Your Morning Dump... KG is our defensive kingpin

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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.

In the three games in Boston, two of which were won by the Celtics, Garnett averaged 18.7 points and 7.3 rebounds. Defense is equally important, and he shined, holding Gasol to 15.3 points and 9.3 rebounds.

“I think a couple guys maybe thought KG lost a step or something when he struggled in the first few games, but he’s caught his rhythm, doing intangibles on the court, scoring, rebounding, assisting, blocking shots,” point guard Rajon Rondo said. “He’s changing the game. That’s what he’s been doing for us all year.”

Herald - KG walking the walk

Remember how Kevin Garnett looked in Game 1 of the Finals? He was the gimpy dude who missed lay-ups and was run ragged by Pau Gasol. Foul trouble made him irrelevant in Game 2.

But all that seems like a lifetime ago.

During those three games in Boston, KG was a FORCE. His defensive intensity and activity in Game 5 was vintage Garnett.  The Celtics and their ferocious defense held the Lakes to 88.6 ppg in Boston.

If the Celtics are going to win this series, they'll need KG to maintain this level of play. They can survive without Ray Allen's jump shot or Rajon Rondo's free throw shooting, but there will be no Banner 18 w/o our defensive kingpin. He's the key to pulling off this Finals heist in LA.

On Page 2, Tony Allen says he wants to be a Celtic for life.

“I am a Celtic,” he told WEEI.com. “I love being a Celtic. It’d mean everything in the world [return next season].”

Even though basketball is a business and the look of a team can change in an instant, Allen can’t imagine himself wearing anything but green next season.

“None whatsoever, none whatsoever,” he said. “I mean, things happen but I feel like I’m going to be a Celtic for life.”

WEEI - TA wants to resign with Celtics

Four months ago, I would have laughed in the face of anyone who claimed the Celtics needed to resign Tony Allen. But that's the beauty of TA. When you write him off, he shocks the hell out of you. And when you fall in love with his game, well... no need to go down that road now.

One thing's for sure, if TA continues to play smart, intense, in-your-face defense on Kobe Bryant, the Celtics will have competition from other teams when it comes to resigning him.

The rest of the links:

Globe - Foreign territory has been Celtics comfort | Road to glory (Shank) | It may be now or never | Confidence still LA staple | 'Three' finally coming up big | Herald - Doc as good as gone (Callahan) | Celtics close to goal | Ray Allen: No backing down | CSNNE - Fitting that Cs need win on road | Injuries slowing LA | Yahoo! - Jackson title run again blocked by Rivers | LA Times - Celtics on verge of letting air out of Lakers balloon | ESPN Boston - What to watch for in Game 6 | Cs don't want a Game 7 |