Your Morning Dump... We need the angry Celtics back

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.

The lovefest has to stop, and some Celtics agree they have become too chummy, unlike the surly 2008 club.

“[Surly] was us when we won it,’’ said the king of surliness, Kendrick Perkins, who picked up a technical in the second quarter of the Celtics’ 96-86 win last night at Philadelphia. “We were a team that didn’t really care about nobody else in the league. I think we’re starting to be too friendly, see a lot of talking to guys. I think we need to get back to who we are. If that means no shaking nobody’s hands, then that’s what we got to do. We didn’t care about nobody else unless you were in green and white.’’

The Celtics don’t need to be a team filled with guys strutting after every dunk or posing following an impressive play. Leave that to Cleveland. The Celtics need to become a team that stops players such as New Jersey’s Devin Harris or Philadelphia’s Lou Williams from driving unimpeded into the paint without a message.

Defensive-minded teams are tough, and pride themselves on execution and intimidation. The Celtics don’t need to be dirty, but they need to regain the toughness and bitterness that defined Celtics teams of the 1980s.

Globe - Please Shake This Behavior

Great article by Gary Washburn. As someone who fell in love with the NBA in the 80s, I agree with every point he makes. This lost anger stems from the Celtics we-don't-care-about-the-regular-season mentality.

(Rasheed) Wallace shocked the stat crew by not attempting a 3-pointer during Wednesday’s win over Charlotte. The last time Wallace didn’t launch from beyond the bonus arc was during a Dec. 18 loss to the Sixers in the Garden.

Though not necessarily connected to a new emphasis on starting the offense in the blocks, it does work well with Rivers’ view of downtown shots.

“I haven’t really talked to him about that, but as a group we want to go down low,” said Rivers. “We’re an inside-out group.

“We’re trying to get him better 3-point attempts,” said Rivers. “He’s been taking a lot of them on the move, and that doesn’t work as well for him as when he catches and shoots.”

Herald - Finding a Right Fit

Doc needs to do something. Here are Sheed's horrific three point shooting numbers this season. At least he's taking fewer bombs.

November:  20-76 26%

December: 14-50 28%

January:     21-59 35%

February.    6-35  17%

On Page 2, why Paul Pierce was happy with his 1-9 shooting.

The numbers were ugly, but the looks were gorgeous.

Pierce went 1 of 9 from the floor in the Celtics’ 96-86 win over the 76ers, but . . .

“I loved every shot I took today,’’ he said. “I looked at a layup I missed. I looked at a jump hook right in front of the rim. I looked at two wide-open threes on the baseline. I loved every look I got. I know that’s going to come and I know those shots are going to fall for me.’’

Globe - Experience has a ring to it (Notebook)

The rest of the links:

ESPN Boston - Cs, 76ers watch Rajon Rondo show | Herald - Celtics not perfect but making strides | Cs highway banner in jeopardy | WEEI - Fastbreak: Cs vs 76ers | It was Rondo to the rescue | Celtics Hub: Cs take a boring one | Age in Numbers | Celtics Blog - Friday night lights | ESPN Page 2 - Finley fits like a glove | Globe - Celtics connect the dots |