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.

"III'mmmm baaccccckkkkk."

John Denton, OrlandoMagic.com – “‘People were quick to jump on the whole age thing, but there were some health problems there,’ Van Gundy said. ‘Garnett was coming back off a major leg injury. I think he was hurt; it doesn’t look now like there was any slippage. Paul Pierce had the bad foot. I think a lot of what people were calling slippage was health-related,’ Van Gundy continued. ‘All I know is what I’m watching, not only in the Cleveland series but in the Miami series, does not look like a team on the decline. If (the media) thought they looked like they were on the decline, I would like you to watch film with me and show me the signs of decline that you see.’”

Kirk Minihane, WEEI – “Cleveland Cavaliers forward Leon Powe, a member of the Celtics’ 2008 championship team, said that the 2010 Boston group is playing ‘a bit better’ than the team that he won a title with. ‘They are playing as well as that team, a bit better,’ said Powe following Boston’s Game 6 series-clinching win over Cleveland on Thursday. ‘They are clicking on all cylinders right now. First series against Miami, they did pretty well. The team [in 2008] needed seven games in the first round. This series they were great. They are locked into that championship defense that everyone is accustomed to.’”

Julian Benbow, Boston Globe – “His reward for surviving the six-game Texas death match? A paint battle with the well-rested Dwight Howard, the pseudo 7-footer known to devour rebounds, swat away layups and floaters, and crush opposing big men like a movie monster does to small cities. The Magic haven’t played since finishing a sweep against Atlanta last Monday. ‘It’s just the playoffs,’ Perkins said. ‘It’s not going to get any easier. It’s tough going into the next round, but that’s what I’m here for, to be a defensive stopper on the block and guard those big guys. I can’t run from the challenge. It’s there, so I’ve just got to accept it.’ [...] ‘With [Howard], he’s more athletic,’ Perkins said. ‘Not stronger, but more athletic. That’s the difference. I kind of use my weight against him. He kind of uses his athleticism. So it’s going to be interesting.’”

Steve Bulpett, Boston Herald – “And Howard is coming in with a head of steam, having made 27-of-32 shots (84.4 percent . . . yes, 84.4) against Atlanta. ‘I can’t worry about that,’ said Perkins. ‘I’ve just got to worry about going out and playing my defense. Obviously everybody gets better over the summertime and throughout the season, so I just can’t worry about if he’s going to hit shots or anything like that. At the end of the day it’s just about competing – going out there and having heart, going out there just to try to get the job done the best way you can.’ Said Glen Davis of Howard, ‘He does look better. He’s been working on his game. I think Patrick (Ewing, Magic assistant coach) has been helping him out a lot. I’ve been watching him. He’s been doing a great job of playing and executing. But I feel like me and Perk and Rasheed are three guys that can really guard him, so we’re going to try to do our best to limit him.’”

Dan Duggan, Boston Herald – “Rivers stayed the course, and his team followed. And because of that, the Celtics have taken another step toward filling that blank banner hanging in Waltham. ‘The only thing that’s going to make our season is winning a championship,’ Paul Pierce said. ‘We have those types of goals around here, where you look at some teams that get moral victories for hanging around in a series or winning a series, not here in Boston. We strive and we get excited when we put that banner up.’”

Chris Forsberg, ESPNBoston – “‘One thing we don’t lack, and that’s confidence,’ Garnett said. ‘Even when we were playing like crap and trying to get our chemistry problems together in our locker room and all the things that come with the season. I thought we hit our stride at the right time. We’re a veteran team, we understand that when it’s time to lock in as a group, as a unit, I think we did just that. I think if anything, the experience has totally taken over versus anything else. We’re not celebrating. I think, if anything, that everyone is going to go home and relax with their families, obviously. Get ready for [the Orlando scouting report]. We get these massive books, and you’ve got to know your coverages and all the schemes that come with it. So [Friday] it’s back in the classroom, getting ready.’”

Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel – “‘Over the course of the season, I’ve been fortunate to be healthy and can honestly say I’ve gotten stronger,’ Garnett said after the game. ‘And the playoffs come around, it’s time to step it up another notch, and that’s all I’ve been trying to do — nothing more, nothing less — it’s no secret. I take care of my body. I’m a workaholic when it comes to trying to better myself and nothing’s changed, so it’s paying off.’ Lewis said the best plan against KG is to ‘keep the ball away from him or keep him as far as away from the basket as possible.’ Lewis said he expects Garnett to make a difference this time. ‘It’s definitely a big difference,’ he said. ‘He’s the anchor of their defense, a great offensive low-post player. Not only that, he’s a good defender and shot-blocker. Kevin was somebody they were missing last year and it’s not going to be easy to beat them again this year like we did.’”

Jarrod N. Rudolph, Boston Globe – “Jameer Nelson has silenced his critics and created a fan base, and Rajon Rondo has taken over the floor for the Celtics. With a return trip to the NBA Finals on the line, Nelson will try his best to put out Rondo’s fire and stop the budding star from leading his team to the championship. ‘He’s a beast, man,’ Vince Carter said of Rondo. ‘He’s playing with a lot of confidence. He’s controlling the game and running the team. He’s earned respect around the league.’ [...] ‘I think [Rondo] has a lot more time and experience under his belt,’ Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. ‘He’s clearly become their leader. You watch him on the floor, he’s directing traffic and his confidence level is very high. I don’t think it’s any one or two things he’s doing differently, he’s just continued to get better and better.’”

Dan Duggan, Boston Herald – “‘Tom Thibodeau has been great (in) both series,’ [Tony] Allen said of the C’s assistant coach and defensive whiz. ‘Every time I listened to him, I was able to stay on the floor. So I’m listening to Tom Thibodeau as much as I can.’ Allen also has found his niche on offense, filling the lanes in transition and awaiting passes from Rajon Rondo. ‘I’m enjoying playing with him,’ Allen said. ‘I just have to read him and be ready to catch the ball. He’s great.’”

Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel – “‘Some people are calling it a major upset,’ Van Gundy said. ‘I don’t know how a team that’s essentially the same two years removed from winning a championship and is healthy pulls a major upset. But I think it’s because of the whole LeBron James thing. There’s a lot of people in the media that can’t fathom him getting beaten.’ The reporters clustered around Van Gundy laughed. ‘No,’ he said, ‘I mean that. I just think there’s a lot of people that just [say], ‘Oh, if you’ve got LeBron James, you’re gonna win every night, and no matter who else is on the other team it’s a major upset.’ Call it an upset if you want because they were the underdog, but Boston’s pretty [darn] good.’”

Julian Benbow, Boston Globe – “Finley has been on two teams that dashed James’s title hopes — the Celtics and the 2007 Spurs, who swept Cleveland in the Finals. ‘Great players will win a game or two, great teams win series,’ Finley said. ‘In my opinion we were the better team in the series. It was a tough series for him. He needed some help. Not just one or two games, but some consistent help. When you have that, it takes a little bit of pressure off the superstar.’”

Have a link I might want to look at? Send it my way by email (jayking@celticstown.com) or Twitter.