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.
But Olynyk told the Herald last night that it was actually Love who initiated contact, grabbed the Celtics forward’s right arm as they fought for a loose ball. Olynyk then grabbed Love, and as both men locked arms, Love suffered a left shoulder dislocation. He ran off the court holding his arm in obvious pain.
“I would never intentionally hurt Kevin or anyone else,” said Olynyk. “He locked my arm up, I locked up his as we were fighting for a loose ball. You lock up arms all the time in this league.
“I was definitely surprised (by what Love said),” he said. “In basketball I don’t think anyone is trying to hurt anyone. For (Love) it’s very unfortunate. I know they’re trying to make a run right now.”
Kelly Olynyk continues to handle this situation in a professional manner, despite the league’s preposterous decision to suspend him one game.
I’ve heard Shaq, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, Hubie Brown, Mike Tirico, and Jeff Van Gundy dismiss the notion that this was a malicious play. I’m sure there are more. Only Cavs fans and Boston sports talk radio hosts who deliberately go against the local fan base to stir the pot see this as a dirty play.
Olynyk tells the Globe that he’s tried to contact Love to apologize. He also says he’s received threats on social media (stay classy Cleveland).
“I’d love to obviously apologize to him for the misfortune and let him know it’s definitely not my intent, at all,” Olynyk told the Globe. “Just wish him well and hopefully he has a very speedy recovery and can come back and help that team win.”
“I don’t think I could dislocate someone’s arm if I tried,” Olynyk said. “I think it’s a real tough thing to do. Like I said before, it’s kind of ridiculous to say you intentionally meant to. I’d never intentionally hurt someone, him or anybody else for that matter. I don’t think anybody goes out trying to hurt anyone. I think it’s just real unfortunate.
Unlike Kendrick Perkins or JR Smith, Olynyk also doesn’t have a history of physical or dirty behavior. You’d think he’d receive the benefit of the doubt.
On Page 2, NBA execs are raving about Brad Stevens.
NBA executives will seldom praise another team’s coach on the record. But behind the scenes, a large number of decision-makers around the league are raving about Stevens.
“What he’s done with that group this season, to get them into the playoffs and compete with Cleveland in the first three games, is awfully impressive,” a high-ranking executive said. “Just think of what he’ll do if he can get some actual high-level talent.”
“He completely outcoached [Cavaliers coach] David Blatt in that series,” another exec added.
“No ego,” another NBA exec added.
“He treats players with respect,” another said. “And seems to empower them.”
Tactically, it’s difficult to question what he’s done. He was regarded as a wunderkind in his days at Butler, and has already earned the respect of coaches, executives and players in the league for his combination of preparation and insightfulness.
“He takes chances to be different,” one NBA assistant said of Stevens. “Tactically, he’s in the top half of the league for sure.”
I know Brad Stevens is just getting started and there’s plenty of time for him to fail, but do coaches who receive praise of this magnitude ever return to the college ranks?
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston – Take em or leave em | Crowder has sprain, won’t need surgery | Herald – 5 things we learned from playoff run | Who returns next season? | Globe – Examining which Celtics are keepers | Knee injury to sideline Crowder a few weeks | CSNNE – Maxwell: Playoff experience a great thing | Any keepers in the bunch? |
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