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.
Each game tells its own story, but the recent past has served as a necessary prologue. Now there is anticipation to see what Celtics coach Brad Stevens and Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer — widely known as two of the game’s brightest tacticians — will come up with next.
“I think one of the great challenges is to not do too much, not to adjust too much, and to make sure your team is reacting and competing and still finding, are there small ways we can tweak and be better?” Budenholzer said. “I think all coaches relish that balance and look forward to it.”
“I think the one thing that’s obvious is when you’re into a 10th game against another team, six in the last however many days, then you’ve got a pretty good idea what they want to do and they’ve got a pretty good idea what you want to do,” Stevens said. “So it’s about going out there and doing it.”
Globe – Celtics-Hawks has been a coaching chess match
That’s the question, isn’t it? Whatever adjustments Brad comes up with to solve the problems of Game 5, will the Celtics be able to “go out there and do it”? Will Isaiah Thomas regain his effectiveness and not be hampered by his sore ankle? Will others step up and make plays as IT implored them to do? I believe they will.
A subplot of interest: Celtics-Hawks is the only game on the Thursday night schedule. Every NBA player, coach and fan will be able to tune in to Mike and Tommy or to TNT and witness the full Boston Garden experience, a must-win situation featuring the frenzied fans. This will be a statement game, an opportunity to demonstrate that something special is happening here. It’s probably the most important night for the Celtics franchise since the last time Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett wore the green and white.
It’s going to be a long day waiting for 8 p.m. Eastern. Here are a bunch of links to pass the time.
MassLive – Boston Celtics notes: Brad Stevens discusses strategy for Game 6, expects Isaiah Thomas to play | ESPN Boston – Celtics looking to ease the transition to Game 6 | Brad Stevens: ‘All signs positive’ for Isaiah Thomas’ return | CBS Boston – Ainge: Someone Other Than Isaiah Has to Step Up for Celtics on Offense | What to Watch for: Celtics-Hawks Game 6 | Herald – Brad Stevens downplays Isaiah Thomas’ comments | Amir Johnson with C’s now after miss in 2005 draft | Bulpett: Celtics’ heads, hearts must be in sync to survive | Borges: Celtics must answer tough question in Game 6 | CSNNE – Mike Gorman: Isaiah Thomas Could Be Injured More Than We Think | Five Adjustments the Celtics Must Make for Game 6 | Celtics-Hawks Game 6 Preview: C’s Need to Get Offensive | Globe – Celtics are back on the brink — again | The original Isaiah Thomas was a patriot, not a Celtic
On Page 2: Evan Turner “helps you win games”
“You hear players talk all the time about doing whatever it takes to win, but he’s doing it,” one executive told CSNNE.com. “Start, come off the bench, play a few minutes, play a lot of minutes. He’s done everything they’ve asked him to do and from what I hear, hasn’t grumbled a day about it. Every team needs a guy like that in their locker room.”
Turner hasn’t disappointed, scoring in double digits all five games thus far – the only Celtics player to do been better, so.
But more than the scoring on the court, Turner is also scoring points in the eyes of NBA execs with the impact he has made on the Celtics winning games – a huge intangible that might separate him from some other second-tier free agents not named Kevin Durant.
“If you’re looking for him to come in and put X-amount of points and X-amount of assists per game and shot this or that from the field, he’s probably not your guy,” another league executive texted CSNNE.com recently. “He helps you win games. That’s probably his greatest strength.”
CSNNE – Blakely: Turner’s Play Should Pay Off for Him in Free Agency
Two years ago, my reaction to the Turner signing was, “Why?” He was okay in Philly, terrible in a brief stint with Indiana, and hadn’t justified being the second overall pick in the 2010 draft. Last year in Boston, he was referred to as “Evan Turnover,” with good reason.
But this season Turner has reduced the turnovers and improved his shooting and scoring. He’s been a valuable contributor all year, including during the playoffs. The postseason reveals who you can truly count on, who is a keeper. Turner definitely is one, and I hope he stays.
On Page 3: Irony alert
Even if their season ends on Thursday, the Celtics enter the offseason with the fourth-youngest roster in the league (average age of 24.6 years old), a 15.6 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick, enough cap space to sign multiple max contracts and a coach who’s drawn praise from almost every high-profile free agent out there. There is no reason to believe the Celtics will be anything but better in 2016-17.
So, if you were one of those people who felt Rivers wronged the Celtics in 2013 (raises hand), relish now in the fact that his going Hollywood couldn’t have worked out better for the Celtics. Well, unless R.J. Hunter turns into a legitimate NBA talent, then we may look at the Rivers for Stevens swap as one of the best trades in franchise history, right behind the Nets deal that triggered Doc’s dissatisfaction.
In the coolest or cruelest bit of irony, depending on which side of the country you reside, Rivers may have to shop a disgruntled Griffin again this summer, and the Celtics just might be able to put the best package together for a trade that would begin the demolition project in L.A. and further cement the C’s rebuilding effort.
Oh, what a difference three years makes.
WEEI – Brad Stevens, Doc Rivers and C’s of Change
Heh heh.
And, finally: The time Tommy Heinsohn got me in trouble
He arrived the same year as Bill Russell, played for Red Auerbach, made six All-Star teams, won eight championships. Heinsohn retired as a player in 1965, joining Auerbach on the television broadcasts while giving the insurance gig a go, but his blood remained green all along. He returned to the bench as head coach for the 1969-70 season at Auerbach’s pleading. He won two more championships with teams led by John Havlicek, Jo Jo White and Dave Cowens in 1974 and ’76.
He was fired amid the Curtis Rowe-Sidney Wicks insubordination in January 1978. Six months later, the Celtics drafted Larry Bird. Heinsohn returned as a full-time broadcaster in 1980, simultaneously holding a prominent national gig at CBS through the next decade. He called almost all of Bird’s career, and all of Reggie Lewis’s and Paul Pierce’s too. And everything since.
Boston.com – He hasn’t just seen Celtics history, he is Celtics history: A chat with Tommy Heinsohn
Just like every Celtics fan, I love Tommy Heinsohn – even though he did get me in trouble once.
As noted in Chad Finn’s excellent piece, Tommy had a long, successful second career in insurance. Years ago, I was working in the communications department of an insurance company, and we arranged for Tommy to give a motivational speech to our salespeople during a meeting on Cape Cod. One of the topics he talked about was a book about his life, “Heinsohn, Don’t You Ever Smile?”
After the speech, my boss, the vice-president of sales, took the stage to follow up on Tommy’s remarks. He wanted to make a point about making good use of your talents, and referred to an anecdote from the book in which Tommy related that Bill Russell could never beat a certain player in one-on-one. The idea was that you’d think it was a Hall of Famer like Havlicek or Cousy. So my boss asked if anyone could guess the player.
Well, of course I’d read the book and wanted to show off how much I knew about the Celtics. I was also young and naive. So, I piped up: “Larry Siegfried!”
My boss never expected anyone would know the answer was a second-string guard. He got so flustered that he didn’t know what to say next. I was thinking how smart I was until the boss, who had a hot temper, pulled me aside and ripped me a new one for sabotaging his act. It took a while for him to get over it. Not my best career move.
But I still love Tommy.
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