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.
We’ve waited all season for the answers to several burning questions, and now that Game 82 is here we will finally get those answers.
The primary question is, what will the playoff match-ups be? That was partially answered last night when Miami won:
Miami tops Detroit, making Boston’s path to No. 4 seed slightly more difficult. Updated seeding scenarios: pic.twitter.com/L6UQ9R1dGs
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) April 13, 2016
Of the 8 scenarios for the Celtics, 2 get them the 4-seed
Win, Hawks win, Hornets lose: Vs. Miami
Win, Hawks and Hornets win Vs. Charlotte— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) April 13, 2016
Related: MassLive – NBA playoff scenarios: Who could Boston Celtics play in the first round? | Herald – Celtics need to home in on playoff seed | CSNNE – Celtics-Heat Preview: Quest for Home Court Continues | NBA – Playoff Scenarios: What’s at Stake on Final Night of Season | WEEI – Every Celtics Playoff Scenario Entering Regular-Season Finale
Then we need to know how the Celtics – and Isaiah Thomas in particular – will respond to Monday’s debacle:
Thomas did not stick around postgame to talk with reporters following Monday’s loss, a routine he has skipped only a few times this season. Thomas pledged to be better with the Celtics playing a pivotal game for their playoff seeding on Wednesday.
“Go out with a bang. I mean, the legends are in town, the crowd’s going to be electric. We just have to go out with a bang and play Celtics basketball,” said Thomas, referring to Boston having members of the 1966, 1976, and 1986 championship teams in town for a celebration dinner on Tuesday night.
Right before being subbed out, Thomas incurred his 14th technical foul of the season when he appeared to dismissively throw the ball in the direction of a game official after being called for an offensive foul.
Asked if limited playing time in a game against a team Boston is competing with for playoff seeding upset him, Thomas said, “It did. I guess the way I’m playing and the way I was playing [Monday], I guess that’s why [Stevens] did that, but you’ve got to move on from it.”
ESPN Boston – Isaiah Thomas chats with Brad Stevens about playing time, pledges to be motivated in season finale
Related: Herald – Isaiah Thomas talks good game
And also, is the team ready for the playoffs?
Stevens still isn’t overly concerned with whether his team has to get on a plane in a few days or next week. He isn’t charting the shifting winds to see if the Celtics might be able to avoid facing Cleveland until the conference finals. He has more pressing concerns than seeding.
“I’m not really paying attention to that part,” Stevens said. “I think that obviously that shakes itself out not matter what. I mean, we’ll have a better idea after tonight. Obviously we still control some things in that regard with where we are, but I think the bottom line is we just have to focus on what we can control and focus on playing basketball — and playing basketball the right way. And for whatever reason, the defensive slippage is a concern in the last couple of games. But I’m equally concerned about fumbling the ball around in the second quarter, to be candid.”
Herald – Bulpett: Celtics need to get momentum back
We will know all of those answers by 11 p.m. Boston time, after the Cs play the Heat. It’s clearly a must-win game, for several reasons:
- A win would break the two-game losing streak, and should give this young squad confidence that they are back on track. Entering the postseason with three straight losses would be a big problem, considering Brad has said playing well down the stretch takes priority over seeding.
- A victory would probably improve the mood of IT, who’s clearly been frustrated with his own recent play.
- It would keep them in the running for the fourth seed and home court in the first round, which is crucial to their playoff chances. Yes, the Cs have grabbed some huge wins away from home this season, but it’s probably too much to ask this group to win, say, a pivotal Game 5 on the road – not to mention a Game 7.
- There’s a high probability the Celts will play Miami, not just tonight, but also in the first round. No one wants to lose at home to the Heat, and then face them in a best-of-seven with the first two games in Florida.
That’s a lot riding on one regular season game. But here we are. Get ready, because the playoffs essentially begin tonight.
Oh, and there’s one more question to be answered: What are the Nets pick lottery odds? Long-term, this may be the most important of all.
All Boston needs is a Brooklyn Nets loss (to the Toronto Raptors) or a Phoenix Suns win (against the Los Angeles Clippers) Wednesday night. If either of those outcomes occurs, the Celtics will own the third-best lottery odds thanks to controlling the Nets first-round pick. That finish would leave the Celtics with a 46.9-percent chance to land a top-three pick, including a 15.6-percent chance to win the No. 1 overall selection.
MassLive – NBA lottery standings 2016: Boston Celtics inch closer to sole possession of third-best lottery odds
On Page 2: Brad is so sensible
How can you not appreciate Coach Brad? Whatever happens tonight, he’ll be ready.
#Celtics coach Brad Stevens: Someone just put list of playoff scenarios in my desk. Asked them to throw it away. We just have to play game.
— Scott Souza (@Scott_Souza) April 12, 2016
Will Brad Stevens watch GSW/73 or Kobe’s last game? “I probably won’t watch either of them because we’ll know who we are playing by then.”
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) April 12, 2016
Related: CBS Boston – Stevens Doesn’t Want To Hear About Celtics’ Playoff Scenarios | ESPN Boston – Celtics coach Brad Stevens sends playoff scenarios to recycling bin
On Page 3: COY? Sixth Man? All-NBA? Don’t hold your breath
My 2015-16 award picks. pic.twitter.com/0wPqyjN74F
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) April 12, 2016
As Celtics fans, we live in a green-tinted bubble. Naturally, we back our guys as candidates for this season’s awards. Unfortunately, most of the national media don’t. Peruse the chart in the above tweet and you’ll notice it contains just one Celtics name, Jae Crowder on All-Defense.
Now check the below links to several articles naming more writers’ choices for honorees. You’ll find a few Celtics dotted throughout: Flannery and Ziller have Avery Bradley on All-Defense; Devaney says Crowder is honorable mention Most Improved; a few of the SI staff give some love to Jae and Evan Turner.
But, incredibly, no one names IT to All-NBA. Most shocking of all, Brad is totally ignored as Coach of the Year. No one ranks him even third best. However, Terry Stotts of Portland and Steve Clifford of Charlotte get plenty of votes, so someone needs to explain how Brad is not comparable to them. Brad’s not even close, according to these writers.
- Marc Stein of ESPN
- Zach Lowe of ESPN
- Paul Flannery and Tom Ziller of SB Nation
- Sean Devaney of Sporting News
- CBS Sports Staff
- Sports Illustrated Staff
Obviously, voters do make bad choices. Look at 2008. The Celts had a newly constructed roster, won their first eight games, led the NBA wire-to-wire in the regular season, and finished with a league-high 66 wins. To cap it off, even though it wasn’t considered for voting, they hung a banner. Yet Kevin Garnett was deprived of MVP and Doc Rivers was not named Coach of the Year. Obviously, I’m not over that.
Still, this year, with a team that has come so far, you’d like to think someone would get some recognition. It’s just not looking that way.
And, finally: The Legends of ’66, ’76 and ’86
Members from the 1966, 1976, and 1986 NBA championship teams reunited Tuesday for a star-studded dinner that included greats such as Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Paul Silas, Charlie Scott, Jo Jo White, Bill Walton, and Kevin McHale.
“It’s a shame Red [Auerbach] is not here for all the stuff we put together,” McHale said. “I don’t know if that will ever be [repeated], especially in today’s sports, keeping guys together that long, the amount of success, the transference from the Cousy/Russell, then to the Jones boys and into the Cowens, and into the [Larry] Bird era. That’s a lot of basketball the city saw.”
Globe – Celtics champions reminisce about greatness, past and present
The 1966 team was the first one I saw win a championship. The 1976 squad won the greatest game in NBA history (3OT in the Finals). The 1986 group was the best team I’ve ever seen. And there are 14 more rosters who’ve hung banners.
Yeah, we’re pretty fortunate to be Celtics fans.
Related: MassLive – Bill Walton remembers his time with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and the 1985-’86 Boston Celtics | Would 1986 Boston Celtics beat Golden State Warriors? Bill Walton, Kevin McHale just want to appreciate Warriors run | CSNNE – Havlicek: Warriors an ‘Amazing Team’ Who ‘Deserve the Accolades’ | NESN – Kevin McHale Goes On Epic Rant Against NBA Players Resting For Playoffs | Herald – Great Celtics teams get together
Not believable but related: Deadspin – The Time Robert Parish Won Thousands By Dunking On Manute Bol
The Rest of the Links:
MassLive – 2016 NBA Playoffs: Full TV schedule, where to watch, what channels the games are on
