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.
Forward David Lee has played only one game since joining the Boston Celtics and is already seeing some positive similarities with his former team, the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
The two-time All-Star reckons the Celtics have what it takes to surprise people this season despite being a young team and lacking a standout figure likeStephen Curry.
“It’s a similar make-up as far as the team, with great chemistry, we have an unbelievable chemistry,” Lee said in Madrid on Wednesday, a day before Boston’s final game of a preseason double-header in Europe.
“Guys on the team get along well. There’s not the superstar like Stephen Curry on this team but we do have a lot of depth and I think we are going to be a team that it’s going to turn some heads this year.”
The 32-year-old forward said he also sees plenty in common between the Celtics’ Brad Stevens and former coach Steve Kerr.
“I’m just getting to know coach Stevens but he is a very smart coach, teaches the game very well,” Lee said. “We have such a young team, it’s very important to have a guy that can really teach the younger players how the game is supposed to be played and he is similar to Steve Kerr of all the coaches that I’ve had, that really knows the game and has great enthusiasm toward the game.”
USA Today – Lee says Celtics and champion Warriors have plenty in common
After nearly two weeks and a single preseason game against a non-NBA team, the positive energy is exploding from this team. I know, I know, some of you may look at the headline and roll your eyes… or some of you may even read the meat of David Lee’s comments and chuckle a bit, but it’s still a great thing to see so early in the season. Look, is this team ready to win a title? No. Are they even a legit contender right now? No. That’s not exactly what Lee (or any other rational person) is saying. Well, other than maybe Avery Bradley.
It’s tough to say where this team is exactly in the NBA food chain. They could go out and get blasted by Real Madrid today and bring everyone back down to Earth. But right now, the feel Lee is getting from this team is real and it’s difficult to argue against it. It was their greatest asset (next to Coach Stevens) last year: every individual willing to give up their ego and personal goals for the team. That’s rare in the NBA and even more rare to last long. Stevens just may have the magic formula to keep it going. Right now, it’s a great thing to watch.
On Page 2: Danny Ainge was once known as “El Terrible”
The journey, with its long flights and crowded schedule of appearances, wasn’t entirely popular with the Celtics’ aging core, but Ainge — then a boyish guard, now the president of basketball operations — seemed to have a good time.
At one promotional stop, the club was getting back on its bus and encountered a group of parochial schoolgirls. Ainge went over and spoke to them. He then stepped back and smiled as they followed his direction and began chanting, “Danny, Danny.”Before the trip, he’d decided that he would take on the name “El Terrible” (pronounced El Te-ree-blay) while overseas. I recall it as a takeoff on enfant terrible, but Ainge isn’t certain.
“I do remember giving myself the nickname ‘El Terrible,’” he said, “but I don’t even remember how it happened. I think I said it to somebody and then it just got out. I just sort of had fun with it. I taped it onto my practice jersey.
“You know me, I was just joking around. I knew just enough Spanish to get myself in trouble. I heard that on the Spanish broadcast they even referred to me one time as El Terrible. I was dying laughing when I heard that.”
Boston Herald – Bulpett: Ainge has fond memories of ’88 Europe trip
I’m not sure why this nickname never stuck, but I think it’s about time it’s brought back. I can picture other GMs across the league now as the phone rings and the caller ID reads ‘El Terrible:’ NOOOOOO! DON’T ANSWER, IT’S ELLLL TERRREEEEBBLLAAYYYY!!!” AND HE’S DEMANDING MORE DRAFT PICKS!!!
Ok so maybe not that dramatic, but still that’s a fantastic name.
And, finally: Caron Butler has some disturbing details about the Wizards gun incident
On the flight home the next night after we lost at Phoenix, Gilbert, teammate Javaris Crittenton, and several other players were in a card game that got real heated. While Gilbert was a dominating presence on the team, Javaris didn’t roll with some of his ways. The players were in seats facing each other with a pull-out table between them. I was in the seat next to them half asleep as we began our descent into DC.
My eyes popped open when I heard Javaris say, “Put the money back. Put the [expletive] money back.”
“I ain’t putting [expletive] back,” Gilbert replied. “Get it the way Tyson got the title. Might or fight or whatever you got to do to get your money back. Otherwise, you ain’t gettin’ it.”
When Gilbert put the money in his pocket, Javaris lunged over the table to grab him. Antawn Jamison, seated across the aisle, leaped up, shoved Javaris’s shoulder down on the table, and held it there with the full weight of his body while telling him to calm down.
I got up and yelled “Hey, everybody shut the [expletive] up. How much was in the pot?”
It was $1,100.
“It shouldn’t be that hard to pay what you owe him,” I told Gilbert. “We all make a great living, so just pay the money.”
A man who has a $111 million contract shouldn’t be fighting over $1,100.
Message not received. The two of them kept arguing as we buckled up for the landing.
Washington Post – ‘I play with guns': Caron Butler’s inside account of the Gilbert Arenas gun incident
Remember this whole incident that essentially ruined two basketball careers and an entire organization? Maybe Gilbert Arenas wasn’t totally ruined (his knee injury was the main cause of that) but this didn’t help. This is also one of those ‘holy sh**’ pieces you read every so often that makes your jaw drop. Amazingly, I’m guessing that incidents like these happen more often than not (without the guns) but they just don’t get out to the public.
What’s also good is that the Celtics as an organization and as well as a team, don’t seem to have any of these issues. It’s yet another reminded to be grateful your team isn’t owned and operated by a bunch of tools and/or jerks, as well as it’s roster being filled with team players for the most part.
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston – Celtics Mailbag: Cue the Duck Boats
Boston Globe – Marcus Smart, Isaiah Thomas setting tone for Celtics | Ainge, Clemens among six to be honored at The Tradition
Boston Herald – Celtics on board for European franchise | Celtics ease into preseason
CSNNE – Clippers, Mavs offers not enough to keep Datome in NBA | Despite blowout win, plenty for Celtics to improve on | Zeller remains important to C’s despite offseason additions
MassLive – Evan Turner (knee injury) could return to Boston Celtics lineup Thursday | Justise Winslow, Kristaps Porzingis & Willie Cauley-Stein: 10 intriguing 2015 rookies (NBA Preview)
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