The Celtics have gotten rid of their morning walkthrough, but that doesn’t mean we have to.  Here are a few Celtics links, and maybe even an NBA link or two, to help wake you up and get you focused for the day. 

Jack Jemsek, Celtics Stuff Live – “It is true – the Celtics are shooting so damn well that the Field Goal % differential is a whopping 5.3% and leading the NBA no less.  Consider this – the Celtics could shoot 220 shots and miss them all, while maintaining their defensive rating, and still be leading the league in field goal % differential.”

Frank Dell’Apa, Boston Globe -”‘When we try to outjump teams, if they’re pushing us under the basket, they’ve got a great chance of getting the ball,’ said Ray Allen, whose late 3-pointer clinched the victory.  ‘We just started carving our space. And the guards, we’ve got to do a better job of getting rebounds.’

Jeff Clark, CelticsBlog – “And all this coming after the offseason that Rondo had is all the more impressive.  Between trade rumors, questions about his character, and uncertainty about his contract, he must have been pretty distracted.  Yet he remained focused.  Maybe all that even sharpened his focus.  He seems to have a “I’ll show you” mentality that fuels him better than Red Bull ever will.  So by all means, let the critics keep the criticisms coming.  Harp on his outside shot.  Question his attitude.  Do your best to tear him down.  As for me, I’ll sit back and watch him tear you apart.  Little by little.  Game by game.  Assist by assist.  Steal by steal.  Win by win.  Rondo will be an All Star this year and a star for years to come because he’s learned how to be consistent.”

Greg Payne, CelticsBlog – “Throughout this revitalizing 11-game win streak, the C’s have secured some steep performances from a variety of players not belonging to the very exclusive “Big Three” club. Sure, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen have been tremendous over this stretch, but so has Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins, and now, joining that list over the past two games, is Rasheed Wallace, whose play in the paint has opened my eyes and introduced a whole new weapon for this Celtics team to utilize.”

Zach Lowe, Celtics Hub – “For now, TA is going to play double-figure minutes for this team while Marquis Daniels is hurt. His success would help the second unit, reduce the burden on Ray Allen and Paul Pierce and give the C’s a player who could diversify their offensive arsenal by getting to the foul line. It would also be a nice coda to a career until now defined by bizarre injuries, shady off the court connections, sloppy dribbling and maddening brain cramps. It was in this spirit that I introduced the Official Tony Allen Dos and Donts List after Monday night’s game. Right now, it only has six items.”

Me, Celtics Town – “While most players bring their ‘A’ game on certain nights and are sure to bring a full effort for big games, Garnett has been bringing maniacal effort every game, every practice for 15 years. Some players treat the playoffs like college finals, but Garnett acts like he’s got a final every time he laces up his shoes. He’s like that one overachieving girl (I don’t know why, but it’s always a girl) who is really smart, but still gets straight A’s mostly because of her work ethic. She puts more work in during her homework than a normal person ever would even for a test, writes pages and pages of notes during lectures, and pisses everyone off because she’s so over-the-top about her desire to be the best student.  Sound familiar? Maybe like a 6’11″ power forward who headbutts the basket support before every single game, even exhibition games? Who, at one of his very first practices with the Celtics, screamed at captain and long-time Celtics leader Paul Pierce for dogging it during suicides?”