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.
“If I’m ready to go Friday (against the Washington Wizards), I’m going to go,” Smart said. “If not, it’s early in the season, we are not going to try to force anything. Hopefully, we will get me out there for (the following game).”
Smart still doesn’t know how the injury occurred. He said he felt some discomfort when the team flight landed Tuesday night in Indiana. Despite getting treatment, he said he “woke up the next morning in a lot of pain.” He skipped a Wednesday morning shootaround, missed that night’s loss to the Pacers, and underwent X-rays which were negative.
“Nothing showed up so we are trying to figure out…that’s what caused us to come to the conclusion that’s it is just a jam or sprain. We are just trying to deal with that and figure out ways to heal it and get it better,” Smart said. “A sprain is what they are calling it. Still trying to figure out what happened. Not too sure.”
MassLive – Marcus Smart discusses mysterious toe injury, considered day-to-day for Boston Celtics
We’ve all been there before, right? One minute you’re sitting at your desk and feel relatively fine, the next minute your neck is just killing you. They’re called random injury ghosts and they enjoy messing with you. I have no proof these ghosts exist but apparently they’ve worked their powers on Marcus Smart. At some point on Tuesday, Smart’s toe hurt badly enough where A) he had to miss Wednesday’s game vs Indiana and B) couldn’t even sit on the bench with the team.
The latter piece to me was never a big deal, but to a lot of fans it is. Or, it is depending on whom the injured player is. The more important thing is that it doesn’t seem like this will be a long-term issue which is good. Although last year he sprained his ankle early and it apparently limited his ability to drive to the basket, or do much of anything he wanted. Let’s hope this toe injury isn’t a repeat of that.
On Page 2, James Young has no idea what the C’s coaches want from him
When Boston traveled to Indiana earlier this week, Young stayed back in New England, where he was assigned with rookie Jordan Mickey to the Maine Red Claws for two-a-day practices. Both players rejoined the Celtics in time for Thursday’s practice.
Despite spending time in the D-League so early in his second season, Young said he’s not discouraged.
“Not at all. It’s a process,” he said. “I’m the youngest guy on the team. I knew this was going to happen. So, just keep working.”
Asked what the coaches want to see from him, Young began his reply, “I have no clue,” before saying he will continue to do whatever they ask.
“We just have a lot of guys at my position,” he said. “So, like I said, I’m the youngest guy. My time is coming.”
This is simply amazing. I find it extremely difficult to believe that this coaching staff (as well as Ainge himself) haven’t clearly communicated to James Young exactly what they want from him. My guess is it’s something like this: ‘play defense and knock down shots.’ That’s the incredibly simplified version, but it’s still pretty clear. Even if he’s confused, you don’t say that to the media. Not because you’re try to be covert, but just because something in your mind should click and say ‘hmm maybe not the best comment.’ It’s sort of like you’re at a new job and you’re talking to a group of people from another department and you tell them ‘yeah you know I’m bored to death, I never have anything to do.’ Yes, he’s still young, but you can only use that excuse for so long.
And Finally… Avery Bradley loves to dunk, just never does
“I just don’t think he shows it as much as he should, especially with his athletic ability,” said Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas, who grew up with Bradley in Tacoma, Wash. “When he gets around that rim, he can do a lot of those types of things, and hopefully [the dunk against the Spurs] gives him some confidence to really do that all the time when he’s around the rim, because he can jump.”
The hope, Thomas said, is that a few more hard-charging and high-flying plays will make teams play back on Bradley when he is on the perimeter, and also lead to more free throw attempts when he attacks.
Last season, Bradley’s free throw rate was .099, meaning he shoots about one free throw for every 10 field goal attempts. The always-attacking Thomas, meanwhile, had a free throw rate of .481, nearly five times as high as Bradley’s.
“I just have to be aggressive and think to drive and dunk and make plays like that,” Bradley said, “because I am capable of doing it.”
Boston Globe – Make no mistake, dunks are part of Avery Bradley’s game
AB’s dunk on Sunday against the Spurs was pretty sweet, no doubt about it. He doesn’t need to dunk 10 times per game, but he definitely needs to get to the free throw line more. But, he’s said it himself several times that he’s been afraid of re-injuring himself. Hopefully he’s able to get past that at some point, but a lot of times players never do. He’s still young enough where he might, but so far (even early in this season) he hasn’t shown that he ever will.
The rest of the links:
Boston Herald – Celtics notebook: James Young’s development continues with Red Claws
CSNNE – Smart, Johnson uncertain for Celtics vs. Wizards Friday | Stevens: Crowder’s full-court basket ‘kind of ironic’ | Young not discouraged by trips to the D-League | Never too early to talk NBA MVP; Blakely’s Top 5 | Is Hunter set for a bigger role for the Celtics? | Tanguay: Time to put Thomas in the starting lineup
MassLive – Marcus Smart: ‘The world knows’ how poorly the Boston Celtics shot the basketball | Dallas Mavericks Twitter: Rajon Rondo ‘crappy’ throw-in in Boston Celtics trade last season
WEEI – 2016 CELTICS MOCK DRAFT PICK POWER RANKINGS V1.0 | MEET BEN SIMMONS, THE COLLEGE FRESHMAN WHO COULD END UP SAVING THE CELTICS
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