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.

Even though it was a couple of years ago, the Celtics haven’t forgotten about how Cleveland swept them out of the first round of the playoffs in 2015, a series that became increasingly more physical towards the end.

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The Raptor suffered some off-season departures, but they return most of the core pieces from a team that’s still going to finish among the best in the east. All-Stars DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry lead the charge for Toronto, but the key for them in any series against Cleveland is DeMarre Carroll”

CSNNE – Three teams in the East that can keep Cavs out of NBA Finals

Since the arrival of Al Horford (the 18th best player on the planet… more on that in a minute), talk around these parts is of a predestined clash with the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals. Now, Celtics fans aren’t that completely cocky– they realize that there are potential teams that serve as roadblocks to a game one at Quicken Loans Arena in Mid-to-late May, but to most, they seem to be nothing more than pit-stops along the way. It’s the Cavs and the Celtics and then everyone else in the East.

There’s a team to the north, though, often discounted, about whom many include in their annual season preview pieces on the “this team is overrated” list. The Raptors don’t really wow the advanced stats guys, and the guys who simply look at the roster and/or NBA2k ratings, and the guys who look for elite coaching, for that matter, also aren’t that impressed. DeMar DeRozan is just another volume shooter, Kyle Lowry can disappear in the biggest of moments, outside of Valanciunas (who could use an additional six fouls per game in order to stay eligible), their power-forward position is a revolving door of also-rans and never-beens. My girlfriend’s brother (they’re from Toronto) is a huge Raps fan, and even he talks about them as if they’re about to fall off a cliff any second.

Yet, this is the other budding rivalry that no one really wants to talk about this season. Before either team can beat the Cavs, the Celtics and Raptors will have to measure themselves against each other. Sure, seeding in the playoffs could certainly mean that one of these teams will get the Cavs before the ECF, and thus avoid one another, but if these are the second and third best teams in the conference, there’s a likely second round match-up between them.

Additionally, while divisions have lost their meaning in the NBA, the fact that both are in the Atlantic means that the Cs and Raps will battle four times during the regular season. There are the residual effects of a few Eastern Conference rivalries from the Pierce/Garnett/Allen days– the Cavs remain, albeit both teams look very different, the Hawks as well, and there’s still buzz whenever the Cs and Bulls tip off.

But the rivalry that’s coming is between the Celtics and a team that everyone wants to brush off as a pretender. As the Raps continue to win 50 games even as pundits poke holes in their roster construction, it’s clear that they’ll be around once again, and as a legitimate threat to the Cs ascendance in the East.

As these two teams start trading barbs, throwing elbows and going seven games in the playoffs, here’s to hoping my relationship can endure in a house divided (The Cs are my first love, sorry, Nat).

On page 2, the Celtics sign D. Lee?!?!?

The Boston Celtics signed undrafted free agents Jalen Jones and Damion Lee to push their roster to the 20-player maximum in advance of training camp that starts later this month.

Jones, a 6-foot-8 swingman out of Texas A&M, and Lee, a a 6-foot-6 guard out of Louisville, probably are ticketed for the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League. The Celtics’ roster already features 16 guaranteed contracts and second-round draft pick Ben Bentil has a partially guaranteed deal.

ESPN – Celtics sign Jalen Jones, Damion Lee to finalize camp roster

Ok, so it’s not that D. Lee. Instead it’s Damion Lee, who may show up at pre-season games at Mohegan Sun, or wherever the Cs play the Knicks five times in October.

Enjoy your time wearing green, Jalen and Damion, and best of luck on the rest of your NBA journey.

And finally, Al Horford cracks the top 20

At least according to Sports Illustrated’s top-100 rankings, the Boston Celtics have the NBA’s 18th-best player.

Al Horford received that lofty spot on the list Wednesday, joining new Celtics teammates Amir Johnson (No. 86), Avery Bradley (No. 72), Jae Crowder (No. 53) and Isaiah Thomas (No. 45) in the top 100. SI still hasn’t released its top 10, but it’s safe to assume nobody from Boston’s roster will land quite that high.

Horford almost cracked that level, though, which should remind Celtics fans how much the big man should impact his new team’s success. In a write-up about why Horford deserved his ranking (which is one spot better than Klay Thompson’s), Rob Mahoney pointed out that Boston’s free-agent acquisition would fit well in any system:

Horford can post, guard, space, rotate, cut, pass, switch, screen, rebound, and pop to whatever degree makes sense and succeed in all areas. He can spend his time on the low block, the elbow, the top of the key, or the baseline depending on what openings are available, and he can either play up when defending a pick-and-roll or drop back as the system demands. Horford will shoot better than 50% from the field and rarely turn the ball over, regardless, closing the loop one of the most comprehensive skill sets in the NBA. If you still aren’t under the impression that Horford is a genuine star, you have a lot of homework to do.

Mass Live – Sports Illustrated’s NBA player rankings: Al Horford of Boston Celtics at No. 18

Al Horford is the big man’s Swiss Army Knife of the NBA, and for that, he deservedly takes a spot in the top 20 of the league’s players.

I have a bone to pick with Jay King, though, “it’s safe to assume” there are no more Celtics on this list???

Um, Jay, have you seen Guerschon Yabusele’s name appear on the list yet? Have you??? Until this list gets down to number one, I refuse to believe that the Dancing Bear doesn’t have a chance to make his debut in the top 10.