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.

“This team has a lot of confidence, especially in one-on-one ability,” he said. “Now we’re trusting each other.”

They’re also making the proper late-game adjustments. Brad Stevens, not too pleased with a third quarter breakdown that enabled the Sixers to out-score the Celtics 25-12 over the last 8:47 of the quarter, redirected his offense.

[…] Stevens had redirected his offense with Sullinger and Zeller in the paint. Each player drew a foul out of the post and hit two free throws in the last 2:24.

“You’re forced to make plays for others when you get so much attention,” said Sullinger, “but it’s pretty easy because they really clamp down on you.”

As Thornton noted, these plays may not have been made two weeks ago.

Herald: Celtics show progress

“Did you see how many leads we were blowing early in the season? We’re kinda used to it,” explained Sullinger. “We knew how to respond; we responded well.”

[…] “A few weeks ago, we probably would have got rattled and probably wouldn’t have come out with the game,” admitted Thornton. “So we’re starting to gel as a team and starting to play for one another. That’s a great thing.”

ESPN Boston: Celtics learning how to win close games

One of the things about having guys like Rajon Rondo or Jeff Green on young teams is the younger guys, when the excrement hits the spinning blades, immediately turn to them, hand them the ball, and say “here, you do it.”

With no clear star player, it’s up to the young kids to pick themselves up. Questions about roles are slowly starting to be answered. Brad Stevens is incrementally starting to get guys to do the things he wants to do.

The last few weeks have been fun because more and more, you can see what Brad Stevens ultimately wants the Celtics to become.

— Jay King (@ByJayKing) February 7, 2015

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

@RedsArmy_John A tough defensive squad with shooters and skill, devoted to making the extra pass? And also good. Hopefully. At some point. — Jay King (@ByJayKing) February 7, 2015

And with each little step comes a little more confidence. 

Yeah, sure, the Celtics only beat Philly last night, and only after blowing what felt like a hundred point lead. I know Denver isn’t very good, and the Knicks are a joke. They caught Portland without LaMarcus Aldridge. A lot of things have lined up nicely for Boston recently.  But they still have to go do it. This isn’t the ’08 we’re talking about here. This is a team that’s 11 games under .500. They’ve played 18 different guys this season, a number that could push past 20 depending on what the trade deadline gives us. If the coach took the team out for drinks, he and most of the guys would get carded, and a few still can’t get in.

Nothing is guaranteed with this group. So figuring out how to win is a big deal. It’s a big deal for Stevens, who has taken a lot of heat from impatient fans desperate for results. And it’s a big deal for young players who’ll be counted on for years to come.  

For those of you who feel like each win pulls Jahlil Okafor further away from us like you’re Rose in Titanic watching Jack slip into the water, don’t worry. I’m sure Danny Ainge will do something at the trade deadline to make sure the Celtics will remain lottery bound. Just sit back and enjoy a young team growing up and showing signs of someday maybe becoming what we all want them to be. 

Good.

Page 2:  Sully gets a talking to from his dad.

And while the matter of the tardiness may be closed with coach Brad Stevens, the high school and home mentor had more to tell his son yesterday. “I texted him,” said Satch, “and I told him, ‘I love you and I’m always proud of you, and nothing will ever change that. But I’m going to be there for you even at times when you don’t want me there, because I will always be your dad.’ That’s what I sent him today.” What he said to Jared earlier in the week was not as sweet. The former coach at Columbus Northland High had a few points to make. “With my program, I had a simple rule,” the elder Sullinger told the Herald after finishing a substitute teaching gig yesterday. “If you can’t be on time, be early. There’s no such thing as late. But he rode with me to practice because he lived with the coach. So he never was late. In college, they hand feed you. Everyone’s coming from the dorm. Now he’s a man. It’s a job. “It’s the final process of him being a man. It’s a rite of passage. I told him, ‘You’re 22 years old, and people look at you as a grown man.’ I said, ‘You’re 22 and you think you’re grown, but you’re not there yet. I’m your dad. I’m always going to be there.’

Herald: Jared Sullinger’s father offers tough love

There’s a LOT more from Satch in that link. 

Two things:

1: We all knew ol’ Satch would give his son a few words of advice after being late a couple of times. The stuff in this piece is all good stuff. Some of you might be 22 and you think you’ve got the world by the nuts. But you don’t. As someone who’s… well, let’s just say not 22 anymore… I can tell you you really don’t know shit. At least not compared to when you’re as not 22 as I am. And Satch, who’s very not 22, will look at me and tell me the same thing I just told you.  

The point is, with age comes wisdom (hopefully). And Satch has plenty to impart on his son. So it’s good that someone like that is there to help him stay in line when very minor transgressions like this come up. 

2: From Jared’s perspective… I wonder how much it sucks to have newspapers go calling your father for quotes every time you make a couple of mistakes. I wonder if he sat there after being late a second time bemoaning the inevitable Satch quote. No one went running to Paul Pressey after his son had a stretch of DNP’s, and he’s readily available as a Lakers assistant coach. Ken Olynyk is a former basketball coach just like Satch, but there aren’t a lot of people banging down his door when Kelly hits a big slump. 

Nope, for some reason, Jared Sullinger is the only guy on this team that has to see his father be a public parent to his NBA son. The wisdom is good, but I’m sure there’s a bit of Sully that would prefer to keep this stuff out of the papers and blogs.

And Finally… BOW TO THE BROW!!!

I’m sorry if you missed Anthony Davis’ amazing shot to beat the Thunder as it happened, but that was pretty amazing. It’s cool not to have a rooting interest at times like this because you just get to enjoy the pure awesomeness of the moment. And that moment was definitely awesome. 

Double pump to avoid Durant, gets the shot off in time, from an easy four feet beyond the arc, and he didn’t. even. hit. the. rim. 

Amazing. 

The rest of the links:

Globe: Pressey takes advantage of D League playing time  |  Tim Frazier has come a long way  |  Celtics win 3rd straight  |  Herald:  Maine man getting his Phil  |  CSNNE: Bradley starts, Sullinger finishes vs 76ers  |  Opposing defenses keying on Sullinger  |  Pressey making most of D League minutes  |  ESPN Boston:  Pressey goes to work in vacationland  |  WEEI:  Thornton on Boston: I’d like to stay here  |  MassLive: Sullinger’s safe playmaking a boon for Boston  |  Thornton knows trade deadline approaching  |  Ainge:  Celtics future “exciting,” Stevens is “fantastic”  |  NESN: C’s spread the love, Sullinger dishes dimes

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js