DVR locked and loaded at 6:30 this morning, but the Comcast game recap was the first thing I saw when I powered on the TV (stupid me). And there was no way I was going to watch this debacle knowing the outcome.
Related links: Globe – Rivers blasts Celtics | WEEI – Rivers gives Celtics wake-up call
On Page 2, Ray Allen says he's cool with coming off the bench.
“Well, people were talking about it,” he said after the Celtics’ 93-86 loss to the Bulls. “It was being talked about a lot. I can’t say that it was my idea — I don’t ever want to come off the bench. But if it can help the team, and that’s what they needed me to do, then I would be up for it.
“At the end of the day your minutes don’t change, and that’s one thing I’m very cognizant about when I’m out there in the flow,” said Allen. “It’s an ego thing to start, and my ego is not that big where I feel I have to be in the starting lineup.”
Those words from Allen, who finished with 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting and played the last nine minutes of the fourth quarter, were like music to Rivers.
“We’ve been talking about this for awhile,” said the Celtics coach. “Our bench is very lean and we’ve been trying to go with some different looks. Ray came to me tonight and wanted to do it. We’re just trying to get ready for the playoffs and our rotations.”
Herald – Ray Allen won't whine about coming off pine
I think this is a good move. You'll get the best of Avery Bradley playing him with the starters, and the bench needs Ray Allen's shooting.
Ray played 31 minutes to Bradley's 27 last night. Ray also logged significant time in the 4th quarter. There should be no ruffled feathers or bruised egos.
Related links: CSNNE – Bradley replaces Allen in starting lineup |
The rest of the links:
CSNNE – Celtics trampled by Bulls | WEEI – Celtics run out of gas | Herald – Bulls dump Celtics | With ankle, Ray Allen tells it how it is | ESPN Boston – Rapid Reaction |
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