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.
The left hamstring injury is expected to keep [Jermaine] O'Neal sidelined for the rest of week, according to coach Doc Rivers.
"We can not take a chance with that," Rivers said.
O'Neal said the injury occurred near the end of Friday's practice at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I.
"It's one of those plays where you get your body twisted to pivot, and get up the court," O'Neal said. "I did it, and felt a little burning sensation. I stopped right away to make sure, just to get it checked out."
Team officials determined that O'Neal had a minor strain to the hamstring.
...
Delonte West has been dealing with back spasms, and is questionable to participate in practice on Tuesday.
There are good injuries (strains, spasms, contusions) and there are bad injuries (stress fractures, bone spurs, separated shoulders, anything involving three letters).
While younger guys might play through tweaks of this nature, guys older than 30 generally take a seat on the bench.
Fortunately, the Celtics are deep enough to still win games if/when guys go down in the regular season.
On Page 2, Nate Robinson pulls down the Halloween dance video.
"I could really care less, they're serious in practice," said Rivers. "After that, they're grown men, I don't care how they act. If they wanna have fun or embarrass themselves, or do whatever they want to do, I really don't care. The only rule I always have is called the respect rule. If anything is getting where to disrespecting someone to point where problem, then it's a problem. They enjoy each other. I'm sure they'll cross the line at some point ... they'll get it. That's fine."
Celtics players might have toed that line Monday when Nate Robinson posted a locker room Halloween dance video that was pulled soon after. While some of the language and actions in that video might have been a bit profane, most of what Robinson and Co. have produced this preseason has been innocuous.
Was it the obscene language in the rap? Or KG's double bird salute? Shaq molesting Glen Davis? Either way, it appears the guys didn't feel comfortable with their dance video.
While Nate removed the video from his TwitVid, it remains on YouTube (and Red's Army).
The rest of the links:
Herald - Celtics go off deep end | Jermaine sits with hammy | CSNNE - Mario West headed in right direction | Pierce: Celts 2nd unit no joke | Shaq, Perk go from foes to friends | Catching up with Scal |