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.
The second and more serious response came after hearing people latch on to the fences phrase and treat it as a change in the way the Celtics are approaching their reconstruction process.
This is humorous because, well, has there ever been a time when Ainge did not try to go big?
You have to go all the way back to, let’s see . . . last summer to find the Celtics desperately trying to inject themselves into bidding for elite players. They did, in fact, make a call to see if LeBron James might be available to them. And no one expects Marc Gasol to leave Memphis or Kawhi Leonard to leave San Antonio, but it’s fair to assume the Celts will try.
Last summer, the C’s thought Kevin Love was a more realistic target than James, and they pushed hard to get in on his sweepstakes. Ainge did everything in his asset-laden power to pair Love with Rajon Rondo, even though he knew he was putting himself in a position to have to overpay Rondo when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The Celts would have taken that chance if it meant acquiring Love and accelerating themselves out of the “hoarding draft picks and hoping enough of them hit so they can be kept or used as trade bait” phase.
Ainge and the club’s ownership would much rather be preparing for a serious and deep playoff run now, rather than being appreciative of the collective patience of their following. Danny’s the kind of guy who’d trade his son and Celts’ player personnel director Austin if it meant getting a key building block. (Ainge to wife, Michelle: “Sure I love him, but we really, really need a knockdown shooter in the backcourt.”)
Boston Herald – Funny, but Danny Ainge plan still same
Go ahead and laugh. Or for those of you with an irrational hatred for LeBron, go ahead and scream at Danny Ainge for being a jerk to even entertain the thought of getting LeBron in green. But this is exactly the type of guy you want to have running your favorite team. Did you have a better chance at winning the lottery (twice) than LeBron coming here? Yes. But the fact that Ainge and his staff try anything and everything should make you feel good about this team. You can laugh just as much as the other names listed in Bulpett’s piece, but Ainge is doing what he should do, regardless if those other GMs (or players) share in your laughter. The other highlighted part is an equally important piece to keep in mind.
Sure, there are some that are thrilled with what the C’s are doing right now on the floor. But it’s tough to get fully behind it when A)it’s just hoping for a quick 8th seed appearance, and B) who knows how many of these guys will actually be here next year? Now, if you’re telling me that a lot of them will be, then that’s a whole other bigger issue. Yes, it’s fun to see them battle but in the long-term, bigger picture I see it more like Ainge does.
On Page 2, AB doesn’t make the trip to New Orleans
Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley did not travel with the team Thursday due to a left elbow strain and will miss Friday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Bradley injured his elbow during the first half of Wednesday’s win over the Utah Jazz and briefly retreated to the locker room with the team’s medical staff. He returned with a shooting sleeve over the elbow and totaled 36 minutes of floor time.
The team initially announced Bradley’s injury as a contusion, but changed it to the strain on Thursday. The Celtics traveled Thursday in advance of a three-game road trip that also visits Orlando and Miami. It’s uncertain if Bradley will rejoin the team later in the trip.
ESPN Boston – Bradley (elbow) out vs. Pelicans
Just as soon as the Celtics get a player back in their lineup (Kelly Olynyk), they lose another. Avery Bradley will miss tonight’s game in New Orleans, which is too bad since the tri-guard lineup was starting to come along nicely. AB was originally put under a microscope last offseason when signing his big contract extension. One of the things C’s fans sniffed at was his inability to stay healthy. This season, Bradley has been able to stay on the court for the most part, and as long as his elbow injury isn’t a long-term thing, he just may accomplish that goal.
Bradley has mostly been a jump shooter this year, not really driving much to the basket or drawing/shooting fouls. His defense has fallen off a bit, but that’s not a huge deal because it’s unrealistic for anyone to expect him to plat that type of defense his entire career. This is a short-term issue for the Celtics as they try to make that final spot in the abysmal Eastern Conference.
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston – Smart’s impact not lost on Celtics
Boston Globe – Celtics unable to complete deal with JaVale McGee
Boston Herald – JaVale McGee, Celtics can’t make it work
CSNNE – Bradley (ankle) doesn’t travel with Celtics to New Orleans | Bird on Wilkins statue: ‘Not made in defensive stance’ | Horizons for Homeless Children Partners with Comcast SportsNet for Third Annual “Horizons for Homeless Children Week’ | Why Maxwell is no fan of McHael’s 56-point game
WEEI – Celtics rule out Avery Bradley for New Orleans with left elbow sprain
MassLive – Avery Bradley injury: Boston Celtics guard out against New Orleans Pelicans
