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.
As we brace for today’s wave of “Well, Durant is never leaving the Thunder now” hot takes…
Pierce, it should not shock you to learn, believes he is still playing a role in Toronto’s struggles. Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck spent the first round with the Los Angeles Clippers writing this lengthy feature, and while he was in Los Angeles, he ran into Paul Pierce leaving the Clippers’ parking lot.
Here’s Beck, describing the encounter on ESPN NBA writer Zach Lowe’s podcast:
We started talking about whatever was happening in the playoffs the night before, and I said “Man, the Raptors,” because they were in that taut series with the Pacers at the time. I said, “What is going on with that team?” He said, “It’s me. I’m still in their heads from the last two years.” And he cackles and drives off.
MassLive – Paul Pierce: Los Angeles Clippers forward believes he’s still behind Toronto Raptors struggles
As we’ve seen again this year, the Toronto Raptors have as much trouble winning playoff games as Andre Drummond does making free throws. Each happens hardly ever. As a two seed, the Raps barely squeezed past Indiana in Round 1 and now appear to be giving away their series with Miami.
The only good news is this year they aren’t going up against Celtic-for-life Paul Pierce. Last year, Pierce averaged 15.5 points as his Wizards swept Toronto. The year before, PP closed out the series with this play:
Now Pierce says he’s the reason the Raptors are struggling this year. Who’s to say he’s wrong? Pierce has the clutch gene (we saw it a million times when he wore green), the Raptors don’t, and he’s not shy about saying so. We’ll always love The Truth.
On Page 2: Your Draft Lottery primer
Fourteen Ping-Pong balls. In a lottery machine.
That’s what will determine the happiness level of Celtics fans for the foreseeable future. The Celtics have eight picks in this year’s NBA Draft. One of those is a lottery pick with a half-decent shot at landing in the top three. That will be determined at the NBA Draft Lottery, at which All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas will represent his squad.
With so much riding on this pick, here is a look at the basics of the lottery, what is at stake for the Celtics, and whom the Celtics could target.
Globe – Here’s what’s at stake for Celtics at NBA Draft Lottery
“We look forward to every offseason. This offseason is bigger,” Ainge acknowledged at his end-of-season press conference. “My expectations are high this offseason. And yet I also know that it takes good fortune.”
In order to get a better sense of the task Ainge has ahead of him, it’s important to understand the tools at his disposal and the limitations facing him. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the Celtics’ roster situation, list of pending free agents and array of draft picks.
Boston.com – Here’s what Danny Ainge has to work with during the Celtics’ crucial offseason
Did you know the Celtics will be involved in this year’s NBA Draft Lottery? Oh…you do know. Well, perhaps you need a refresher on the process, the potential outcomes, and the ramifications of a game of chance that will affect the fortunes of the Celtics franchise for probably the next decade. These two articles will get you ready. Learn it, know it, live it.
On Page 3: Celebrity fans in the news
“Video games were my window to the league from the other side of the world. So when I got NBA Live I started flipping through all the teams trying to decide who to play with, and I ended up picking the Boston Celtics.
“I thought the logo looked cool.”
That’s a good start, but the Celtics were a year away from transforming into a good team.
“You absolutely cannot accuse me of being a bandwagon fan,” Kyrgios continued. “I think they were rated like 76 overall. Fortunately, Paul Pierce was pretty sick. I think he was an 89 overall, and he had a unreal jumper. I fell in love with “the Truth” straight away. But they also had a crazy cast of characters — “the Red Mamba” Brian Scalabrine, Ricky Davis, Wally Szczerbiak.
“When the megatrade happened in 2008, and we brought in Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, that might have been the happiest day of my life.”
NESN – How Nick Kyrgios, Rising Tennis Star, Came To ‘Bleed Green’ For Celtics From Afar
Not being a tennis fan, I’d never heard of Nick Kyrgios until reading this article. But anyone who was captivated by Wally Szczerbiak – yeah, that’s a true member of Celtics Nation.
Kyrgios is from Australia, where the Celtics have a huge following. He shared his passion for the Cs in a Players Tribune article, “Why I Bleed Green.” Don’t be surprised if the Celtics respond to this revelation by inviting Kyrgios to Boston to meet all his mates on the squad.
In other celebrity news, actor and Celtics fan Chris Mintz-Plasse got into a Twitter beef with the Knicks beat writer from the New York Daily News. How did it turn out? Let’s just say the dude who can pull off “I am McLovin” (NSFW) isn’t gonna be bothered by someone who reeks of the Knicks.
And, finally: Yet another reminder why it’s great to be a Celtics fan
The Bucks were celebrating yesterday:
On This Date In 1974: @kaj33 buries the sky hook for the double OT win in Game 6 of the Finals against the Celtics!!https://t.co/jpKqhJbOep
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 10, 2016
This is apparently what you do when your team hasn’t won it all in 45 years. Incredibly clutch shot by Kareem, but what the Bucks’ tweet failed to mention is that two days later in Milwaukee the Celtics won Game 7 by 15 points, bringing home banner 12.
The Rest of the Links:
CSNNE – Five NBA Draft Combine Guards on Celtics’ Radar