Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
“We still feel we’re the better team,” said an exhausted Paul Pierce, who like the rest of a closing unit that included Glen Davis, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins, played the last 19 minutes without a substitution by associate coach Tom Thibodeau, who took over for Rivers.
“The year we won the (2008) championship, we lost four times to Washington. It definitely bothered us, but we’re a better team, and it will show.”
Perkins seconded that emotion.
“It’s not like I fear them,” he said. “I don’t think anyone on this team fears them. They look at us like a rival, but I don’t think we look at them as a rivalry team.”
Herald - Celtics Can's Solve Hawks Puzzle
There's not much humility on this Celtics team, huh? Three straight losses to Atlanta and they still refuse to give the Hawks much credit. I get that confidence and swagger are a big part of winning consistently, but maybe if the Celtics had the respect for Atlanta that they have for Cleveland and Orlando, they might have won a game or two.
For those wanting to blame the refs for last night's loss, here's the Globe's Gary Washburn:
Blame the officials for adversely affecting the game in the third quarter as Bennett Salvatore tossed coach Doc Rivers for arguing a flagrant foul call on Glen Davis, but the Hawks were the better team in the final 12 minutes.
They locked on the Celtics defensively, forcing Boston to opt for Davis in key offensive possessions, and even though he had 9 of the Celtics’ 16 points in the final period in his best offensive performance of the season, he is not a go-to guy down the stretch. Atlanta’s confusing zone defense limited Paul Pierce to two fourth-quarter shots while Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo combined to go 2 for 8.
On Page 2, Perk and Doc try to explain Tom Thibodeau's 'no substitutions' plan.
“Coach Tib probably didn’t have a sub package that he wanted to go with, so he just rolled with the starters,’’ Perkins said.
Said Rivers, “I think with me getting thrown out it kind of left our staff - it happened so quick. So leaving the guys in that were playing well was probably the safe bet. I don’t know.’’
Aside from Scalabrine's extended presence on the bench, I didn't notice the lack of bench players on the court until after the game. Is it possible Thibs got caught up in the emotion of the game and forgot to make substitutions? And by the time he remembered it was too late?
The rest of the links:
Herald - KG Out Another 10 Days | Jamal Crawford Finishes Strong | Globe - Cs Falter Down Stretch | CSNNE - Celts Blow Big Opportunity | Doc Loses Cool, Wallace Sits | ESPN Boston - Tempers Get Better of Celtics | Gloucester Daily Times - Hawks Have Cs Number for a Reason |