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.
Our 16-member panel responded with six names, but it was second-year swingman James Young who topped the polling, appearing on 43.8 percent of the ballots. Offseason acquisition David Lee (25 percent) placed second, while Avery Bradley was behind him at 12.5 percent. Amir Johnson, Jae Crowder, and Jared Sullinger tied at 6.3 percent of the vote.
This writer’s thoughts? While I understand that Young is an easy target, it seems unfair to suggest that a player with 332 minutes of NBA floor time could possibly underachieve. Yes, there’s expectations based on his draft spot (17th overall last year) and his perceived potential. But after a lackluster and injury-deterred summer league performance, I’d make the case that Young has among the lowest expectations on the team entering the season, making it even more difficult for him to be dubbed the biggest underachiever.
Given the roster crunch in the frontcourt, this vote had to go to a big man. Initially, there don’t seem to be enough minutes to go around, and that’s going to impact stat lines. That puts the likes of Sullinger, Lee, Johnson, Kelly Olynyk, and Tyler Zeller in jeopardy.
My vote ultimately went with Lee. While he could just as easily be the team’s biggest overachiever if he returns to a double-double type of player, you can also see things going the opposite way given his age (32) and defensive struggles. If Sullinger and Olynyk demonstrate the sort of strides that reward them with an uptick in playing time, and if Johnson wins over fans with his hustle-heavy style, then Lee — especially with his contract — will be challenged to distinguish himself, potentially in short minutes.
ESPN Boston – Celtics Summer Forecast: Room for improvement
The hoops summer oasis that is ESPN Boston’s “Summer Forecast Series,” headed by Chris Forsberg, continues with low expectations. That is, who we expect to not have a great season. The majority of the panel went with James Young, who RedsArmy’s own Mike Dynon accurately pointed out that it’s his crown to lose. It’s kind of harsh and unfair for Young who just exited his teens weeks ago. But this is the NBA, the big time, and as soon as you enter the league the clock starts ticking.
It’s not an entirely bad thing though, since any improvement Young shows this season, as in merely staying in Boston and making zero trips to Maine, will be a bonus. Young isn’t the only member of the team that got multiple votes however. Newcomer David Lee got his share of votes as well, which is understandable based on how he got buried on a championship team lat year. Lee can play though it remains to be seen how much he has left in the tank. The good news is, if it doesn’t work out his contract expires at the end of the season. I would probably go with Lee myself, for similar reasons that Forsberg points out: the glut of big men. For Young I would say I don’t have low expectations, I just don’t have any right now. His rookie season was essentially a throw away year. If he has a repeat sophomore season, then it becomes a big problem. Here’s what our writers had to say:
Ben Mark, Red’s Army(Jae Crowder)
I’m worried that, after an admirable playoff series against Cleveland and a new five-year contract extension, expectations will be too high for Crowder. Some expect him to start this year, but he would ideally be better suited as a key cog on a contending team’s second unit. Hopefully, it’s with the Celtics in the near future as a James Posey-type, but if asked to do too much, Crowder could be seen as an underachiever.
Mike Dynon, Red’s Army (Young)
This is Young’s “crown” to lose. You have to wonder about his confidence, because his biggest strength — outside shooting — has failed him repeatedly. At this point, Young has to be described as a prove-it-to-me player. If he starts slowly in preseason, he may spend a lot of time on the bench watching Hunter.
KWAPT, Red’s Army (Young)
Young is going to have to do a lot to prove why he was worth the 17th overall pick in 2014 because, despite having some impressive games for the Red Claws, he has been underwhelming with the parent club.
On Page 2: Brad Stevens channels his inner Belichick
During the nine months he spent as an Eli Lilly marketing associate, Brad Stevens spoke to the late Kevin Hanna perhaps five times. However, on one occasion, the executive called the young employee aside and offered this career advice:
“Just do your job to the best of your ability, and let everything else take care of itself.”
Stevens, the 38-year-old coach of the Boston Celtics, said that theme has defined his every day. If Butler basketball players wondered why their coach always used the acronym DYJ — Do Your Job — that is why.
Stevens spoke Thursday night to a crowd of about 900 at a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana at the Downtown Marriott. He did so at the behest of a friend from his Zionsville childhood, Rebecca Mueller, director of youth engagement and school partnerships for the organization.
Stevens’ wife, Tracy, said her husband has largely discontinued speaking engagements. Stevens joked that a former high school teammate told him not to worry about it:
“It doesn’t matter if you stink or not because it’s for a good cause.”
IndyStar – Celtics coach Brad Stevens talks of his mentors
Head Coach Brad Stevens had speaking engagement in Indiana last night, and channeled his inner Bill Belichick. Stevens went with the “Do Your Job” theme, and it seems to be working quite well for him. Stevens has exceeded expectations thus far as coach and we’re all interested to see what he can do for an encore. The one huge difference though between he and Belichick: Stevens hasn’t had the best player of all time, in his prime, for 15 years or so. I think as C’s fans we’d all love to see what he could do with that.
And, finally… RIP Chocolate Thunder
Darryl Dawkins, whose backboard-shattering dunks earned him the moniker ‘‘Chocolate Thunder’’ and helped pave the way for breakaway rims, has died. He was 58.
The Lehigh County (Pa.) coroner’s office said Dawkins died Thursday morning at a hospital. Later Thursday, Dawkins’s family said a heart attack was the cause of death. Officials said an autopsy was scheduled for Friday.
‘‘Darryl touched the hearts and spirits of so many with his big smile and personality, ferocious dunks, but more than anything, his huge, loving heart,’’ his family said in a statement. ‘‘His family, wife Janice, children Dara, Tabitha, Nicholas, and Alexis, along with countless family, friends, and fans, all mourn his loss.
“More than anything Darryl accomplished in his basketball career as the inimitable ‘Chocolate Thunder,’ he was most proud of his role and responsibility as a husband and father.’’
Dawkins spent parts of 14 seasons in the NBA with Philadelphia, New Jersey, Utah, and Detroit. He averaged 12 points and 6.1 rebounds in 726 career regular-season games.
Boston Globe – Darryl Dawkins, NBA’s ‘Chocolate Thunder,’ dies at 58
Dawkins played a bit before I was old enough to remember, but when I was young and started watching NBA video tapes, I was in awe of how he shattered backboards so easily. It’s always good to have colorful personalities in the NBA like Dawkins as he will be missed. R.I.P.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sYJ2ItXiRo]The rest of the links:
CSNNE – Five ‘glue guys’ to watch in the NBA this season
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