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.
Looks like the talk Doc Rivers had with Courtney Lee last week made a difference. The Globe’s Amalie Benjamin explains:
WALTHAM — About a week ago Doc Rivers and Courtney Lee sat down for a conversation. The coach wanted Lee not to think so much, to be more aggressive, and so he made sure the 27-year-old knew that.
In the ensuing week, Lee has put up some of his best performances in a Celtics uniform, including an exceptional all-around game against the Trail Blazers Friday, crucial with Rajon Rondo serving the first game of his two-game suspension.
“He said, ‘We know you’re going to play hard on the defensive end, we just need you to play with the same energy and focus on the offensive end,’ ” Lee said after practice Monday. “That was enough said there.”
Sometimes that’s all it can take for a player to finally “get it”. But I think we’d all like to see some more consistency from Lee before being completely sold. He’s looked hesitant much of the season, and some of that can surely be blamed on not knowing if he’ll start or come off the bench from time to time-especially at the very beginning of the season.
Rondo’s absence has helped Lee take Rivers’s advice to heart, giving him additional minutes in which to put it into effect. But with Rondo returning to practice this week, and back in the lineup for Wednesday night’s game against the Timberwolves, Lee will have to figure out how to continue to contribute in a lesser role.
“It’s not hard at all,” Lee said. “Just whenever you get out there, the minutes that you get, you’ve just got to perform. That’s my mind-set when I get out there, just be as aggressive as possible.”
When Avery Bradley comes back, who knows exactly what Lee’s role will be. But I guess Doc could have worse problems than having too many talented young guards on the roster. Some fans have even said they think Lee could be used to help Danny Ainge facilitate a trade for a big man at some point. What do the readers think? Is Lee just hanging around until Bradley comes back? Or is he a key cog to the Banner 18 machine?
The rest of the links:
Herald: Celtics Dooling gets point A rested develpoment | CSNNE: Green Lee adjusting to new roles |
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