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.

When Paul Pierce’s farewell tour concludes at the end of this season, he will have one final act left: finish his career as a Boston Celtic.

Pierce, in an interview on SiriusXM NBA Radio with Justin Termine and Eddie Johnson, said he would “love” to conclude his year as a Celtic.

There’s little doubt that sometime between the end of this season and the start of the 2017-18 training camp, Pierce will don his jersey number 34 one more time.

“I would love to do that,” Pierce said. “I think, you know, I’ll always be remembered as a Celtic. I had all my glory days, all my prime was pretty much as a Boston Celtic so I think I owe the fans and I owe myself that much just to be able to put that uniform on one more time and go out that way (and) say I retired a Boston Celtic.”

CSNNE – Paul Pierce plans to retire as a Celtic

Well, can’t say I’m surprised by this announcement from The Truth, but I will say that it is satisfying and relieving to know that Pierce has Boston on his mind as he gets set for his final lap in the NBA. It’s rare for an Ortiz, Jeter or Bryant-like farewell tour, where an all-time great gets to finish his career with the team that defined him in the city in which he made his greatest impact. More often than not, you get guys like Olajuwon, Ewing, Montana, Favre playing out the string in different colored laundry. Paul Pierce is not a Clipper, nor is he really going out on his terms– his game really took a dip last season and it’s hard to believe he’ll summon anything better this year.

So, Pierce is making the right move by taking a day this summer, signing with the Celtics, holding a press conference and bringing back all of the memories that made him great in the city and for the team that both defined him and that he helped define. For a day, people will forget the last four seasons, which were by no means a failure, or an embarrassment, but which will go down in history the same way we remember Hakeem on the Raptors or Ewing on the Sonics, as weird and forgettable.

Enjoy this final go-around with Doc and CP3, Blake and Deandre, Paul. After injuries do the team in, or after a second-round playoff loss, we’ll be waiting for you.

Related Links: 

ESPNBoston – Paul Pierce all for retiring with Boston Celtics

On page 2, Celtics’ D has high expectations

23. Boston leads the league in forcing turnovers

Boston finished third last season, behind Memphis and Houston, and added a skilled big man in Horford capable of trapping ball-handlers far from the rim. Marcus Smart, a maniac, is a year older.

Boston is probably the best bet to lead the league in points allowed per possession — i.e., total defense — after finishing tied for fourth last season behind San Antonio, Atlanta and Indiana. That somehow feels premature. Boston still doesn’t have an intimidator at the rim, and opponents might hit better than 33.6 percent from deep — the stingy mark Boston allowed last season.

ESPN – 30 crazy predictions for the 2016-2017 NBA season

Zach Lowe knows his stuff and is always a great read. In his predictions piece, he takes the time to give the Celtics defense its due, and predicts a dominant season by the numbers. It’s going to be fun to watch the ball-hawks on the perimeter pick up opposing guards at the mid-court stripe and go for turnovers. Smart, Avery Bradley and Terry Rozier are going to be a nightmare to play against.

Lowe’s point about a lack of a rim protector holds merit, but how many teams in the league are truly set to expose that absence? The Pistons? The Thunder, maybe?

And finally, the biggest Celtics fan in the tennis world gave up the other night

Mayflies can live up to one day; the notion that Nick Kyrgios was going to take a serious approach to tennis lived for just three. Sunday, he won his first ATP 500 event, the Rakuten Japan Open, and by Wednesday he was gloriously tanking his second-round match of the Shanghai Masters against Mischa Zverev.

The world No. 12 offered us a master class in apathy while losing to (or, more accurately, holding a racket and standing across a court from) the world No. 110. Consider the highlights from his 6-3, 6-1 temper tantrum:

Kyrgios twirled his racket and looked performatively bored before a return, then walked off the court:

Deadspin – Nick Kyrgios tanks masterfully, trash-talks fans

Ok, so why am I writing about a tennis player’s meltdown on this, a Celtics site? Well, first of all, it’s pretty rare to see the 12th best player in his/her sport just completely dog it for the world to see. But secondly, did you know that Kyrgios, an Aussie, is a huge Celtics fan?

In fact, Kyrgios wrote a piece called “Why I Bleed Green” this past May, which our own Mike Dynon mentioned on this site. It’s worth a read, especially in light of his recent tantrum that got him some ignominious time on Sportscenter. Kyrgios comes across as a HUGE Celtics fan and goes as far as to call Kevin Garnett his “spirit animal.” Um, Nick, if Kevin knew you tanked a match, I don’t think he’d agree.

Anyways, Kyrgios mentions having never been to Boston, or a Cs game, so, Nick, on behalf of Red’s Army, I invite you to come to the city this season and catch a game with me. Just walk off the court mid-match, hop on a flight and I’ll pick you up at Logan. Please, Red’s readers, help get tennis’ bad-boy, Nick Kyrgios, to his first Celtics game. Hopefully we can keep him in his seat for four quarters.

The rest of the links: 

Herald – Isaiah Thomas blocks out small talk  |  Al Horford points to Amir Johnson for easing transition with new club