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.

“I never heard Brad really curse, and he cursed us out pretty good,” said Turner. “I don’t know who came in our locker room, but he came in and started screaming. I jumped. We needed to get it under wraps.

“I knew he was pretty upset. I heard we have no food on the plane [to Indianapolis for Saturday’s game], so I’m pretty sure at halftime he called for no food. Hopefully we don’t have to get him that mad again.”

ESPN Boston: Cursed Celtics respond to Stevens’ fire

I would have paid money to see Brad Stevens hit his team with some flin flarn flin flarn filth at the half.

As much as we joke about wholesome Brad Stevens, we know he’s got some fire in him, reserved for the appropriate times.  And the end of the first half was a very appropriate time.

With 20 seconds left in the half, Marcus Smart missed a tip that would have made it a 46-42 Orlando lead. They then let Victor Oladipo waltz in for a layup with 2 seconds left to make it 48-40. THEN they botched an out of bounds play that gave the ball right back to the Magic under their own basket. AND THEN they let Tobias Harris get free for a buzzer beating jumper to push the lead to 10 at the half.

It’s times like this… times where the team is starting to piss away an opportunity to gain ground in the playoff chase… that an all-out carpet f-bombing is effective from a guy like Brad Stevens. When a coach is a certain way all the time, and he comes in noticeably different, then you know he’s pissed. It’s just as effective as when a coach who is always swearing just walks into the locker room and stares at everyone, says 5 words and then leaves. You can feel the disgust hanging in the air. It’s shocking to the system. It makes you, as a player, say “whoa” and start to at least look for another gear.

From Stevens, a roaring, cursing attack on your manhood is enough to make you forget you’re a grown man in an NBA locker room and whisk you back to the high school “yes sir, no sir” days of being chewed out by your coach.

The Celtics still didn’t play great afterwards, but they also didn’t quit on Stevens. They kept hanging around (which did not seem possible the way the half ended) and magically took advantage with the unlikeliest of heroes when Orlando fell apart down the stretch.

By the way.. I find it hilarious that Stevens also pulled the “you don’t get to eat” card after a shitty performance. I thought that was just reserved for small colleges where you piled into a 15 passenger van and listened to your stomach grumble as you passed by a KFC.

Now the question popping up is… how much consideration does Brad Stevens get for Coach of the Year?

“I’m a voter and I absolutely will have Brad Stevens in my top-five. I don’t think he can get the top spot, Mike Budenholzer with Atlanta I think has a vise grip on that position and isn’t giving it up,” said Mannix. “Think about what Brad Stevens has done. You trade away Rajon Rondo. You trade away Jeff Green. You lose Jared Sullinger for the season and now you lose Isaiah Thomas for a few games. This team keeps playing the next man up.

“Brad Stevens in fourth quarters has really started to separate himself from other young coaches. His out of timeout plays are terrific, his play-calling is unique. He really has given this team an advantage over other teams because of what he’s able to drop in the huddles and how he’s able to put these guys into position to score.”

There’s no rational observer of the NBA who could have predicted the Celtics continued success after all this upheaval. Guys keep getting traded or hurt and Stevens just keeps figuring out ways for this team to win. Chris Mannix is on board with Stevens as one of the top coaches of the year. Cedric Maxwell went on Sirius last night to also sing Stevens’ praises (h/t Jeff Garcia)

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The Celtics have now played 64 games. There are 18 regular season games left and the C’s are now one game behind Charlotte (who beat Chicago last night) for the 8th spot. If the C’s play .500 ball the rest of the way, they’d be 37-45, higher than anyone’s expectations. If Stevens can get this team to 40 wins somehow, this coach of the year race will be tighter than people think. It’s probably not going to happen, but a lot of things have already happened that probably should not have.

Related links: CSNNE: Angry Stevens gets best out of Celtics in second half

Page 2: How about that Phil Pressey, huh?

“I had a talk with Phil about three weeks ago and just said, you know, right after Isaiah came it’s pretty obvious (Pressey’s) not going to play as much, right?” coach Brad Stevens said. “But Phil — and I told him this — he’s a really valued member of our team. Like, in our organization.

“He works the right way. If he doesn’t play he’s the loudest guy on the bench, and if he does play he’s an energizer. And he’s not going to play perfect, but nobody is, and if you can sustain that and not get down and be confident there’s always a role for him. And that’s a great compliment.”

Herald: When in need, just Pressey play

The Celtics have access to the team’s Waltham practice facility at all hours. Recently, guard Phil Pressey has been going there by himself late at night, trying to stay fresh and ready. Sometimes he’s joined by an assistant coach, but most often, he said, he is alone, using a machine to fire passes to him for jump shots.

“We’ve been playing so much and not practicing much, so I haven’t been able to get practice reps in,” Pressey said. “And there’s nothing like playing. So it’s been tough. I get to the gym and try to stay in shape. And you keep your mind right and prepare for every game like you’re going to play.”

Globe: Pressey working all hours to stay fresh

If anyone should be an inspiration to James Young, it’s Phil Pressey. Everything I’ve said Young should be doing, Pressey is currently doing. If I was James Young, I’d be following Pressey to the gym every day, all day long. I’d be trying to beat him there. I’d be challenging him to stay longer.

Pressey had 3 straight “DNP-Coach’s Decision” and just :29 against Miami before being called on to play 18 minutes against Memphis and 27 minutes last night. Against Orlando, he checked in with a double-double while helping control the game and move the ball when other Celtics were content to take jumpers after 1 pass.

Isaiah Thomas is going to come back and Pressey will go back to the bench. He won’t like it, but it won’t affect him, because he’s guaranteed to go put in the work to be ready for his next chance.

When Brad Stevens gushes about true professionals, this is what he’s talking about. Pressey will probably never be a starting point guard, but he’s going to stick around for a while because of how hard he works and how ready he stays.

Related links:  CSNNE: Hard work pays off for Pressey in win

And Finally…

DeAndre Jordan did this last night…

That’s never happened before. Maybe he should ask to take his free throws from back there.

The rest of the links

Herald: Celtics work a late shift  |  Eyes still on the prize  |  Turner sparks comeback  |  Globe: Turner recaptures some old college glory  |  CSNNE: Turner locks in down the stretch  |  ESPN Boston: Hot-handed turner ends cool streak  |  WEEI: 5 things we learned in ugly win over Orlando  |  MassLive: Turner, Pressey deliver as C’s find way again  |  Telegram: Evan Turner catches fire late