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.
“Long term [I’m not scared] because of me personally, but it’s more because of my children (Jermaine, 4, and Asjia, 11),” O’Neal told CSNNE.com. “My daughter is in the fundamental league at her school. She asked me to take her to the gym twice [last] week, and I couldn’t. That’s hard. Her daddy is supposed to be Super Man.
“I didn’t even know until [last Friday], my wife told me that my daughter was concerned. She was asking, ‘Are they going to have to open Daddy’s knee?’ Those are things where you’re not just living it — everybody around you is living it.”
CSNNE: Celtics cope with mental challenges while injured
This is a good piece by Jess Camerato that shows how the injuries to Jermaine, Delonte and Perk take a toll on them and their families personally. It's really interesting because we sometimes get on guys for their mental states but we don't understand that they go home and have another aspect to deal with.
It's surprising, also, to read that Jermaine couldn't even take his daughter to the gym. That's bad.
You can also tell the tone is different with Delonte and Perk because they're coming off injuries and are weeks from returning. Jermaine is contemplating potential-season ending… and in all reality… potentially career-ending surgery. His tone is much more somber than the other guys.
On Page 2: The band's almost back together… and that's inspiring
While other clubs reconstruct themselves with trades, the Celtics are doing it with good health. To a man, every Celtic acknowledged Sunday’s practice was motivational because Perkins and Garnett were back, and the team was whole.
[…]“I saw a glimpse of [the team I want to see Sunday] in practice,’’ Rivers said. “It’s going to help our starters. It’s really going to help our best. To me, that’s where it’s going to help the most. The starters are the starters, they are going to be good regardless. When you can have [Davis] and Shaq with Nate and Delonte? That’s good for us. But I’m concerned because they have to learn to play together and they haven’t all year but they have enough time if they can come back quick enough.’’
I get asked one question more than any other… and it has to do with adding a player should Jermaine O'Neal have season-ending surgery.
First: The C's have the maximum 15 players so someone would have to get cut… and I'm not sure the C's are looking to do that considering they just guaranteed the contracts of Von Wafer and Delonte West.
Second: The Celtics are getting Kendrick Perkins back in a couple of weeks. Consider him a free-agent signing. Pretend that he's a guy we picked up to replace Jermaine.
KG is back and looking good. Perk is feeling good. Delonte is shooting again. That dramatically changes so much about the Celtics. You have a starting center back in the fold. You have a back-up point guard back in the fold. Your emotional and defensive leader is back.
I wouldn't worry about the C's making moves. The only moves they need to make is getting healthy… which they are doing.
The rest of the links:
Herald: Ray Allen goes on record | Globe: Plan for O'Neal hits delay | CSNNE: J.O'Neal gets second opinion | ESPNBoston: Snapshot: 00 goes into the rafters | J O'Neal surgery decision delayed | Preview: The Association episode 2
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