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.

Merry Christmas Red’s Army readers! Just for today, let’s forget that the C’s are rebuilding. Let’s forget that Rondo, Paul & Kevin are no longer wearing the kelly green. On this Christmas Day, let’s go back to the days when Boston was in the upper echelon of the NBA-playing among other elite teams on national television for a captive Xmas audience.

Let’s turn back the clock to Christmas 2012 when the Celts were in Brooklyn taking on the Nets. Behind a 19 point, 5 assist & 6 rebound performance from Rondo, the green played the Grinch to the Barclays Center crowd, beating Brooklyn 93-76. Sully and Jeff Green put in 16 & 15 points respectively off the bench…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA4s5XhV2BA

Page 2:  The Movement Family Making A Difference

During the holidays, I personally take time to think about all that I am grateful for. I have a roof over my head, food in my belly and family to keep me company. Many folks however simply do not. But some young people in the city of Lawrence, Ma. are doing everything they can to try & help. “The Movement Family” was formed by 22 year old college hooper Michael Gorman. The Herald’s Tom Layman wrote a great piece about Michael and how he and his team are working to help the homeless population in Lawrence through their many struggles.

The plan to go under bridges and help the homeless in Lawrence wasn’t the initial one for The Movement Family.

It just developed.

Gorman and his swelling group decided if they truly wanted to have a positive influence on the community, they had to help the ones who’d been completely lost in the shuffle. The reach now includes collecting donations, whether it is food or clothing, and delivering it to those in need.

Gorman doesn’t just drop things off as a show of good faith. Gorman is out there making lasting relationships. Earlier in the year, he helped a young woman get clean and helped her obtain a ticket to Chicago to reunite with her family.

He keeps up with the people who are behind bars, as he has a stack of some 30 or 40 letters from people incarcerated at various jails and prisons around the state.

“I just had to think outside the box,” Gorman said. “I see out there and nothing was really done to help it. I felt for these people. I call them the forgotten ones. Yeah, they might have made some mistakes, burnt their bridges too many times, but I want to try to help them get on their feet again, not give up hope on them. I never want to give up on an individual.”

It’s only by the grace of god that I’m fortunate enough to live the life I do. Hard times can hit anyone, at anytime. It’s fantastic to know that guys like Michael are there to try and help the less fortunate. Check out the video below for more on Michael and his mission to bring the spirit of Christmas to those society has forgotten. A very Merry Christmas to all of our readers and thank you all for making 2014 another great year for Red’s Army.com!!

The rest of the links:

Globe: Celtics In Need Of A Leader With Rajon Rondo Gone|NBA Notebook: Varejao Done For Season, McHale Gets Extension|ESPN Boston: Xmas Evaluation:It’s Future Over Presents|ESPN: Josh Smith To Join Rockets|CSNNE: Celtics’ Newcomers Auditioning For Role Somewhere