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 learned a lot through this playoff series, but one of the things that I learned is we’ve got to get better. And you know what? That starts with me. I’ve got to get better, and then I think each of our players will look at that accountably as well, and we’re all going to be better the next time we take the court.”
Stevens’ praises among his peers have grown so loud, it can be difficult to remember that this was just his third year in the league. Like his players, he is still learning the process that he constantly preaches. Still, he has managed to impress upon them the importance of continuing to work at that process — even if the minutes after a season-ending loss briefly cloud the pleasure of seeing the process unfold.
One of the things I talked about with my dad during the playoffs is that the best players on the Celtics team didn’t know the effort required to close out a team–to, in rather blunt parlance, choke the life out of the Atlanta Hawks’ basketball season. The Celtics’ playoff experience (and that includes Stevens and a few of his assistants) is largely that of one-and-done tournaments in college and high school, not the mentally grueling and messy business of ending another team’s season over the course of four to seven games.
The Celtics are a team that are not so overwhelmingly talented that they can afford mental lapses or being unprepared mentally for the difficulty of the task at hand. If their heads aren’t in it, their bodies aren’t either. But they’re getting better. And hopefully Ainge can strap a rocket to the ‘process’ using some combination of draft picks and cash money, which leads us to:
Page 2: Where Isaiah Thomas is now Mr. Celtic
ON BEING ASKED TO REPRESENT CELTICS AT THE DRAFT LOTTERY: “(Owner Wyc Grousbeck) just asked me that, so I guess I am the guy. Yeah I’m gonna do it. He asked me up there upstairs, so I’m gonna definitely be that guy.
ON HELPING RECRUIT FREE AGENTS: “Hopefully I’m that guy who can get a few guys here. I’m going to do my job and I know Danny and those guys will do theirs. If they need me like they say they do, I’m all for it. I’ll do the best I can to put my recruiting hat on.”
Well, it didn’t take long for IT to become the face of the franchise. Although asking IT to represent the team at the lottery might have something to do with him being roughly leprechaun sized.
Page 3: Where Isaiah’s also going to start eating better
One day after an emotional season-ending loss, Boston Celtics star Isaiah Thomas shared what he hopes will charge him through the next step on his NBA climb: an improved diet designed to “transform” his body.
With a smile, Thomas said he currently eats “like a young guy that’s got a bit of money — fast food every day.”
“But I’m definitely gonna change,” the 5-foot-9 guard vowed.
Why?
“I’m not that old, but the greatest players, the best players always took care of their bodies the best,” Thomas said Friday after an exit interview at the Celtics practice facility. “You look at older guys like Ray Allen. Not to go that far to take care of my body, but—because he’s a little crazy with that—but I just want to play at a high level for a long time.
This was probably the most surprising nugget to come out of a day of exit interviews in Boston–IT the consumer of unhealthy foods. IT the recruiter of free agents, we already knew that guy. But this IT as a fast foodie? That was a bit surprising. At any rate, good for IT for at least recognizing it’s a bit of a problem.
Meanwhile, Sully’s probably been watching IT eat like that all season and staying in pretty good shape with, one would imagine, barely disguised jealousy.
Page 4: Where luck is required
Just think of the role that circumstance has played in recent Celtics history. If Timberwolves ownership doesn’t instruct Kevin McHale that he HAS to trade Kevin Garnett, the 2008 championship banner isn’t hanging in the Garden. The move also required that the C’s package led by Al Jefferson be better than the Lakers’ led by Andrew Bynum, but it all began with Garnett’s availability.
And think of how this current reconstruction process would be going if Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov doesn’t essentially bid against himself for Garnett and Paul Pierce three years ago. If those two stars had played out the string here or left through free agency, the Celtics wouldn’t have had all these extra first rounders and would have had to do their own tanking this year.
Of course, I’m a firm believer in Branch Rickey’s axiom that ‘luck is the residue of design’. Or, from a slightly different viewpoint, and in Ainge’s terms, ‘the best ability is availability.’
Being in position to capitalize on opportunities that present themselves, regardless of their form, is something that Ainge has done masterfully. Rather than doggedly pursuing talent acquisition through the draft (Sixers) or by free agency (Los Angeles), Ainge has maximized his ability to move in either direction. And by making a solid coaching hire (as opposed to what’s been done at New York or Milwaukee), and placing a premium on the personality of players (instead of ignoring it–looking at you, Houston!), and not letting players undermine their coaches (Cleveland) and by not undermining the coach himself (Chicago), Ainge has put the Celtics in pretty good shape for the long haul.
Finally: Hot takes!
…
Yeah. I’m not going to be linking to the hot takes posted over the last 36 hours by guys who write and talk about the Celtics primarily to stir the pot. Posting links to that crap is tantamount asking for more of it.
The rest of the links… Where I wish I could save some of these because man is it hard coming up with Dump items in the off-season!
Worcester Telegram: AS PAIN OF PLAYOFF LOSS SLOWLY SUBSIDES, CELTICS’ OFFSEASON BEGINS | Game Six loss ends tough stretch for Celtics’ Crowder | Celtics Journal: Two years in Boston has rejuvenated Turner’s career | Win or lose, Boston fans stepped up at TD Garden
MassLive: Isaiah Thomas plans to represent Boston Celtics at NBA Draft lottery: ‘Hopefully I can bring some luck’ | Tyler Zeller addresses impending free agency, ‘rough’ season, thoughts on Boston Celtics organization | Isaiah Thomas devastated by loss to Atlanta Hawks, but Boston Celtics future still bright
Providence Journal: As pain of playoff loss slowly subsides, Celtics’ offseason begins | Game Six loss ends tough stretch for Celtics’ Crowder
Boston Herald: Celtics notebook: Kelly Olynyk mulls shoulder surgery | Isaiah Thomas believes in Celtics’ desire to improve
Boston Globe: Celtics deal with their good-byes
Boston.com: The Celtics’ season ended painfully after delivering inspiration | Evan Turner: ‘Hopefully it’s not my last game in a Celtics uniform’ | Celtics vow to bounce back from disappointing finish to season
CSNNE: Celtics make progress, but was it a successful season? | Sullinger: It would be very hard to leave C’s | Turner wants to return, but he’ll get other offers | Hunter looks to build on up-and-down rookie year | Will Zeller be back with Celtics? ‘We’ll see’ | ‘The only place to be’ | With season over, time for Celtics to hit recruiting trail |Scal: Once you get Jimmy Butler, you get… Kevin Durant | Maxwell: Celtics weren’t ready to play at that level | Maxwell: I don’t want Cousins on the Celtics
