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.
But as Mario Chalmers dribbled down the clock, preparing to take a potential winning shot, Celtics captain Paul Pierce emerged from the trainer's room, decked out in sunglasses, and walked straight out of the building.
Pierce didn't seem to care that Chalmers' 3-point attempt was off the mark, forcing a second overtime, where the Heat (finally) prevailed 94-86 to set up an opening-round series with the Celtics.
Inside the Celtics' locker room, the Nets-Heat game also was met with indifference. Kendrick Perkins, reclining in a chair in the middle of the room, stood up at the end of the first extra session and decided it wasn't worth sticking around.
Several teammates followed suit.
Ray Allen emerged and didn't even glance at the television that reporters were circled around, still awaiting a final score.
ESPN Boston - It's all about us
Should the Celtics have cared about their opponent? Does this attitude say anything - positive or negative - about this team?
I was listening intently to the audio of the Heat/Nets game (via the League Pass app on my T-Mobile MyTouch 3G phone) while hunched over my laptop waiting to deliver the information to the Red's Army faithful.
Here's the schedule:
Game 1 at Boston - Saturday, April 17, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 2 at Boston - Tuesday, April 20, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Game 3 at Miami - Friday, April 23, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4 at Miami - Sunday, April 25, 1 p.m. (ABC)
Game 5* at Boston - Tuesday, April 27, TBD (TBD)
Game 6* at Miami - Thursday, April 29, TBD (TBD)
Game 7* at Boston - Saturday, May 1, TBD (TNT)
Notice the time between games. The Celtics get two days off between Games 1, 2 and 3. There is just one day off between games the rest of the series.
On Page 2, Shank believes in the Celtics.
That’s right. They’ll beat Cleveland. The Cavs have the best record in basketball and they have LeBron James, but the Celtics match up well with Cleveland and the Cavaliers know it.
Do the Celtics really match-up well with Cleveland? Their bigs cannot keep up with Anderson Varejao or J.J. Hickson and that very well could be the difference in a series.
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston - Oliver's opportunity | Globe - Cs lose, brace for Heat | 4th seed not according to plan | Rivers will wait to make this call | Herald - Heat's on Celtics now | Players hoping coach remains in green | CSNNE - Here comes Heat | Ainge: We took games off this year | Daniels and Robinson last shot at redemption | Rivers hasn't decided about returning | WEEI - Celts face questions | Disappointing season equals low grades |
