Your Morning Dump… Where the plan is coming together

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.

Few teams play with more spark than the Celtics. They don’t have the best talent in the league, but they play hard, and with precision. If that spark isn’t matched, it will be a long night.

Denver Post – Nuggets don’t match Boston Celtics’ intensity in road loss

The Celtics have now forced 20-plus turnovers in four straight games for the first time since 2004. They are 7-2 since benching David Lee and going consistently to more skilled bench lineups.

MassLive – Avery Bradley’s huge first half pushes Boston Celtics past Denver Nuggets, 111-103

The Celtics, who are tied with the Golden State Warriors for the second best defensive rating in the league while allowing 98.7 points per 100 possessions, are at their best when they are creating turnovers and fueling an otherwise inconsistent offense by generating easy buckets in transition.

For the season, the Celtics rank third in the league in opponent turnover ratio, with opponents averaging 16.8 turnovers per 100 possessions. Over the past four games, that turnover percentage has spiked to 19.9 (the next closest team is at 18 during that span). Boston averages 19.2 points per game off turnovers, but that number is up to a whopping 24.8 points per game over the last four, which is three points higher than the next closest team and about nine points higher than the league average in that span.

ESPN Boston – Nuggets coach Mike Malone on Celtics: ‘I’m jealous of the defenders they have’

With their recent play, the Celtics are making us believe. After last night’s solid win over Denver, the Cs are 26-21 – five games above .500, matching the best mark since Brad Stevens arrived. They’ve won four straight and seven of their last nine. They sit in fifth place of the Eastern Conference, just one game behind third-place Atlanta.

In addition to all the stats above, here are some random facts that reinforce how well the team has played recently.

• The Celtics have scored 100 points in 10 games in a row, first time since February 1997.
• In games with at least 10 steals, the Celtics are 17-7. Five times – including last night – they’ve totaled at least 15 steals.
• Since December 1, they’ve lost just once by double digits, tied with San Antonio for fewest in the league.
• Their “snow trip” sweep of the Sixers and Wizards by 20 and 25 points, respectively, gave Brad his second and third biggest road wins.

And here’s my favorite metric:

CRAZY STAT: Celtics are now 26-0 when they allow fewer points than they score #CelticsTalk #Science

— Max Lederman (@Max_Lederman) January 28, 2016

Boston has eight games left before the All-Star break, half of them against teams that are currently not in playoff position. If they can keep their fifth place spot or even move up slightly, the optimism is going to grow in Celtics Nation.

On Page 2: Tonight’s the night

Also supporting Thomas’ candidacy was Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone, who coached Thomas years ago on the Sacramento Kings.

“Great memories,” Malone said about the player-coach bond. “Isaiah and I remain close. Love him as a person and as a player. A guy I did not want to lose while I was in (Sacramento), in our second season. He’s got a chip on his shoulder. Last pick in the draft, he has that keep on doubting me attitude. He loves being in the gym, he’s a guy you love being around, and that’s why I think he’s worthy of an All-Star reserve spot this year, which I hope he gets. He’s worked very hard, you look at his numbers and he’s a guy who deserves to be on that team.”

MassLive – Mike Malone: Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas deserves to make the All-Star team

We’ve been waiting for this day: the NBA All-Star reserves will be announced tonight at 7 p.m. (Eastern time) on TNT. Isaiah Thomas definitely wants it, according to this quote reported by Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston:

“It would mean the world to me. I feel like I deserve it. Numbers don’t lie and my team is winning. My team is playing at a high level. One thing I just always worry about is the things I can control. I can’t control who votes for me or if they say my name tomorrow. But I can control what I do out there on the court. I felt like I’ve put myself in a pretty good position, especially with my team being the fifth seed now in the East and winning games lately. So hopefully my name is called. But if it’s not I’m going to just keep going, keep grinding, keep pushing.”

If IT is selected, it will be well-deserved recognition of the progress he’s made individually and as the leader of a rising team. Our fingers are crossed.

Related: Sports Illustrated – SI’s 2016 NBA All-Star Game reserves | CSNNE – Blakely’s NBA All-Star reserves

And, finally: Whatever you say, LeBron

“People get it so misconstrued because I’m a smart basketball player and I’ve voiced my opinion about certain things, which I did when I was here my first stint with Paul Silas and Mike Brown. Which I did in Miami with Coach Spo [Erik Spoelstra]. Which I did with Blatt and I’ll do with T-Lue. And at the end of the day, they’ll still have their final call.” […]

“I don’t know,” James said. “What do you guys want me to do, turn my brain off because I have a huge basketball IQ?…”

ESPN – LeBron James calls criticism that he called for Blatt’s job unfair

No one who observes the NBA believes LeBron’s hands are clean after the David Blatt firing. When you’re a demanding superstar with a player option on your contract, who has taken your team to the finals five straight years, ownership is going to give you everything you ask for, or that you even hint you might want. We all know this.

Yet here’s LeBron, playing the wounded soul, acting the victim because people are thinking bad thoughts about him – even though he has “a huge basketball IQ,” as he humbly mentions.

This is peak LeBron, and it’s embarrassing. It’s almost as bad as how he flails and grabs his face whenever he’s bumped, just in case the refs forgot the King gets every call.

LeBron has pushed Blatt before. This time he pushed him all the way out the door.

The Rest of the Links:

ESPN Boston – Marcus Smart surprised, excited to make Rising Stars game

Globe – Avery Bradley shoots Celtics past Nuggets

Herald – Celtics mine a golden win | Smart makes Rising Stars Challenge; Celts hoping Thomas gets All-Star bid

CSNNE – ’86 Celtics were Blazed and confused at home … once

MassLive – Boston Celtics ready to extend streak? Maybe, but Evan Turner just wants to focus on playing the right way | Boston Celtics analysis: Avery Bradley, wing defense force Denver Nuggets into sloppy performance | Boston Celtics notes: Isaiah Thomas thankful for Mike Malone; Evan Turner wears E.T. sandals