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.
Based on the club’s agida-inducing play, Pierce was given a chance to reconfigure the target. So just what minimum level of postseason achievement would it take for the Celts’ season to be considered a success?Pierce did not pause long.
“A championship, man,” Pierce said as the Celts took a day off in Chicago. “I mean, that’s what we were saying in the preseason. We want to be the champs. That’s the minimum level. I don’t care what our record is. I don’t care how we’ve played. Our minimum level is winning the championship. That’s been our goal since we brought the team together, and that’s not changed.”
But is it realistic?
“Yeah,” Pierce said. “Without question. Look, there’s no way we can get around the fact that we lost to some bad teams, but we beat some good teams. And at the end of the day, we just have to beat four teams to win it all. We have a chance to do that. It’s going to be 0-0 after Wednesday night. It’s been tough for us. But you can look at everything in different ways. There’s pros and cons, if you want to really look at it. We know we’re not going to have homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs, but at the same time we’ve been one of the best road teams in all of basketball.”
Herald: Paul Pierce still likes Celtics chances
The Celtics don't look at this season the same way we do. The losses aren't signs of the apocalypse. They're just losses. They might be frustrating losses, but they're nothing more than that.
And because they're players, they can't sit there and allow any type of fan discussion to enter their brains. They can't sit there and say "man... I hope we can make it out of the second round." They have to only think about the title.
So players will say things like this... and they'll say it in a matter-of-fact way that doesn't carry the burden of past frustration. They won't shrug their shoulders like we might as we say the goal is a championship. What's done is done to them. That's how it HAS to be for them.
Maybe, at least for now, we should think the same way.
On Page 2: Ray Allen believes he can fly
Associated Press photo
“I always, I have this thing in my mind like sometimes when I’m sleeping I dream that I can fly,” he said. “When I’m playing basketball, it always tells myself that I’ve still got great legs, like I still have that lift in my legs. So when I get on the floor, you see a play, you see something happen, you just feel like you can take it, you can make a certain play happened based on getting up there to the basket.” [...]
“I’ve been having that for a long time,” Allen explained. “That’s why when I always wake up, it’s like a great feeling. You wake up and you just know, for me what I do, I get out on the floor and I just feel like I still have that. For me, it translates into my athleticism.”
Athleticism … and perhaps some competition, too? Being able to fly also means he can get places faster than those on foot. It’s another asset to put him ahead of the pack.
“Both. I think it’s more of my competition,” Allen said. “If you think about the ability to train yourself to go work out or to go do something that’s going to give you greater stamina or endurance, that’s what I think it is, is you’ve got to start from somewhere. Like sitting around, you see some guy on TV bench pressing and he has muscles on every part of his body. Most people see that and say man I’ve got to go work out. Like where does your motivation come from? I think that’s partly the competition factor, like I need to get shots up, I need to go get on the treadmill."
WEEI: Allen's high-flying dreams
I wish I could fly. Then I wouldn't have to sit in traffic on my way to work.
I don't really know what to say to this. Whatever you say, Ray. You're an interesting dude.
The rest of the links
Globe: Ainge still has high hopes | ESPN Boston: C's can't win with C game | CSNNE: Energy is a talent, do Celtics have it