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.
“The ball movement, the simplicity of it, is really important, and that’s with Rondo handling the ball, but it’s also with everyone touching the ball and moving the ball,” he said. “I just like the fact in the last two games that it was simple and it was nice.”
[…] “From a defensive standpoint, we want teams to hold the ball so we can load up on them and force them to make the play they’re not used to making. Teams do that to us and we play into their hands, but when we move the ball, I love that. If I don’t shoot it in the corner, when we move the ball I can see that everyone is touching it. If I’m shooting the ball, then that means that everyone is moving it.”
Herald: Celtics’ engine in tune
We saw it in Game 4 against the Knicks. What happened when the ball stuck and the C’s played a lot of isolation. The Knicks made a furious comeback.
The Celtic are not an isolation team. When they play 1-on-1 ball, they almost always lose out somehow. The offense goes stagnant, guys just stand around, and it translates to the defensive end of the court… and in a very bad way.
The offense looked good for seven quarters in the last two games. If that can continue, the Celtics will go far.
By the way, that photo is part of Nike’s “Epic” campaign. I took the picture at NikeTown in New York. Time to get juiced for this thing.
Related links: CSNNE: Celtics shake off rust after long layoff
On page 2: Do the Celtics NEED Shaq against Miami?
That’s the Herald’s Steve Bulpett making the case on CSN that while it would be nice to have Shaq against the Heat… the C’s don’t NEED him (or, as I quote, they “damn well don’t need him”).
This goes back to the discussion of whether Jermaine O’Neal would be enough. If Jermaine can give what he’s been giving, then no, the Celtics don’t need Shaq. If Jermaine regresses at all, then the C’s have a problem because that gives up a big matchup advantage. The C’s are stronger at the point, on the post, and on the bench. Giving up any of those advantages might be enough to swing the series in the other direction.
Related links: Herald: Still wait-and-see time on Shaq
The rest of the links:
CSNNE: Blakely: C’s/Heat preview | Newcomers buy into Celtics’ playoff mentality | Herald: Doc Rivers: Heat is on Celtics to improve | Jermaine O’Neal stays away from juicy soundbite | ESPN Boston: Feelin the Heat | Round 2 schedule | Practice: back to business | WEEI: Breaking down the Celtics series with Miami | Globe: Heat will face Celtics | Practice resumes, camp style | Reserves start to lend a hand
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