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.
“I should have taken the lay-up,” Rondo said. “But I tried to make a plant and just slipped.”
Said Garnett: “I thought he had the lay-up. It was just unfortunate. I was indecisive. I should have been more aggressive in that situation.”
After the game, C’s coach Doc Rivers said that Garnett was the player the Celtics wanted to take that final shot.
“But he saw Rondo cutting,” Rivers said. “I didn’t see it yet, so I don’t really know what happened because it looked like Kevin had the shot. We had him deep, right where we wanted him.”
“He should probably always shoot it,” Rivers said of Garnett. “But if he thought a guy had a lay-up, then he made the right decision. Tough loss, though. I thought we played hard all game. Didn’t necessarily play well, but we played hard, and I’ll take that.”
Like Donny Marshall, I don’t have a problem with KG passing off to Rajon Rondo on last night’s final play. Rondo was open. Garnett had a good defensive player – Lavoy Allen – on his back. A turnaround by KG would have been closely contested.
I also don’t have a problem with Rondo taking the final shot in regulation. He’s fairly consistent from that range. I hear a lot of people chirping that Paul Pierce should be the one to take that shot. The Truth has made his fair share of game winners, but he’s also missed a ton.
I prefer the Celtics have options on potentially game-winning and game-tying possessions. They have a lot of weapons. Use them.
Related link: ESPN Boston – Rondo: I should have took the layup
Courtney Lee continues to be a like-able guy, even though he’s laying bricks all over the court. Last night, he airballed a wide-open 23-footer that would have sealed the win:
“I know Doc [Rivers] talked to the media and probably said it was unfair that I was sitting like 12 minutes [before the shot], but it doesn’t matter,” Lee said. “NBA players get paid to play this game. At least, I should have hit the rim and given us a chance to get the offensive rebound. I didn’t do that so I’m very disappointed in myself.
“I know when I took the shot, I was stiff so I overshot it to try to make sure it got there. But I put a little too much oomph in it. I have to be able to make the shot or hit the rim, at least.”
Lee shot 40% from three the past two seasons. He’s shooting 26% this season.
Related link: CSNNE – Lee takes loss, missed shot to heart | ESPN Boston – Lee laments miss
The rest of the links:
Herald – Celtics divisional woes go on with OT loss | Jason Terry’s shot on leave | Globe – Celtics waste numerous chances in bitter OT loss | CSNNE – Terry looking forward to rematch | ESPN – Rondo seeks Ws, not triple doubles |
