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.

As [the Celtics] continue to climb up the Eastern Conference standings where they now stand just two games out of the eighth and final playoff spot, it moves them further away from having a shot at a potential lottery (top-14) pick.

And as fun as it is to watch this team play the way they are now, they have no shot this year at getting out of the Eastern Conference or even the first round of the playoffs for that matter.

Sure, Danny Ainge could probably strike a deal that would increase their chances of being in the playoffs this year, but is that good enough?

Of course not.

You don’t win as many titles as the Celtics have through the years and be comfortable and content with just being in the postseason.

That’s why Ainge has to break this group up between now and the Feb. 19 trade deadline.

CSNNE – Blakely: Ainge needs to further deconstruct the Celtics

Just when you think the Celtics are primed to shoot down the standings and into the land of the lottery sweepstakes, they go out and have a week like this past one, winning three of four against teams that essentially look like they want to lose more than the Celtics do. The Cs put away the Knick and Sixers (along with Western Conference dreg, Denver, which now has better lottery odds than Boston does) and went to the final buzzer with a playoff-bound Bucks team.

They still sit two games out of the eighth spot in the playoffs, but all of these wins are putting distance between the Celtics and the depths of both the Eastern and Western conference. The Cs aren’t even a pivot between the playoff contenders and the bottom-feeders. They’re firmly entrenched in the “contender” group as crazy as it may seem and with every win, they put more distance between themselves and the Knicks/Sixers/Lakers/Wolves. Chuck discussed the merits of a playoff run last week, and Blakely makes his position clearly known above: Lose, or die trying.

Here’s the thing, though, these Cs are like Michael Myers. Every time you think they’re dead, they stagger and sputter on. You can take away their best talent -Rajon Rondo, Jeff Green, Kelly Olynyk to injury- and yet they continue on course. Who exactly does Blakely encourage Danny to send packing? Marcus Thornton? Tayshaun Prince? Brandon Bass? While dealing one, or all of those players doesn’t help the Celts, I’d argue it won’t hurt them to the point that it sends them spiraling down the standings. The Cs schedule isn’t brutal enough and the aforementioned bottom four teams aren’t exactly turning things around. Teams like Denver and Orlando are already getting a head start on mid-season tanking efforts. Both teams are 1-9 in their last 10 games.

At this point, I think it’s time we all accept this Celtics team for what it is. A group of parts that has to check their cell phones each day wondering whether or not they’ll be on the team a minute later. They play hard, win games they’re supposed to win and rarely get blown out due to lack of effort. A playoff appearance, which still seems very unlikely, would give the core players important experience and would give fans something to cheer about. It wouldn’t be like the last time the Cs were an 8-seed and got utterly embarrassed by the Pacers in 2004. This group would be thrilled to be there.

So, I’ll disagree with Blakely on this one. As much fun as it is to dream about a top pick in the 2015 lottery, the Celtics’ place in the standings is essentially sealed. They can’t out-tank the teams far below them, and “deconstructing” this roster won’t stop the Cs from being “contenders.” Might as well embrace it and enjoy the ride.

Page 2: Marcus Smart is slowly getting to the free-throw line

The Celtics as a team quite simply don’t get to the line enough. They are 28th in the league in free throw attempts (19.8), with only the Magic (19.5) and the Knicks (17.3) getting to the line less.

To Smart’s credit he’s averaged more attempts (3.0) over five games in February than during any other month, but his season average is 1.6. At least he sees a clear solution.

“I just have to attack, be more aggressive,” Smart said. “I’m not as aggressive as I was at Oklahoma State and that’s all it is. I turned down a lot of drives and shots. That’s different than Oklahoma State. I have to be more aggressive when I get the ball.”

Brad Stevens wants all of his players to be more aggressive, but Smart’s determination to hit the lane harder isn’t necessarily what the Celtics coach wants.

Instead, Stevens wants his young point guard to take what the defense allows. Smart, quite simply, isn’t going to beat a lot of NBA point guards off the dribble right now.

Boston Herald – Marcus Smart wants more on-line access

“Why doesn’t Marcus Smart drive the ball?” is the number two most uttered question by Celtics’ fans this year behind “Doesn’t Jared Sullinger have Waze?”

Celtics’ fans were spoiled by years of Rajon Rondo beating his guy off the dribble and making things happen at the rim. We also saw Marcus do just that while in college at Oklahoma State. Two things: Smart is not Rajon Rondo and this is not Oklahoma State. The adjustment period is going to take time and Smart is less of a blow-by-you point guard and more of a bruiser.

Stevens knows that as time goes on, Smart will get better at taking what’s there for him from opposing defenses.

“I don’t want him to do something the defense isn’t giving to him,” Stevens said. “In an ideal world, yeah, be able to drive by your guy and get to the line, but he’s not there yet. He got to the line a lot in college, and he’ll continue to get to the line more as he continues to read defenses, but this is a lot less about downhill speed and a lot more about learning to read defenses.

The good news is, Smart’s free throw attempts have climbed modestly this month. Through five games, he’s averaging 3 attempts per game as opposed to 1.6 through the first three months of the season.

Related Links:

CSNNE – Smart shows aggressiveness vs. Bucks

And Finally… Pay close attention to the LA Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers’ one-two combination of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul is one of the most talented duos in the league, and the driving force behind the Clippers 33-18 record — good for sixth in the tightly contested Western Conference.

The Clippers will be without half of that duo for a while, however — the team announced on Sunday that Griffin will be sidelined until at least the All-Star break after having surgery on his right elbow to remove a staph infection.

[…]

It’s also worth noting that the Boston Celtics own the Clippers’ unprotected 2015 first-round pick, an asset acquired in exchange for Doc Rivers when he swapped teams. This gives Los Angeles zero incentive to lose, since falling into the lottery would benefit nobody but the Celtics, and soon the Clippers may have a minuscule margin for error.

Mass Live- Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers star, out reportedly 4-6 weeks with elbow injury

The Clippers went out in their first game sans Griffin and got stomped by the Thunder in OKC. While they sit comfortably ahead of the Pelicans, Suns and Thunder, who are battling for the final playoff spot, LA’s schedule is absolutely brutal after the all-star break. If Griffin misses close to six weeks, there’s at least a fair chance that the Clips could fall back into the eight spot, giving the Celtics a higher pick this June.

Related Links:

Boston Globe- Celtics’ draft pick collection looks even better in wake of Blake Griffin injury