Your Morning Dump... Where Rondo's a locker room leader too

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.

“I think he’s a wild card out there on the floor,” [Ray] Allen said. “That gives us great unpredictability.

“Sometimes he’ll call a play and go right to the hole because everyone’s going where they expect us to go, and there is either nobody right in front of him, or his defender is not quick enough to stay in front of him.” He did it 18 times against Orlando and led the Celtics to their biggest victory of the season - even without Pierce.

“He’s getting better, more sure of himself,” Rivers assessed earlier this week. “His confidence is sky high, which is a dangerous line. But I think the biggest thing is his credibility has risen in the locker room. He is doing the right things more often and it’s allowing him to direct the play.”

Scott Souza - The Keys to the Ferrari

It's always hard to remember that this kid still won't be 24 for another couple of months.  Some of his so-called "attitude problems" are things that are easily attributable to NBA growing pains.  But for some reason, we fans look at everyone in an NBA jersey and expect the same level of maturity... even though some of us are much older than Rajon and we're still trying figure out our lives.

We praise Kendrick Perkins for the nice, steady progression he's made in his career... but Rondo is doing the same thing.  It's just Perk's progression is easily quantified in points and rebounds... while Rajon's progression is more inside his head and how he carries himself.

We've been showering a lot of love on Rondo this season... and deservedly so.  But being a leader... taking the keys to the Ferrari as Souza says... means more than taking it right at Dwight Howard and finishing at the rim.  It's about respect off the floor from your teammates.

And it seems like that part of Rondo's game is coming along this season too.

Coming up, Page 2... where Danny's not buying excuses about techs

“I don’t think he’s been influenced any more in this by Rasheed,” Ainge said. “Technicals are just one of the glaring symptoms. To me, technicals are just a symptom of losing control of your emotions. Every player goes through the ups and downs of emotions, but some handle it better. Perk has had these issues since he came into the league. And it’s not just the techs. Perk has to do a better job of reacting and staying in games.

“Perk is aware of it,” Ainge said of the young center’s reputation among officials. “It takes time to change it. That’s not up to anyone else. It’s up to the player. But he knows all this, and so does Rasheed. But in spite of their weaknesses we like what they’re doing. It’s something that everyone is aware of, and we just work with it the best we can. But I know Rasheed wants to win.”

Herald:  Celtics new name: Cel-techs

Call me nuts.  I just think Sheed will back off right when he needs to.  With the tech that got rescinded, Sheed's down to 9 on the season.  There's no reason he can't back off before he gets to 16. 

Perk, however, needs to stop freaking out every time a foul is called on him.  The only time he doesn't is when he's ACTUALLY trying to foul someone.  Sometimes, Perk, you gotta just put your head down, go to your spot on the floor, and talk to the ref calmly at the next stoppage of play.  It might actually earn you a few calls down the road since the refs won't think you're showing them up.

The rest of the links

Herald: Kevin Garnett denies message with win at Magic  |  Jeff Adrien's Spanish lessons  |  Globe: Defense crests while Pierce rests  |  Souza: Celtics managing to remain hungry  |  MWDN:  C's nearing 10th straight road win  |  Telegram:  Keeping Perkins the correct move  |  ESPN Boston:  Wilbon ranks C's as top in East  |  Celtics Blog: There was much to like in win over Magic  |  North Station:  Mo' Money, Mo' Problems - Why the world can't accept LeBron James  |  Fanhouse:  Rondo gives Celtics a clear edge