{"id":556099,"date":"2016-11-22T08:52:32","date_gmt":"2016-11-22T13:52:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thesportsdaily.com\/?p=556099"},"modified":"2016-11-22T08:52:32","modified_gmt":"2016-11-22T13:52:32","slug":"your-morning-dump-where-marcus-smart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesportsdaily.com\/news\/your-morning-dump-where-marcus-smart\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Morning Dump… Where the Celtics were getting punked until Marcus Smart lit a fire under their ass"},"content":{"rendered":"
Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here\u2026 highlighting the big story line. Because there\u2019s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.<\/em><\/p>\n And after the third quarter Monday night against the young Minnesota Timberwolves, it was necessary. The Celtics trailed by 13 points, were getting pounded on the boards, and \u201cpunked\u201d in the paint, according to guard Isaiah Thomas.<\/p>\n So Smart chided his team after the third period, challenging their desire and toughness.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody was [ticked] off how we were playing the whole game,\u201d Smart said. \u201cWe were getting as we liked to call it, \u2018punked.\u2019 We saw that and everybody had something to say about it and we had to change it. Everybody agreed that we weren\u2019t playing to the caliber that we usually play.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Globe<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n I wish CSNNE broadcasted Smart’s speech because it might have prevented me from sleeping through most of the 4th quarter.<\/p>\n Can you blame me? The 2nd and 3rd quarters were a total sh*t-show.<\/p>\n The Wolves had 50 points in the paint. Karl (I think it’s time to drop the Anthony) Towns reminded Celtics fans just how dominant a young, franchise big-man can be. Gorgui Deng morphed into Bill Russell thanks to the yogurt soft defense of Tyler Zeller and Kelly Olynyk. Mind you, all this was happening as Andrew Wiggins (14 pts, 5-18 FG) was missing-in-action.<\/p>\n A lot of players try to inspire their teammates with fiery words. Often times, it falls. In Smart’s case, it worked. How can you not listen to a guy so fearless and tough he risked breaking his face for an offensive rebound in Detroit?<\/p>\n The Celtics choked out the Wolves in the 4th quarter. It was nice to see the emergence of that top 5 defense everyone was expecting. It also helped that the Wolves were gassed – all 5 starters played at least 38 minutes (never change, Thibs).<\/p>\n PS – Marcus, I still wish you took better shots.<\/p>\n Related links:<\/em>\u00a0Herald – Celtics survive scare<\/a> | CSNNE – Smart is a rally starter<\/a>\u00a0| Video – Every point in the 19-0 run<\/a>\u00a0| Mass Live – Horford, Rozier spark remarkable run<\/a><\/p>\n Crowder, who had four points in Boston\u2019s 99-93 win over the Timberwolves, was only able to play 24 minutes before the pain in his ankle proved to be too much for him to keep playing.<\/p>\n \u201cI just didn\u2019t have nothing,\u201d Crowder told reporters after the win. \u201cMy ankles felt they locked up on me, never got loose. I took it upon myself to pull myself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very frustrating but it\u2019s a process,\u201d Crowder said. \u201cThe first half I felt great, probably the best I felt. It\u2019s a process.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
On Page 2, Jae Crowder’s ankle is not ok.<\/h2>\n