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.
The Celtics showed signs of recapturing their offensive principles of ball movement and taking the best shot. In the past week, there had been selfish play, isolation moves, and rushed shots.
In the second quarter, the Celtics essentially put the game away by making 14 of 24 shots, including 5 of 11 3-pointers. They had eight assists on those 14 made baskets and nine players scored.
It’s exactly the type of sharing and teamwork philosophy that Brad Stevens has stressed since training camp. But several players have diverted from that plan in a quest to show their worth to the team, and it has failed miserably.
“We have so much depth, it’s been talked about, well-publicized, as well as us coming to grips with us not playing the roles we would want to perfect or our families would want,” Irving said. “Getting past those things, those egocentric things. This is a chance of a lifetime for us and I think that for us to do what we want to, we have to be closer as a team.”
The Celtics shot nearly 52 percent in the first three quarters with 11 3-pointers, as the lead stretched to as many as 33, a rare laugher for a team desperately trying to find an identity and maintain momentum as the difficulty of its schedule increases.
Generally speaking, the thought of a must-win game in December is laughable but last night’s game for Boston was pretty darn close.
Can you imagine this team losing after two team meetings and the return of Al Horford and Marcus Morris?
Let’s not go there.
So the Celtics got some important guys back and looked pretty good. The ball movement was back and the defensive was stifling (67 points through 3 quarters) against a Charlotte team with some decent wins (Milwaukee, Indiana, and Denver) this season.
This win was needed but… well, I’ll just invoke the immortal Winston Wolf:
On Page 2, all I want for Christmas is a healthy Big Al.
“It’s tough when there are so many guys in and out of the lineup and so many things [changing],” Horford said. “It puts a lot of pressure on some of our guys, so it’s just good we’re getting healthy. Marcus Morris being back, that’s huge for us, me being back obviously. [Aron] Baynes is out now but at least we are getting healthy again, so that is all going to help our offense, and help our team.”
To that end, perhaps the single most important thing to come out of Sunday’s game wasn’t the win to snap a three-game losing skid, or even Horford playing well — he put up 10 points while making all four shots he took to go with six rebounds and five assists in 19 minutes — but that he emerged from the game with his knee still feeling good.
“It was very helpful having that time off,” he said. “I’m just happy that I was able to go out there and play with a lot of energy. It’s just good to be back. Sitting on the sidelines is tough, not being able to be on the court helping the guys.
“I’m just happy to be back playing.”
Thank you, Santa for delivering a healthy Al Horford.
The dire speculation about Al’s knee was starting to give me chest pains. 32-year old centers don’t just shake off knee pain. And I’m still scarred by Kyrie’s situation from last year.
Last night was a great start but I’ll feel much better when Al strings together a few games.
The rest of the links
Herald: Celtics turn talk into triumph
Mass Live: Horford, Morris boost morale in return
NBC: Celtics snap streak with stinging blowout win
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