Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying a good morning dump.
“The holidays are a tough time to play, obviously, because of distractions,’’ said coach Doc Rivers. “Tomorrow, we’re bringing everyone’s family, wives and kids. I actually told them before the game, I said, ‘I know how it works and I know you’ve been home all day and your wives and your kids have been talking about going to see Mickey Mouse and all that.’ But we have a game tonight. Unfortunately, it was true in the first half, but give them credit. They all came out and played terrific in the second half.’’
“It’s just like last year,” Rivers said. “It’s no different in some ways. When Kevin went out last year, we had the ability to score. We just couldn’t stop people from scoring. And I actually turned to (assistant coach Tom Thibodeau) in the first half and said, ‘Here we go,’ when they started scoring. He’s just such a verbal leader, and honestly, him and Kendrick Perkins have such a connection defensively where they cover up for each other and everyone else. And when you take him off the floor you disrupt that.” [...]
“A lot changes,” Pierce said of a world without Garnett. “You’re talking about a guy who we play our offense through and our leader on defense. I thought it took a second for us to adjust. What we said at halftime, we said we weren’t talking on defense and usually Kevin leads us in that category as far as talking and being in the spots, having everybody in their spots.
“I guess it took us a half to realize that Kevin wasn’t going to be out there. So we got it together. If that’s an adjustment we’ve got to make for this road trip, then we’ve got to make it a little bit earlier at the start of the game and realize there are things we have to do when he’s out.”
Herald: Familiar look with Kevin Garnett
Firstly... that photo of Perk is just there for entertainment value. That's just pure gold.
On to the game last night.
Doc called this one in the pregame. He knew the team was going to come out like it did. And as a coach, you can only do so much. What are you going to do... dig into your bag and find your best Knute Rockne speech for a late December game against the Pacers?
No, of course not. You gotta roll the dice with your starters... and then start making substitutions that might send a message or two.
Perk sucked last night in the first half. He was probably playing his worst game of the season. So Doc gave Brian Scalabrine a lot of early playing time. If I were Doc, I'd have sent Lester Hudson, Tony Allen, Shelden Williams, and Eddie House in there too and just sat everyone down in the second quarter. Win be damned... if you guys aren't going to play... then sit and let the guys who want to play get on the floor.
Speaking of which... where WAS Shelden Williams last night???
Coming up, Page 2... Where Pierce thinks KG is growing up
Associated Press photoNagged by a right thigh bruise suffered in a win over Memphis earlier this month, Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett removed himself from Monday's practice at the Sports Authority Training Center in Waltham and told trainer Ed Lacerte of his malady.ESPN Boston: KG should be ready for MagicWhen Paul Pierce spotted Garnett on the sideline -- a place the Celtics' captain had been imploring Garnett to visit more often as he works his way back from offseason knee surgery -- Pierce strolled over and playfully chided him about finally taking a breather.
"Paul walked over to him and said, 'Wow, someone's growing up.' You know, instead of fighting through it," coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday night after his team won without Garnett, beating the Indiana Pacers 103-94 at TD Garden. "[Garnett] has that warrior mentality and sometimes it's to his detriment. [Monday] he did a good job. He wanted to fight it [Tuesday] and then he kind of just said, 'You're right.'"
Praise sweet baby Jesus... Kevin Garnett took himself out of a practice and relented when he was told he wasn't playing??
What's next? The Real Housewives of Orange county looking at themselves in the mirror and realizing that they should get jobs?
KG will be ready to go on Christmas... that's all we need to know.
The rest of the links:
Herald: Pierce, Celtics not half bad | Doc's got a story to tell | Sore thigh sidelines Garnett | Globe: Pierce wakes up in the nick of time | Game photos | Garnett sits out with thigh bruise | Glen Davis on the road to recovery | ESPN Boston: C's react to playing without Garnett | Doc sheds light on KG injury | MWDN: Slow start, fast finish | WEEI: C's can't be Mickey Mouse on this trip | Jim O'Brien on Daniels, Pierce | Indy Star: Ray Allen on pace to break Reggie Miller's 3's record | Celtics Blog: KG and the Shadow of Doubt | Celtics Hub: The fate of how far we go lies on how healthy Kevin is | Loscy: The Tony Allen Non Disapointment Outlook | North Station: Eyes Wide Open: "Ton" caught us by surprise | CSL: Third annual airing of grievances, CSL Style
