Your Morning Dump… Where Brad likes Gerald Green’s ‘spurt-ability’

Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

“I’ve been a big Gerald Green fan because I’ve been scared of him,” Stevens said. “And I think that that’s a great way to figure out how good a player is. When you go into a game, he’s on your scouting report, maybe in a highlighted way because he could go off for a lot of points in a short amount of time.

“He can change the course of a game. Does he do it every night, historically? No. But he’s had moments and times where he has done that. So I think he brings a spurt-ability to us that we clearly needed from a scoring standpoint.”

ESPN Boston – Celtics’ Brad Stevens on Gerald Green: ‘I’ve been scared of him’

Some night a couple of months from now, when Gerald Green racks up double-figure points in the second quarter, remember that Brad Stevens told you: “he brings spurt-ability.”

Brad was at TD Garden yesterday (along with Doc Rivers) for the annual ABCD Hoops Dream fundraiser, and he held an informal Q&A with the assembled media. The coach touched on subjects such as Evan Turner’s departure and Al Horford’s arrival. Check the Forsberg link above for details, or watch the following video of Brad’s full remarks.

Brad Stevens discusses his preparation for training camp and expectations for his players. pic.twitter.com/vzvT1lQe6J

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) September 6, 2016

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsOn Page 2: Memory lane

With Doc Rivers in Boston for the aforementioned event with Stevens, and with Hall of Fame inductions about to take place in nearby Springfield, several former Celtics became topics of conversation and news reports yesterday:

Reminiscing about his career now that he’s about to go in the Hall of Fame, O’Neal told The Vertical he wishes his final season had unfolded differently. It’s easy to forget because injuries ruined his short stint with the Celtics, but the team actually played wonderful basketball with him on the court in 2010-11.

According to Basketball-Reference.com, Boston’s three most frequently-used lineups with O’Neal outscored opponents by 18.9 points, 15.4 points, and 21.1 points, respectively, per 100 possessions. The opening night starting lineup — O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo — was a killer when it did play together, and the Celtics started that season 23-4 before injuries gradually took hold.

For the entire season, O’Neal only played 37 games, including just one after the trade deadline. Returning from an Achilles injury, he played six minutes in that game before reaggravating the issue. Declining to come back for the second season of his contract, the 15-time NBA All-Star announced his retirement during the ensuing offseason.

“I really wished I could have continued out my last year in Boston,” O’Neal told Charania.

MassLive – Shaquille O’Neal tabs Bill Russell as a Hall of Fame presenter, wishes stint with Boston Celtics had gone differently

You might remember what happened at that 2011 trade deadline: Danny Ainge shipped Kendrick Perkins to OKC for Jeff Green. It was a shock to everyone, especially because at that time it wasn’t known when Shaq would be coming back from his injury, or if he would be effective. Obviously, that didn’t work out, and the Cs were eliminated from the playoffs in round two. For many reasons, that deal stands out as probably the most regrettable of Ainge’s tenure.

“Paul didn’t have the best year last year. I don’t think he wants to go out that way. So I think that’s why he’s working to try to come back. But he still may change his mind next week. So we just have to wait. I told him if I see him at training camp, I’m assuming he’s playing.”

Rivers plans to talk with Pierce again this week, but does not expect an answer until training camp draws closer. Rivers said he would be brutally honest with Pierce if he didn’t think he was capable of helping the Clippers next season.

“If I don’t think they can play, then I tell them that. But I think Paul can play,” said Rivers. “I don’t know how much he’ll play, but he can play. I’ve always thought it’s easy for someone else to tell you to retire; I think that’s something that the player has to come to by himself.”

ESPN Boston – Paul Pierce undecided on 19th season, Doc Rivers says

Reports this summer that Pierce would play one more season were apparently premature. If you’ve already bought tickets for the Clippers’ February 5 visit to Boston, no doubt you’re hoping The Truth will be playing that day. Although, if he does hang up the sneakers, perhaps the Celtics will use that occasion to retire his number. (Note to Wyc Grousbeck: Feel free to use that idea; some free courtside seats will be a sufficient thank-you.)

“I think if Ray was in the right spot he may play. I think Ray wants to golf a lot too right now,” Rivers said Tuesday night at the TD Garden, where he and Brad Stevens highlighted an event for the ABCD Hoop Dreams foundation. “But Ray is in amazing shape. I don’t know how he does that. I didn’t know how he does that as a player; I don’t know how he does it as a non-player. He’s probably in top-five shape in the NBA. So could Ray play? Absolutely, I believe he could.”

MassLive – Doc Rivers says Ray Allen is in ‘amazing’ shape, could still play in NBA if he finds the right spot

I remember reading some years ago that Ray supposedly had never eaten a cheeseburger in his life. If that’s true, no wonder his conditioning is top-level.

Not all of you will agree, but if Ray did return to the league, I’d love to see him wearing green again. Realistically, though, that wouldn’t happen. Hell, he gave up several million dollars to leave for Miami to get a ring (wise choice, it turned out), so if he decides to play now it’s only going to be where he can win again, which is the Cavs or Warriors.

And, finally: Jaylen’s in the news again

You’re 19, the third pick in the NBA draft, and adidas is hyping you and paying you to wear their shoes. Life is good.

.@FCHWPO stars in new .@adidasUS campaign “Sports Need Creators” #HereToCreate https://t.co/ddWXi2wJmE pic.twitter.com/xToXr6w1Qk

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) September 6, 2016