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 guys called us old, over. I heard some of your pathetic articles and some of your lousy announcers (scans group of reporters with his eyes). It’s a pity. Obviously you don’t know what drives us. We thank ya’ll for those articles, appreciate it because it lit a fire under. One of the hardest things I’ve always said in this league is to create chemistry. I know at some point we all, as a unit, would get a rhythm and ride that rhythm out. I think that’s what you’ve seen since the All-Star Break. We’ve come back, refreshed, focused. Like I said, haven’t had a lot of practice time to implement a system of schemes, but we do have a core here and what you’ve seen up until this point to obviously come to a point to where we’ve won the division is not only confidence, but believing in that system and believing in that rhythm and riding that rhythm out. Like I’ve always said since I’ve been here, you can rewind the tapes right now. Different outfit, no scarf, same frames, that in order to build chemistry, it’s a process. You just don’t do that in one or two days. And we’re a very confident team, I’ve always said that. We never lack that. To be able to come and win your division is a huge thing. All those things combined is what you got today."
Transcription via Jess Camerato
A: I f'ing love KG.
B: I said this on Twitter last night, but I'll expand on it here a little. I know we're in Boston and we all say "we only put up championship banners." And that's true and it symbolizes the greatness of this franchise. But every so often, there comes a time to enjoy a little division title. Because every so often, it's just not supposed to happen.
Sure, we might have thought it was suppose to happen before the season started, but then the season actually started and the Celtics had serious problems. They went into the All Star break as a sub-.500 team! They were just fighting to stay alive at one point.
But then they turned it around. They rallied around each other. And if KG wants to blame the media, so be it. I don't care if they rally around some fictional space alien… they did it. Guys started stepping up and producing out of nowhere. The run to this particular division title was impressive. It's not like the division titles of years past that were a foregone conclusion.
So even though this is just one step towards a bigger goal… I'll enjoy this one a little bit. This one was hard earned.
Related links: ESPN Boston: No champagne for this party | Herald: Celtics talk about winning division title | Division title no thrill, but a sign of progess | Globe: With win, Celtics clinch division
On Page 2: OJ Mayo doesn't care about banners
"On the Memphis side, O.J. Mayo was the guy who pretty much said, 'It really doesn't interest me to be a Boston Celtic,' " Marshall told Carolyn Manno on Wednesday night'sSportsNet Central. "I think what he was told was, 'Think about the banners. Think about the history of this team,the legacy.' And O.J. Mayo basically said, 'I don't care about banners.'
"And that's how the players think today. It's not about the banners; it's about 'Where can I win? Where can I get paid the most?' "
CSNNE: Mayo on Celtics: "I don't care about the banners"
You'll care about the banners when you're 35 and not standing under one, OJ.
Why don't these idiots understand winning equals more money? Guys with a "championship pedigree" are either getting paid a little more or paid when they shouldn't be paid anymore.
I just don't get how some of these guys think.
Related links: WEEI: Doc: Trading Allen would have been "scary" | Herald: Celtics had deadline deals ready | Globe: Allen deserving of more
The rest of the links:
CSNNE: Pierce answers bell with ringing performance | Emotional Doc salutes Pat Summit | Davis finds rhythm with Magic | ESPN Boston: Video: How good is Rondo | KG wins second Red Auerbach award | WEEI: Appreciating Paul Pierce's season | Stiemsma ready for playoffs | Davis: Magic capable of beating Boston in the playoffs | Doc Rivers pays tribute to Pat Summit | Herald: Rivers, Celtics work Magic | Celtics win big with assist from Pierce | Big Baby is not all grown up | Globe: Pierce hits stride at right time | MWDN: Pierce delivers dagger as C's clinch Atlantic
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