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.

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens urged his team before the season to embrace the idea that its depth could be its greatest weapon. But two months after Boston players convened for the start of training camp, the Celtics’ lack of roster separation has led to mix-and-match rotations and inconsistent play that has left some players wondering if Stevens must designate a firmer rotation.

After the Celtics’ roller coaster endured another dive during Sunday’s 110-91 loss to the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center, swingman Jae Crowder expressed frustration at the up-and-down nature of the 2015-16 season.

“We haven’t built our identity yet as a unit,” Crowder said. “Coaching staff hasn’t figured it out yet. We don’t have set rotations. A lot of guys don’t know where we’re going to play or what time we’re going to play. It’s affecting us a little bit. We’ve got to figure it out as a unit, figure it out as a coaching staff. We gotta build our identity in who we want to be. We’re a month into the season and we haven’t figured it out.”

ESPN Boston – Jae Crowder: Inconsistent Boston Celtics need to build an identity 

In the wake of another uninspiring Sunday game (the Celtics are now 1-3 on Sundays) the Cs put most of their effort towards discussing rotations and minutes in the locker room after the final buzzer had sounded.

Ever since Brad Stevens took over in Boston two years ago, the talk centered on the young coach’s ability to manage egos and playing time in the NBA. His first team, albeit far less talented, had few discernible differences between the quality of players up and down the roster, so this roster juggling is nothing new.

There was little to no public grumbling about Stevens’ rotations two years ago, neither was there much chatter last season as the Cs made their surprise playoff run.

The difference this year is expectations. Pundits, fans and the club itself expect a jump forward this season. The talk of win totals in the high 40s and consecutive playoff trips isn’t banter that just deflects off of the outside of the locker room walls at the Garden. These guys hear it. It’s also true that, when all is clicking, there are 13-14 guys on the Cs who can stake a claim for playing meaningful minutes.

So, let’s bring it back to last night and compare it to the week prior. The Cs began a somewhat critical, early season road-trip with a lackluster effort against a young Orlando squad with whom the Celtics will likely battle for a playoff seed. Tobias Harris and Nic Vucevic were busy out-hustling the Cs bigs for offensive boards, the Magic secured a majority of 50-50 balls and there might as well have been a red carpet in the lane welcoming the Magic to the basket.

That has nothing to do with minutes and rotations. There was no grumbling when the Cs smoked the Wizards on Friday night, or when they swept through a mini-road trip in Oklahoma and Texas two weeks ago.

So, maybe it’s expectations, frustration at a lack of effort, or the knowledge that they can play so much better, but for Jae Crowder to launch into a diatribe about rotations and both the coaching staff and players figuring them out after such an uninspired effort feels misplaced. Hopefully it won’t affect their performance going forward because this trip is full of tough games, set rotation or not.

Related links: CSNNE – Loss to Magic proves Celtics still looking for identity | Boston Herald – Rolling rotation causing some issues

On page 2, Sully rendered obsolete on offense

When the game was over, Sullinger had missed six of his seven shot attempts which was the worst shooting game of the season for him. While certainly disappointed in not making more shots, there was no sense of concern on the part of Sullinger or his head coach Brad Stevens.

“I thought they did an awfully good job on him,” Stevens said. “They were challenging everything. They were very physical; not just Jared, but everybody. When you play that way, shots are harder to make.”

Sullinger, who had 3 points, was well aware that he was having a tough night getting on track offensively. When that happens, Sullinger said his focus does shift a bit.

“Just find a way to help my teammates; rebound, set screens,” he said. “I have confidence in myself those shots are going to fall.”

CSNNE – Rebounds are there, points are not for Sullinger

I don’t want to come down too hard on Sully, who was active on the defensive end throughout last night’s game, but offensive consistency is something that this team has struggled with through the first month of the season, and this team clearly needs him as its number two scoring option.

After playing his best game of the season against the Wizards on Friday, Sully was held completely in check by Nic Vucevic. Off games happen for even the best of players, but if Sully is to truly make some sort of leap this season, these duds that both he and Kelly Olynyk have been prone to submit over the last few years can’t happen so frequently. Vucevic is the first in a line of strong frontcourts that the Cs will see on this road trip, with Bosh and Whiteside taking the floor tonight and Demarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis waiting just a few days later.

And finally, surprise, surprise: It’s Kobe’s last ride

This season is all I have left to give.
My heart can take the pounding
My mind can handle the grind
But my body knows it’s time to say goodbye.

And that’s OK.
I’m ready to let you go.
I want you to know now
So we both can savor every moment we have left together.
The good and the bad.
We have given each other
All that we have.

The Players’ Tribune – Dear Basketball

I didn’t need a letter penned to an inanimate object to tell me what my eyes have told me through the first month of the season. Kobe’s washed up. It’s time to go.

I won’t take the rest of this space to bash Kobe. He’s been a heck of a player, competitor and heel as far as Celtics fans are concerned. Beating him and the Lakers in ’08 and then losing to him and the Lakers in ’10 hit Celtics fans on both ends of the emotional spectrum and he’ll go down as one of the most memorable players the game has ever seen.

That said, if I’m a Brandon Bass a Julius Randle or a Jordan Clarkson I’m now completely resigned to Kobe having carte blanche to shoot 25 times a night, every night.

Mamba out.

The rest of the links: 

Mass Live – Isaiah Thomas hurt by Kobe Bryant’s decision to retire

CSNNE – Celtics can’t keep pace in Orlando | Magic have it all over the Cs

Boston Herald – Celtics can’t work Magic |