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.

[Smart] made it clear afterwards that he’s inching closer to getting back on the court, with a “high possibility” of returning to practice on Wednesday.

In doing so, that would make him a likely game-time decision on playing against the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

“That’s a high possibility I practice [Wednesday],” Smart said on Tuesday from South Lawrence (Mass.) Elementary School for a “Teaming Up Against Cancer” pep rally. “Have to wake up [Wednesday], see what this ankle is doing, go from there and give it a shot.”

CSNNE: Smart may be ready for Celtics return on Friday

Finally, a 100% healthy Marcus Smart will come back to the Celtics.  I think it’s fair to say his presence alone will remedy some of the woes that Boston’s defense has endured since he injured his left ankle earlier this month.

The Boston Celtics are hoping to have rookie guard Marcus Smart back on the practice court on Wednesday afternoon. His return to game action won’t be far behind and could come as early as Friday’s matinee against the Chicago Bulls.

It’s unfair to think that (1) Smart will be 100 percent healthy as he recovers from a severe ankle sprain and bone bruising or (2) his presence alone will remedy some of the woes that Boston’s defense has endured since he injured his left ankle earlier this month.

ESPN Boston:  Celtics hoping to work Smarter

oh.

The fact of the matter is

“I’m not going to be 100 percent for a very long time,” Smart said. “It’s just kind of picking and choosing the right percentage to actually go out there and play . . . and give it your all and play like you will without compensating.”

That was a pretty severe injury, even as far as ankle sprains go.  And while this is within the time frame of his returning, being back on the floor and being 100% are two different things.

STILL, when you’ve watched opposing guards, many on the second unit, tear the Celtics defense apart, the prospect of even a Marcus Smart hologram is enough to make you think the C’s will get a few extra crucial stops per game.

If the Celtics can couple the effort vs. Portland with the return of a mostly healthy Marcus Smart, then they’re going to actually be a less than shitty defensive team.  Honestly, that’s all the Celtics really need right now.  Their offense has been pretty good (it’d be better with more Olynyk, but don’t get me started again).  If the Celtics can score their average (104.7) and just give up a FEW points less than their average (107.2) then were going to see some more wins.

That’s all we’re asking.  I know there was a lot of preseason talk about top 5 defense, but that was then. This is now.  We’ll settle for not shitty.  Seriously.  Keep everything else the same, and if we can say “well, their defense is bad, but it’s not totally shitty,” then we’ll be ok for now.

Pretty high standard we’re holding you to now.  Don’t crumple under the pressure.

Related links:  Globe:  Smart draws closer to a return  |  MassLive:  Smart likely to practice Wednesday

Page 2:  The Celtics are going back to Europe

Sources have confirmed the Celts are heading overseas again next fall, playing games in Italy and Spain.

Some details are still being worked out, but the plan is for the Celtics to play against local competition, rather than NBA clubs, in both Milan and Madrid.

Both cities have been on the Celtics itinerary in past preseasons. In October 2012, they played EA7 Emporio Armani in Milan on a trip that included several days in Istanbul and a game there against Fenerbahce Ulker

Herald:  Celtics headed back to Europe

I will always believe that the Celtics trip to Italy in the fall of 2007 was responsible for their championship.  This was an experiment in strong personalities who’d spent years as primary threats coming together and being asked to share the spotlight.

If that team stayed in Boston, it would have been really easy for the guys to retreat to their mansions after practices and, possibly, stew about little things that had gone wrong.  In Italy, they only retreat was to the same place, the team hotel, where they all had to hang out and get to know each other.  Garnett, Pierce, and Allen talked, shared stories, shared theories, shared the pain of losing in the past.  The whole team came together and, in that trip, accelerated the process of coming together in a very unique situation.

The 2015-16 Celtics have the potential to be in a similar situation.

They’ll either have a newly re-signed Rondo, or someone else taking over as their point guard, as well as a potentially overhauled roster that should compete for a playoff spot.

That’s the goal for year 3, right?  Year 1: suck ass.  Year 2:  get better, but still probably suck… just not as much.  Year 3: playoff contender.  Year 4:  middle seed.  Year 5: Contender.

Those are the goals anyway.  A solid 5-year plan of escalating goals that may be accelerated or hindered by the unpredictable nature of NBA free agency and injuries.  Anyway…

The Celtics have a chance to overhaul their roster and maybe get some solid pieces in exchange for Jeff Green and Brandon Bass.  Depending on the Rondo situation, they’ll either have their captain and another free agent, or a different backcourt.  Either way, there are going to be new pieces with a goal of reaching the .500 mark and the playoffs.  A trip to Europe could do similar things for a team in that situation as it did for the 2007-08 Celtics.

At the very least, maybe we’ll get to see them bust out their cool Italian alternate jerseys.

And Finally….

Technology is doing amazing things...

Tracking technology has even paved the way for a virtual coach. 94Fifty is introducing the world’s first smart basketball that tells you how hard you are dribbling and if you are able to keep control of the ball. It also looks at how hard and high you shoot and whether the ball comes in softly to the rim.  Some NBA and college teams are even using the technology. “We’ve got teams like the Boston Celtics, and Toronto Raptors, and Sacramento Kings, and Wisconsin Badgers,” said Michael Crowley, CEO and founder of InfoMotion Sports Technologies, which developed the ball.

There’s nothing like hard data to convince a guy he’s shooting the ball too flat, or if he’s not able to dribble properly.

And you gotta hand it to the Celtics… they’ve been early adopters in a lot of this new technology.  They’re trying it all and seeing what works and what doesn’t.  If it doesn’t, then they ditch it.  But if it works and can give them an edge, then they’ve hit on something.

Now if only we can develop technology to help Chuck develop a successful dating game.  The last program self destructed out of frustration.

Science can’t fix everything, I guess.

The rest of the links:

CSNNE:  “Teaming up against cancer” rally hits home for Smart  |  MassLive:  Pierce: Celtics Big 3 was like Holy Trinity