Every once in a while, I link to a few articles from other writers around the internet. You know, I throw some dimes.

1. Carmelo Anthony’s career compared to Paul Pierce’s

A fantastic write-up from Denver Stiffs about the similarities between the career trajectory of Paul Pierce and that of Carmelo Anthony. The list is actually pretty stunning. Both grew up in the public eye, had early offensive explosions, possess games that mature while their personalities have, never got past the conference finals (before Pierce became the Big Three), asked for a trade (or thought about leaving, like Melo), yada yada yada.

The piece ends with a line that I thought was great: “Memo to Melo: LeBron James doesn’t know the first thing about winning.  Paul Pierce does, and that’s who you should be comparing yourself to.”

Melo says he’s all about winning, and nothing else. But at some point loyalty has to mean something, right? As Pierce can attest to, there’s nothing like winning a championship in the same city where you’ve failed many times.

2. A slight decline for Boston’s defense?

Celtics Hub points out that Boston’s defense is now in sixth place in regards to defensive efficiency. They are also in 15th place (weak sauce) in opponent’s field goal percentage, and have declined in opponent’s field goal percentage every season since the Big Three was formed. Last season, the C’s gave up 45.1% shooting, a number that was inflated largely because the Celtics clearly didn’t give a damn during the final two-thirds of the season. This year, they are giving up 45.6% shooting, even worse.

So what gives? As well as the Celtics played offensively on the road trip, three of their four opponents on the trip shot at least 50%. Don’t expect that trend to continue. Doc Rivers admitted defensive slippage, saying that limited practice time during the road trip contributed to the poor defense. They’ve had some time to practice since the last game. Expect a better defensive effort tonight.

That doesn’t mean the C’s defense will ever be back to 2008 form. That might have been the best defense in NBA history. No exaggeration.

3. A Celtics overload

Jay from Red’s Army takes a look at a particular set the Celtics have utilized quite a few times this season. Rondo handles the ball on one side, and the other four players run to the other side of the court and stack. Usually, Kevin Garnett sets a ball screen for Rondo, then the other players in the stack break in different directions. Great analysis by Jay.

4. Reggie Miller speaks about Ray Allen’s game and work ethic

Miller appreciates the hard work it has taken for Ray to continue putting in work as a 35-year old.

“”I can speak for myself and a little bit for Ray, because he kind of follows the same pattern as I did, which I sort of emulated from Larry Bird,” Miller told CSNNE. “And that’s showing up three, three-and-a-half hours early for a game; putting the time and work in to become a great player. At the end of the day, people respect that. They see the fruits of our labor; guys that are knocking down tough shots or big shots, under pressure or duress.”

Some NBA stars told Miller that he had to develop other parts of his game, besides shooting.

“Getting tutored by the Lakers and Magic Johnson and Byron Scott and Michael Cooper,” Miller said, “they understood that I was a great shooter, but they kept telling me, ‘you’re going to have to work on other aspects of your game, especially when you go to the next level.’”

“They told me come playoff time, your favorite three moves are probably going to be taken away from you,” Miller continued. “You have to have counters, and I learned that at a very early age. And Ray is the same way. You can play him to come off screens and have two guys jump out, but he’s excellent in handling the ball in pick-and-roll situations. He can kill you if you go under [picks], or don’t show enough. He can knock down threes. It’s a lost art with a lot of things he does, because he’s so multi-dimensional.”

Got a tip? An article you think should be included? Send an email to jayking@celticstown.com or hit me up on Twitter @CelticsTown.

Yes, I have confirmed it. That’s actually Shelden Williams. The highlight wasn’t even doctored or anything. That dunk was real life.

Williams is averaging 6.6 points and 7.5 rebounds in a starting role with the Denver Nuggets. And before you guys spout off about how miserable Williams was for the Celtics, just remember one thing: when Glen Davis was out, Williams was very useful. Good, even. And I’m not even kidding.

Of course, his NBA Finals was a nightmare. But still, the Shelden Williams Era wasn’t all bad.

One more thing: Ronny Turiaf, feel shame. I can defend Williams’s time with the Celtics, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to let him dunk on your head.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Carmelo Anthony might want to join the Celtics when (if) he becomes a free agent? (Peter Vecsey, New York Post)

Shelden Williams, scoring threat?

There was one thing I never wanted Shelden Williams to do when he was a Celtic: shoot the basketball. But for some reason, that’s exactly what the Denver Nuggets are giving him the freedom to do. (Denver Post)

The offensive-minded Nuggets want Williams to tap back into his aggressive scoring talent, telling the 6-foot-9, 250-pounder not just to defend, rebound and set screens, but to look for his shot as well. It’s different, exciting and invigorating for Williams, who is very much looking forward and appreciative of the opportunity to be a part of the offense.

“I haven’t been in that position since college where the ball comes to me and they expect me to shoot it,” Williams said. “So I have to kind of get back to how I used to be and get comfortable with that and build confidence. I haven’t felt like this in a long time.”

It was just an intrasquad scrimmage, but Tuesday night at the FirstBank Center in Broomfield there were glimpses of what Williams should be able to do offensively this season. He scored 16 points and hit 7-of-7 shots, from layups and dunks to elbow jumpers. And he still didn’t sacrifice the intangibles that make him a valuable commodity on the court.

“He’s one of the best high-low players I’ve played with,” Nuggets guard J.R. Smith said.

Denver coach George Karl likes what he has seen out of Williams so far and has no issues with asking him to look for his shot.

“The way we play basketball, we want everybody to be attacking,” Karl said. “Reading and trying to attack. I don’t think you can have a player out there that can’t be aggressive. It helps us that everybody has the same attitude about reading build-outs, spacing the court, attacking gaps and passing the ball.

“He’s got a good handle and some good senses for a big guy. A lot of it starts with being able to make the 18-foot jump shot. But I think so much of offense is reads and your feel for the game as it is being able to make shots.”

I’m not sure this article is talking about the same Shelden Williams who played for the Celtics last year. “One of the best high-low players I’ve played with?” “A good handle and some good senses for a big guy?” 16 points on 7-for-7 shooting?

#23 for the Denver Nuggets: who are you and what have you done with Shelden Williams?

J.R. Smith choked an opponent because he played physical defense during a pick-up game. The opponent was unnamed and does not play in the NBA, but did play for the D-League’s now-defunct Colorado 14ers. (NBA Fanhouse)

Denver Nuggets shooting guard J.R. Smith was involved in an altercation at the team’s practice facility on Aug. 13, when police arrived after a player not associated with the Nuggets claimed to have been attacked by the mercurial 24-year-old.

After numerous sources told FanHouse of the incident, the Denver Police Department confirmed it on Wednesday afternoon.

“We did have a report of an altercation that took place at the Denver Nuggets’ practice facility,” Detective John White of the Denver Police Department told FanHouse by phone. “That case was investigated and ultimately presented to the district attorney’s office. … Ultimately, the district attorney’s office, after being presented with the findings by the Denver Police Department, decided not to pursue charges.

“We were called to that location about an incident possibly involving Mr. Smith. When we got there, the officers conducted their investigation. It did involve Mr. Smith.”

According to a league source who spoke with one of the people in the gym, numerous players were taking part in drills when members of the Nuggets’ coaching staff told the player who later called police to be physical with Smith.

“They were just wanting the guy to be physical with J.R., telling the other guys, ‘Hey, body up on the guys and really make them work,’” the source said. “J.R. just lost it. He tried to choke the kid, and the kid called the cops.”

I  saw someone on Twitter try to defend Smith’s role in this story. I forgot who it was, but it was a respected blogger or reporter who said something like, “I’m not against J.R. Smith. Bums in pick-up should know their roles and not get over-excited.” Wow. So it’s some guy’s fault that he was choked out? Just because he was playing physical defense? Just because he was trying to make J.R. Smith work? Please. Unless this unnamed defender was throwing elbows above J.R.’s neck area or worse, there’s no excuse for choking someone out. I’ve played in plenty of physical pick-up games with guys who were  over the top. You tell them to cool it and move on. Or push them back. Be physical right back. One thing you DON’T do, under any circumstances, is choke them out. That’s crossing the line, no matter how physical someone is playing against you.

But this unnamed guy? Umm, is he serious? I assume he’s trying to make the NBA, since he played in the D-League and is playing pick-up against the Denver Nuggets. And you know what? By calling the police, he just got black-balled by every team in the league. Fanhouse may not know his name, but I bet you every single GM in the league does by now. Unless this guy  felt threatened for his safety, he should have taken his medicine, stopped playing such a physical game, and let it go. Because now he’s known around the league as the snitch who called the cops after a pick-up game got heated. Fair or not, he’ll be seen as a whistle-blower. That’s just the way of the world. Snitches get stiches, not NBA contracts.

When I heard J.R. Smith is on the block, I did exactly what you probably did: I thought to myself, “Sick, Smith would look pretty good backing up Pauly and Ray Ray.” But that’s as far as the thought process went. Two seconds later, reality kicked in and I remembered that the Celtics have nothing to trade for him.

I’m not exaggerating when I say nothing, either. I dare you to go to the ESPN Trade Machine and try to make a trade work. Make it a double-dog dare, Veronica Vaughn style. Rasheed Wallace’s retiring contract isn’t walking through that door, guys. Which is precisely why I was shocked when the Celtics waived him rather than waiting to see who would hit the trade market.

So it doesn’t matter that TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott wrote, “In my mind, a team with strong leadership — the Celtics, Heat or Spurs — would do well to experiment with Smith.” Because even if the C’s would do well to experiment with Smith, they’ve got nothing to bring him in. Basically, there’s no way I would have wasted my breath on this post if it weren’t a prime opportunity to post some Smith highlights.