Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
They were asked about how they might stop LeBron James in Game 4 on Sunday. Crowder explained that detailing that plan in front of tape recorders and video cameras would not be wise.
Turner chimed in.
“Because [defending James has] definitely been working,” he said.
He smiled afterward, but the truth of his statement was not lost. The Celtics have not been able to stop James and they have not been able to stop the Cavaliers. So far, they have really just stopped themselves.
There have been missed shots and missed rebounds and missed opportunities. There has been a sense that even though all three games in this series were close for stretches, the Celtics remained so very far away.
There is no way to defend LeBron. You know it, I know it, Brad Stevens knows it, and Evan Turner knows it.
And defending the rest of the Cavaliers equates to plugging holes in a leaky dam. You stop one, and then another one springs.
Last night the Celtics held Kyrie Irving to 13 points. A huge victory. Too bad Kevin Love busted out with 23 points.
With 16 points in Game 2, Timofey Mozgov was limited to just 5 in Game 3. Too bad Tristan Thompson sprung for 12 points.
And that dunce JR Smith – who was shooting 6-21 in the series – dropped 15 points on 50% shooting last night.
On the offensive side of the ball, Brad Stevens is desperate and it’s showing. Last night he played Kelly Olynyk and Isaiah Thomas a total of 24 minutes, with the bulk going to IT.
Thomas struggled (2-9 FG), but I’d still throw him out there no matter what his numbers are. Even if you take him off the ball and spot him up in the corner.
On Page 2, that pretentious Chris Gasper bugs the sh*t out of me.
Thursday night was one of those nights that shows you just how far the Celtics really are from contention, displaying the chasm between a championship-caliber team and a team of plucky overachievers and budding young players.
The third game of this series followed a familiar formula. The Cavaliers built a double-digit lead — Cleveland led by as many as 11 points in the third and fourth quarters — the Celtics scratched and clawed their way back into the proceedings. Cleveland pulled the football out from the Celtics in Peanuts Gang fashion at the end and walked away with the win.
Rinse, repeat, and probably sweep for the Cavaliers.
Memo to Chris Gasper – no sh*t the Celtics are far away from contending. We all know it. So why don’t you come up with an original idea for a column instead of going into your predictable rinse, repeat mode.
It drives me nuts when some media members – you know, the ones who rarely watch games or even write about the team during the season – feel the need to pop their head into the room and act like they are telling you something you don’t know.
And finally, Stephen Curry is a bad man.
Who cares that Curry shot 10-29. This triple capped a furious 20-point 4th quarter comeback.
Sleep tight, New Orleans.
The rest of the links:
Herald – Celtics nasty not enough | Cavs too strong as C’s in 0-3 hole | Crowder standing tall despite Celts plight | C’s need booster shot | Mass Live – Lebron shoves aside test from Crowder | ESPN Boston – On brink, C’s won’t stop fighting | CSNNE – Facing elimination
