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.

Clippers players made a silent protest against Sterling by shedding their warm-up jerseys and going through the pregame routine with their red shirts on inside out. They also wore black bands on their wrists or arms and black socks in a show of solidarity.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers said he knew what his players had planned but didn’t voice his opinion. He said he wasn’t thrilled about the demonstration, though he didn’t elaborate why.

[…] “I just thought they were the tougher team and it wasn’t even close. Should have been a first round knockout,” Rivers said.

[…] “Maybe our focus wasn’t in the right place would be the easiest way to say it,” Clippers guard J.J. Redick said.

[…] “We’re going home now, and usually that would mean we’re going to our safe haven,” Rivers said. “And I don’t even know if that’s true.”

CSNNE:  Rivers displeased with Clippers protest

The Clippers came out for their game yesterday in full warmups, but then tossed those warmups on the ground and continued on the rest of the game in logo-less warmup tops.  It’s definitely an attention getter, which is probably why Doc is upset about it.

Here you have a team that is suddenly focused on how much of a racist asshole their owner is rather than playing a pretty tough opponent in the Golden State Warriors.  When the first thing they did out of the tunnel has to do with Sterling instead of Golden State, I’m sure Doc knew it would be tough to get his team ready.

That game was never in doubt.  The Clippers basically boycotted the game while playing it.  And now your head coach is outwardly wondering if going home to play game 5 in a tied series is worth it.

If the NBA is going to have its precious Los Angeles television market in play for more than one round, they need to remove Sterling from the equation.  And trust me, that’s going to be a consideration.  I know the Bay Area market is a big market too, but it’s not LA.

Beyond that Doc isn’t exactly keen on the idea of coming back next season to work for Sterling.

With so many NBA players around the league saying they wouldn’t play for controversial Clippers owner Donald Sterling in the wake of racist comments he allegedly made, Rivers was asked if he needed to hear something from someone within the organization in order for him to continue working for Sterling.

“Don’t know yet,” Rivers responded. “I’m just going to leave it at that.”

It’s taken a while for his racism to bite him in the ass, but this might finally be it.  And let’s be real here, public embarrassment is the only punishment left that’s worth a shit.  He’s going to die super-rich, and he’ll only get even more money if he has to sell the Clippers.  He’s not going to stop being racist, he’ll just say things differently.

But the public shame of causing your championship contender’s collapse and the loss of your newly signed coach/GM?  There’s no escaping that.  There’s no shirking the stigma of being SO racist, you ruined something for everyone in such grand fashion.

Is it just punishment?  No, probably not.  But it’s the best punishment available, so we should use it.

I just wish Clippers fans could organize a protest where they all sell their game 5 tickets to Warriors fans.  How great would that be?  For the Clippers to show up and see a sea of gold shirts in their own house?  It won’t happen, but it would be great to see.

Related links: Globe:  Words linked to Sterling drawing outcry  |  CSNNE:  NBA can’t ignore Sterling anymore  |  Blakely: Sterling’s comments hurt on many levels

Page 2:  Nets fans are still getting the hang of this

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Michael K. Williams, a.k.a. “Omar” from The Wire took the court last night to do the Nets intros.  He immediately opened with a shot at Donald Sterling too, and then he started with the intros.

I don’t know if it was the audio or what, but…..  I’m not feeling the crazy “fans pumped for Game 4” vibe here.  Maybe they had a feeling that a massive 4th quarter collapse was coming later in the game or something.

I can only imagine what was going through Kevin Garnett’s mind.  He’s already had to implore the fans to get pumped once, don’t make him have to do it again for game 6.

The rest of the links:

Herald:  Plenty of Celtics options in top-heavy draft  |  ESPN Boston:  Report card: Phil Pressey