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.
Rarely do the Celtics explore the West Coast this late in the season. Saturday will be game No. 73, and yet this is Boston’s longest road trip of the year. The club sees the trek as perhaps season defining, with games against the Clippers, Trail Blazers and Warriors sandwiched between the Suns and the Lakers.
…
“We’ve come a long way,” point guard Isaiah Thomas said. “We’ve finally got a full season to really be with each other and really jell together. There were lows in this season we definitely [didn’t] want to hit, but at the same time, we played a pretty good year and we’re not finished. There’s (10) more games left and we’ve got finish the season off on a good note.”
This is about as important a stretch of games as you can come across. At least as far as this season goes. Of course, the Celtics aren’t interested only in this season, and regardless of the way this year turns out, the Celtics will hit summer break with a lottery pick that will almost certainly be no lower than seventh. Their best players are locked up on contracts, they’ll have enough room for potentially two max players, and they’ve got the highest regarded coach in the league who isn’t Gregg Popovich. Things could go sideways with the Celtics on this trip; Avery Bradley may be out and Jae Crowder is definitely out for part of it. They could end up on the road in the playoffs but still have a pretty bright future.
Page 2: Now Avery’s under the weather.
According to team PR, shooting guard Avery Bradley has developed an illness and did not travel to Phoenix for a meeting with the Suns. He could still catch up with his teammates in time for the game, but is currently listed as questionable.
If Bradley can’t suit up, Marcus Smart would likely join the starting lineup, and head coach Brad Stevens would need to rely more on youngsters Terry Rozier, R.J. Hunter and/or James Young. Rozier actually dealt with an illness himself while playing 13 minutes in Wednesday night’s 91-79 win against the Toronto Raptors.
Geez. What’s going on with these guys?
Page 3: Jae’s trying to see the big picture
Now that he’s found a basketball home and an important role, sitting is even more painful than the injury. He’s had to rein in his initiative.
“That’s what we’ve been talking about just about every day,” Crowder said. “When I first hurt myself, I was just trying to get back out there as fast as I could. But my great training staff and the docs talked to me and explained things. I’ve never been in this situation before, but they let me know how important it is to come back when I’m good enough to help the team again.
“At first, I was very anxious to get back out; I’m not going to lie. But right now I’m just thankful we have a veteran medical staff to bring me back down and tell me to look at the bigger picture — and that’s being ready down the stretch and for the playoffs.”
I’m pretty sure that if Boston’s medical staff told Jae that not only couldn’t he play, he needed to remain seated during games, he’d probably have to be strapped to his chair.
Finally: Are we sure we still want this guy?
KD’s shoes… pic.twitter.com/uiTcYCkwCI
— Steve Noah (@Steve_OS) March 24, 2016
The rest of the links
Worcester Telegram: Celtics tighten things up for final stretch
ESPN Boston: Isaiah Thomas returns to Phoenix playing at a Steph Curry-like level
CSNNE: Headin’ West | Blakely: Bradley is sick, questionable Saturday
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