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.
“We’ve got to do a better job,” said Pierce, looking at poor performances against contenders. “We’ve got the Lakers coming in (today), so we feel like it’s a must win.
“These are teams we’re going to see in the playoffs, so we’re giving them a psychological edge right now. It’s not something where you’re going to just be able to turn it on once the playoffs start. You know, we’ve got to start turning it around right now.”
Herald: LA's timing bad for Celtics
Marquis Daniels is a big missing piece to this squad. In a game like this, he'd be checking Kobe Bryant for stretches. Don't discount his importance to the turnaround.
In the meantime, I think what fans would like to see is a desire to win. I swear the team looks bored out there. I'm actually ok with losing hard-fought games. I'm not ok with looking like we're coasting in to L's.
Or maybe they're just tired. Maybe people like Matt Moore are right and the team is just too old to compete on a nightly basis.
Good thing there's at least one day off between every game in the playoffs... so the age factor will be minimized. It's a good storyline for the regular season, though.
Coming up, Page 2... where Kobe admits the Lakers are pansies
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images"It's not us being something that we're not," Bryant said. "But, it's just us matching up with their energy and intensity and things like that."
It's a challenge, but it's also a chance for the Lakers to reassure themselves that they're on the right track toward title No. 16.
"Teams like Cleveland and Boston test you at a different level than other teams do," Pau Gasol said. "They understand what it takes to win in this league, to win at the playoff level, and not many teams do."
If it's Bryant's responsibility to set the tone for his team before Sunday's game, then he already has failed."
The hardest thing is the cold weather," Bryant said about arriving in Boston. "We've become pansies living in L.A."
ESPN Los Angeles - Do Lakers need to be tough to win?
I was walking around the city on Friday... taking a day off to shake off my hangover and soak in the sights of the best city in the world... and I thought to myself....
.... HOLY $%!# IT'S COLD OUT HERE!
If the hardiest of New Englanders were all bitching about the freezing cold while we huddled around the diner's coffee pot... what are latte' sippin' LA Pansies gonna do?
My guess... Pau Gasol is rocking in the fetal position in the corner of his hotel room... sobbing and refusing to leave. Just a guess.
The rest of the links:
Herald: Marquee talent awaits | Davis believes in power of Saints | ESPN Boston: Are the Lakers what the Celtics need? | Globe: It's showing time for Lakers | Injuries, inconsistency add up to bad month for C's | This Ainge making a name for himself | Phil Jackson, Lakers talk Celtics | Souza: Reeling Celtics host rivals today | Quisy does it | CSNNE: Celtics coming up short | Celtics Blog: Breaking down the sweep | Loy's Place: CBA Work stoppage might be blessing for C's | North Station: Lakers-Celtics: The only regular season game that matters | CSL: KG's new turnstile defense