(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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.
"Veteran teams should know better, and we didn't," said Doc Rivers. "You could see it, on both ends, there was no urgency the entire night. I asked them to explain to me how [the Celtics] could hold them to 12 points for the fourth quarter, but for the first three you couldn't guard them. All of a sudden you have a sense of urgency and then, defensively, we were terrific. ... Now you're pressing, missing free throws, missing wide-open shots.
"That's what happens, and it's like -- I believe in them -- the basketball gods were not going to let you win with the way you approached the game."
....
"The basketball gods punished us today," he (Glen Davis) said. "We suffered the consequences."
"I think we underestimated that team, shot ourselves in the foot," said Shaquille O'Neal. "It's kind of hard in this league to get up for certain people. Tonight, we disrespected the basketball gods. We paid for it. It's a long season and it happens. We just got to pick it up. It's only going to make us stronger."
We've seen this type of effort before (vs Cleveland and probably 20 times last season) and we'll likely see it again.
But from the sounds of the troops, I think they got Doc's message.
On Page 2, updates on Rondo's hammy and KG's head.
Rondo, after taking extra treatment following the game, listed himself as day-to-day.
“Just get treatment tomorrow and we’ll see,” he said. “(Coach) Doc (Rivers) made the decision. I guess he saw me limping and decided to pull me.”
...
“I just got a bow, man, and a helluva bow at that,” Garnett said. “It’s part of the game. No one out there is 100 percent. I’m no different from that. I came back. I continued the game and tried to get my team with it.”
That said, Garnett’s 16-point, two-rebound night seemed a bit wobbly after the collision.
“I didn’t know if I should play him,” said Rivers. “I still don’t know if I should have played him, even though he played OK. He had headaches there for a minute.
“(Trainer) Eddie (Lacerte) said he remembered everything. He did whatever tests they gave him. But I was very concerned about that.”
For all his theatrics on the court, Rondo always downplays his injuries to the media.
This one might be tricky, especially since a hamstring is vital to a lightning quick point guard. I wouldn't be surprised to see him miss a few games. The Celtics have a tough stretch coming up; four games in 6 days.
KG should be okay, although seeing that golfball sticking out the back of his head may have made his teammates nauseous.
The rest of the links:
Globe - Rondo left banged up | Out of it from very start | Rolled by Thunder | Tempo kept them up | ESPN Boston - Westbrook takes matchup | KG, Rondo dinged up | Herald - Celtics stuck at Garden | CSNNE - Celtics fall victim to Thunder clap | Rondo strung up by hamstring | WEEI - Delonte: We were complacent |