Your Morning Dump… where the C’s locker room is having problems

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.

“We are getting bored with it some,” he said, “but I think it’s a
little bit of different agendas maybe creeping in. It just all depends.
You know, I think if we all had the right spirit as far as one goal,
one thing in common, I think we’d be a lot better.”

…

“I can’t really elaborate on it too much, but I think we’ve just got to
be a team with no agendas,” Rondo said. “We’ve got to play unselfish,
you know? That’s on defense and offense. You’ve got to want the best
for the next man out there regardless if you’re in the game playing
well or you’re out of the game not playing well.”   

…

“In the locker room, you can feel it,” Rondo added. “You don’t feel
like it’s the same continuity and camaraderie in the locker room as it
was the first year. The first year, it was a crazy spirit in the locker
room. But now it doesn’t feel the same. It’s not the same right now.
We’ve got to find a way to get that back somehow, some way.”

Herald: Selfish trend top item on Celtics agenda

This right here is my first “oh crap” moment of the season.  The injuries didn’t bother me as much… and the losses seemed surmountable.

But a loss of continuity and camaraderie in the locker room is the crack in the foundation.  If you don’t get on that now, forget it.  THIS can kill a team quickly.  If that player, or players, can’t change ways… then it’s time to see if a trade is possible.  This can’t stand.

This, my friends, is not good.

Coming up, Page 2, where Danny talks about Paul Pierce’s foot

Photo by Jim Rogash /Getty Images

“I was concerned right from the time he got hurt,” Ainge said. “It
looked terrible when it happened. Then Paul’s foot was sore when he
woke up (yesterday) morning. I didn’t stop being concerned until Paul
met with Dr. McKeon and went over the test results.”

According to Ainge, Pierce’s return will be based on the level of discomfort in the foot.

“He can play when it feels good enough,” Ainge said.

Herald:  Danny Ainge, Celtics upgrade Captain’s condition

Now THIS news is good.  Have a seat for a couple of games and don’t rush back, Paul.  There’s NO need to come back too soon and risk it getting hurt even more.

I’m sure Paul will talk at some point today.

The rest of the links:

Herald:  Scouting report – Heat @ Celtics  |  Globe:  Ainge relieved Pierce only has foot strain  |  Win over Wizards a good first step  |  ESPN Boston: Pierce day-to-day with strain  |  Giddens undergoes knee surgery  |  MWDN: Pierce’s injury only a strained foot  |  Camerato:  Hurtin for certain: Breaking down the impact of the C’s injuries  |  Eagle Tribune: Thankfully, rumors of Pierce’s demise greatly exaggerated  |  Celtics Blog:  Who and what Marquis Daniels helps upon his return  |  Lex: Kevin McHale: The Celtics are fine  |  LOSCY: Is there anything good that can come from Pierce injury?  |  Loy’s Place:  Much ado about the Captain  |  Gino’s Jungle:  The new and improved Tony Allen  |  Rage with the Machine  |  CSL: You can’t trade what you don’t have