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.
There was a time not too long ago when 22 wins constituted a season’s haul for the Clippers. They already have that many — and it’s not even the new year. They haven’t lost since Nov. 26, when they dropped a home decision to the New Orleans Hornets. That was the Clippers’ fourth straight loss and they were a ho-hum 8-6 after that game. Now they are rolling. Blake Griffin is averaging 18.1 points and 8.8 rebounds a game, while Chris Paul trails only Rajon Rondo in assists, and Jamal Crawford is the Microwave off a deep and productive bench that also features ex-Lakers Lamar Odom and Matt Barnes. The Clippers own the league’s best differential, in part because they are playing championship-caliber defense. They allow 91.9 points a game, third fewest in the league, and hold opponents to 42.7 percent shooting, second in the league. Those used to be Celtics-like numbers. The Celtics have won their past twes ainst the Clippers in the Staples Center, which should be hopping for this one. The over-under on Kardashians is two.
Forget Lob City, it’s those defensive statistics that are winning games for the Clippers. Ninety-one points per game and 42% FG shooting are downright scary.
So how can the Celtics compete against an elite team like, ahem, the Clippers?
When asked what the Celtics needed to do to take off, Rivers said, “We need to play like [we did against the Nets]. We need to move the ball, share the ball, rebound the ball. If we play like that, we’ll win a lot of games.”
It really is a simple game. Now if I can only manage to stay awake through halftime.
We’ll examine this match-up more in-depth in the game preview (coming this afternoon). Time to head outside and brush snow and chisel ice off my car. Winter has arrived in New England.
The rest of the links:
CSNNE – Westward bound | Herald – Movement in right direction needed | ESPN Boston – Stat check: Live ball turnovers | Chargewatch: Sullinger making a charge |
Yes, that is former Celtic Ryan Hollins in the photo.
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