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.

The rest of the season will be an invaluable experience for Young, whom the Celtics are banking will develop fast enough to become a permanent rotation player next season. The organization knows he can shoot the ball from the perimeter, but he spent so much time in the NBADL to work on his defense, ball-handling and gain confidence.

While he appeared a formidable figure on the college level at Kentucky, Young is frail on the professional level. Fellow NBA swingmen are built solid, such as Sacramento’s Rudy Gay or the more physical Derrick Williams.

Young’s need for strength and more build is apparent, and that will be his primary goals this summer. Until then, he will have to go with the body he has and learn on the fly. Always confident, Young appears ready for the challenge and opportunity.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment and it’s starting to finally slowly come on, I’ve just got to make the most of it,” he said. “I’ve just got to stop thinking so much. I’ve been thinking about playing defense and then trying to do offense. I’ve got to out there and play.”

Globe: This is Celtics rookie James Young’s time

I’ve written this before, but if you’re thinking out on the floor, you’re toast. The thinking is done in practice, in film session, on the drive to the game… when you’re on the floor playing basketball, you’re reacting. All the practicing and studying is supposed to get train your body to instinctively do things on the floor when you recognize certain situations.

Of course, as a rookie, it’s hard to do that. Especially if you haven’t played much. That’s why experience becomes so valuable. It’s the same as any job, really. When you first start at a new company, you’re slower than everyone else, even if you’re good at your job. You don’t know where the copier is, you haven’t mapped out your favorite lunch spots yet, you’re not sure where to sit in the conference room during meetings.  It’s awkward.

But after a while, you get comfortable with things.  The world around you is easier to manage and you can just get your own shit done.

It’s the same with James Young. Andre Miller schooled him last night in the post because Young was thinking too much on the floor rather than using his instincts and just playing defense. It was not only a lesson learned, it was a lesson that is ingrained in his memory forever, there to be called upon by his subconscious to instinctively move his body that half-second quicker the next time.

That’s why thinking is a killer. By the time you hash out the problem in your brain, you’re a second behind the play. In professional sports, that second is the difference between looking like a lost rookie and making a good defensive play.

Now, with Marcus Thornton gone, so is the Celtics lone “microwave” player (sorry Vinnie Johnson). Now it’ll be up to Young to heat up in a hurry when the Celtics offense goes into the shitter. He’ll probably have some trouble with that if he’s out there doing basketball calculus, but eventually his smooth stroke will take over. The kid’s got tools to become a really good offensive player.

The next question will be “what’s his ceiling?” Is he going to be another Marcus Thorton, or is he going to develop beyond that?

First things first… getting out on the floor and becoming comfortable with NBA basketball. He’s got a month and a half to fill his notebook for the summer. He’s got a long way to go, but this, finally, is his chance to get out on the floor and figure out what he does and doesn’t know.

Page 2: Isaiah Thomas is a dog

Ask Stevens about Thomas’ personality in the locker room and … well, though the Celtics certainly did their research, maybe you should ask somebody else that question. Like, for example, Ben McLemore, who played alongside Thomas in Sacramento last season.

“Aggressive, talented, just a guy that’s willing to win who’s going to help them a lot. A great character guy that’s going to bring a lot of support and leadership onto the team,” McLemore said. “Everybody said he’s small, he can’t do this, can’t do that, but playing with him my first year as a rookie, I saw a lot of competitiveness in him.

“He’s a dog. He just wants to go out there and fight and show people what he can do.”

MassLive: Ben McLemore: Thomas a competitor

We’ll have to see when Isaiah Thomas makes his debut. He had to fly to Boston for tests with the team doctors, and then he has to go back across the country to meet up with the team.  So he might be in uniform tomorrow against the Lakers. If not, then this weird cross-country odyssey will bring Thomas back to where he started, Phoenix, to make his debut for the Celtics on Monday.

Why can’t they just take this guy in to some hospital in Sacramento and pay for a physical there? Or get the Kings team doctor to do it? Seems weird that a guy who was a short flight away has to go through all this to play for the team.

Related links:  Herald: Newest Celtic a real competitor  |  CSNNE: Unclear if Thomas will debut vs. Lakers  |  ESPN Boston: Stevens talks Thomas, dynamic backcourt

And Finally…

The Cousins-Crowder dunk fest was something to see…

How about someone stop the damn ball?

Crowder got him back… but not quite in the same way.

Related links: Cousins crushes Crowder with a dunk, Crowder returns the favor, then tweets about it

The rest of the links:

Globe: Shorthanded Celtics can’t hang with Kings  |  MassLive: Turner compares Boston’s moves to Philly’s: “we’re getting NBA players  |  Herald: Big problems for Celtics  | No waiting around  |  Break for namesake  |  CSNNE: Kings show “renewed enthusiasm”  |  ESPN Boston: Change is Stevens’ biggest challenge