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.

Gina owned three guns. One was kept above a kitchen cabinet, one under her mattress, and one under a couch. She always had to have a gun ready, she said, so there was no time for lockboxes. Terry knew where the weapons were kept and even played with them when his mother and her friends were distracted.

“When I say I saw shotguns and pistols in the house, I saw them,” Rozier says. “It was what I grew up around. And I was just so hyper. Anything could have happened to me.”

[…]

For Rozier Sr., prison provided a kind of safe haven from those seeking retribution. But Gina began to hear whispers that her family was in danger because of his misdeeds.

“They threatened to kill my son,” she said. “They wanted Terry [Sr.] to feel the pain that they felt. And sometimes that can sound like just a threat, but in Youngstown, when someone says that, you’d better know they’re serious.”

Globe: Terry Rozier’s long outside shot

Adam Himmelsbach has the gritty details of a long, difficult life for the Rozier family. A father in prison, a single mother struggling to stay afloat in a crime-riddled community, and a grandmother that did just enough to save Terry from becoming another statistic.

Sadly, the “basketball saves a kid from a shitty life” story almost feels cliché. It happens to too many kids… just ask Marcus Smart. But like Smart, the passion for basketball is a saving grace that allowed Rozier to focus on something positive while the negative swirled around him.

It’s hard not to root for Rozier to succeed after reading that story. Hopefully the lessons he’s learned along the way will benefit him moving forward.

Page 2: RJ Hunter is learning every day

Still, the 21-year-old realizes he has work to do. In the fourth quarter, down 83-79, Hunter had what appeared to be an open transition layup. Hunter casually tried a layup and Knicks forward Derrick Williams leaped out of nowhere to swat the ball away.

For Hunter, this was his ‘Welcome to the NBA’ moment.

“I got my layup two-handed swatted. So I was like, ‘All right, we’re here (in the pros) now,’” Hunter said after Friday’s loss. “All these preseason games are lessons. So we’re just trying to learn from them all.”

CSNNE:  Hunter: All preseason games are lessons

I’m very well aware of how my Hunter praise sounds. I’m about to name this site RJHuntersArmy.com.  When we release Rainin’ J’s episode 2 tomorrow, you’ll hear plenty more about this kid.

So I won’t go on at great length right now. The kid didn’t look great as a point guard Friday night, but that was never a role he’d legitimately be asked to play anyway. The 2-handed swat of his layup was a good introduction to the speed and athleticism of NBA players. That weak shit isn’t going to fly here, kid.

Each lesson learned is another step closer to getting into the rotation. He’s going to force Brad Stevens to make some tough decisions about minutes this season.

Related links: Celtics.com: Soaring confidence driving Hunter’s progression

And Finally….

Amir Johnson has Brad’s back…

“Particularly yesterday,” the big man replied, “when he almost killed the ref on the floor and got a tech. That’s the first time I’ve kind of seen him get rowdy. And I like that.

“He doesn’t show it very often, but on the floor you saw the vein go down his head and he was angry about that. And I had his back too.”

Brad really went off the deep end Friday night. Here’s some exclusive video of his meltdown:

The rest of the links:

Herald: Markel Brown sees Marcus Smart winning again  |  Time not on Jones’ side now  |  CSNNE: Young Celtics will have to learn how to win close ones  |  ESPN Boston: Owner: These guys are fired up to be Celtics