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.
Danny Ainge, just to make sure the 6-foot-6 guard understood where he stood, dished out some tough love yesterday morning.
“I told him this morning that I think this is the first time he’s earned anything in his life,” said the Celtics president of basketball operations. “He earned this by his play, day in and day out, and he just has to keep earning it. He was given a lot as a young kid, with a lot of promise and a lot of potential and like we talked about earlier this summer, he had to come out and win a spot with some good competition, and he did.
“So he just needs to keep doing what he’s been doing. He’s had a good six weeks of consistent play, hard work and professionalism and that’s what he needs to continue to do.”
Ainge and Celtics coach Brad Stevens have both praised Young for having a strong training camp.
“James won the job. He played well. Day in and day out, the last six weeks, he won the job,” said Ainge.
But this appears to be the year of finally understanding the stakes for Young. As such, he knows precisely what Ainge is talking about.
“I mean, I’ve always been better than a lot of people growing up — high school, college — I was real good. I came here and it was a big shock,” he said. “I feel like this is even better than the draft really, earning this position. Like I said I’m really blessed to be a part of this and not much I can do but keep getting better. People kept telling me, ‘Hope you have a great season! Hope you make the team.’ I just got tired of hearing that so it motivated me to get into the gym right after summer league, just come here, keep working hard and take no days off.”
RJ Hunter was doomed the moment I predicted he’d factor into the rotation and get more minutes than Jaylen Brown. Sorry, kid.
It appears James Young is starting to get it. Saying “it’s about damn time” to a raw, one-dimensional player who came into the league at age 19 is absurd. But my gripe with Young is that we didn’t really see any growth in his game over the first two seasons. As critics, I guess we underestimate the culture shock experienced by some of these players.
I like Hunter and think there’s a place for him in this league. The Celtics just didn’t have the roster flexibility to be as patient with Hunter as they were with Young.
Any chance more than 20 readers remember that classic Smith Barney ad? That earn it line has been stuck in my head for decades.
Related: CSNNE – Young understands work isn’t done
On Page 2, the Celtics marketing team is extremely optimistic about the season.
In the artist rendering of the Celtics new practice facility, the championship banner in the top right corner reads 2017.
It doesn’t hurt to dream, right?
And finally, the Celtics might be putting too much pressure on Al Horford.
Starting at two positions? Looks like Al is going to earn that $113 million contract.
The rest of the links
Herald – Smart takes shot at improving his game | Mass Live – Crowder would have liked 1 more all defense vote | 10 regular season predictions | Globe – How high can Celtics rise? | ESPN – Boston 5th in preseason power rankings
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