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.

While last night’s 107-100 Shamrock victory will be more noted for Kobe’s Boston-LA swan song, there was more immediate significance for the Celts, who used the “W” to clinch a playoff berth.

“That’s what you want obviously,” said coach Brad Stevens, “to give yourself a chance, and the only way you get a chance is to make the playoffs.”

The win also moved the Celts to even with Atlanta for the third seed in the highly congested East — for now.

Bryant, author of seven points combined in the previous two games, woke up a few echoes with 34 — four off his high for the season. But Isaiah Thomas had 26 points, and Jae Crowder added 22 to allow the C’s to fly home from their West Coast journey with a 3-2 record.

“It’s weird,” said Bryant. “The last time I’m facing that green. It’s been a joy to be able to go against them, to be a part of a rivalry that I watched for so long.”

Herald – Celtics wrap up playoff spot with win over Lakers

Kobe Bryant playing the Celtics for the final time and the green wrapping up a playoff berth are two disparate, albeit significant story-lines from last night. Let’s start with the more important and relevant news around these parts — the Cs punching a ticket to the playoffs. This was all but a formality after the Bulls fell to the Pistons on Saturday night, but it was nice for the Celtics to take care of business against the woeful Lakers after one, losing to them in ugly fashion in late December in Boston and two, in the wake of the Cs most monumental win of the last three years. As John mentioned yesterday, there is still plenty to figure out as it pertains to seeding, but Boston emerges from a drawn-out, abnormally late-season Western Conference roadie with an opportunity to control its own destiny over the final two weeks of the regular season.

As for the closing of another chapter of Celtics-Lakers, one can’t say Kobe didn’t go out firing all of the bullets left in his aging, inefficient chamber — he took his requisite 25+ shots and poured in 34 points. The Kobe-Byron Scott combo, which holds strong contempt and maybe a sliver of respect for the Celtic franchise, wasn’t going to go down last night without fighting. Amidst the drama and dysfunction plaguing Laker-land, Kobe nearly willed his team to victory.

Kobe was a polarizing player regardless of uniform, but the fact that he played on the Lakers made him all the more loathsome here in Boston. That hatred felt more like an obligation than something truly meaningful when the Cs were dreadful in the late 90s and then only somewhat competitive in the early 2000s while Kobe, Shaq and the Lakers were contending for titles. Everything came together in 07-08 and for about a five year stretch, the Celtics-Lakers rivalry was back and Kobe was right in the middle of it — he became the ultimate heel.

I never liked Kobe, but over the last couple of years, his refusal to become a facilitator and his surly, almost Clint Eastwood “get off my lawn” demeanor somehow made me kind of enjoy him. I always thought Kobe was a fake, MJ wannabe, but in these final years he hasn’t wavered, for better or for worse. I don’t like him, I only sort of respect him, but I’ll miss him. There won’t be another Kobe in the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, but I’m waiting for the next iteration of the Laker we here in Boston love to hate.

Onto the next chapter.

Related links:

ESPN – Celtics’ marvel at Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, happy to send him out with a loss  | Mass Live – In Kobe Bryant’s goodbye to the rivalry, Isaiah Thomas’ 26 points help Boston Celtics top Los Angeles Lakers

On page 2, Larry, Moe, Curly and Evan Turner all victims of the eye poke

With less than 20 seconds to play, Kobe Bryant launched a corner 3-pointer with Jae Crowder defending. Turner was running down court and went up to try and grab the rebound, but was hit in the face by Randle battling for the missed shot.

After holding his face for a couple seconds, Turner rose to his feet and immediately headed towards the team’s locker room. That’s when Amir Johnson motioned for the Celtics’ medical staff who were already on their way to attend to Turner.

“He’s got bleeding in his eye,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens told reporters after the win. “We don’t know the extent of the injury but clearly he got some eye poke and hopefully not too much trauma. We’ll find out as we stick around here.”

CSNNE – Evan Turner exits game after being poked in the eye

No update yet as to whether or not Evan Turner’s eye will keep him out of any games down the stretch. The Cs have a few days before welcoming the lowly Pelicans into town. If Turner needs a little extra time to heal, the Pelicans/Bucks slate at home on Wednesday and Friday seems like prime time to let ET sit before the Cs end the season with the three other teams jostling for playoff position. My hunch is that he probably doesn’t need two games off, but at this time of year, better to be safe than sorry.

Related links: 

Mass Live – Evan Turner injury: Boston Celtics wing leaves win with “bleeding in his eye”

And finally, this is why Paul Westphal isn’t a head coach anymore

Thomas, who had a private one-on-one with Bryant before the Lakers visited Boston in December, was asked if he had any notable memories of Bryant. The Celtics’ All-Star point guard then told a story about trying to defend Bryant during Thomas’ first game in the league on Dec. 26, 2011.

“My first year, it was my first game and [former Sacramento Kings coach] Paul Westphal, he had a rule in practice like nobody could back me down because they always turned the ball over. When [Westphal] subbed me in he said, ‘You got Kobe. Remember, nobody can back you down.’ I said, ‘Man, don’t lie to me. That’s Kobe.’ [Westphal] tried to hype me too much. That was probably the best memory that I have. But he backed me down three straight possessions and scored on me. And I’m just laughing all the way down; that’s my first game. That was my best memory.”

ESPN – Celtics’ marvel at Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, happy to send him out with a loss

I wonder if Westphal said the same thing to IT when the Kings played the Heat. “Isaiah, take Lebron down in the post and abuse him!” Don’t let Vivek catch  wind of this anecdote, though — seeing as he is big into the unconventional, he’d probably rehire Westphal and build a team of guys all under six feet tall.

Gotta love the Kings.

Rest of the links: 

Mass Live – Kobe Bryant explains how Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell mentored him  |  Herald – Missing piece to ’86 puzzle