Celtics Notes: Morris, Larkin, Perkins

The Celtics have plenty to be concerned about following their Game 3 loss to the Cavaliers. Marcus Morris, who was given the tough task of stopping LeBron James, acknowledged his poor performance over the weekend, telling reporters that LBJ “was just too comfortable,” as A.Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston relays.

James shot 34.8% from the field over the first two games, scoring a total of 22 points when being guarded by Morris. However, he made five of his nine attempts against Morris in Game 3.

Despite the blowout loss, the Celtics remain confident that they can contain The King and compete with the reigning Eastern Conference champions. “Very confident. Very confident,” Morris said when asked about the team’s mindset. “I’m 100 percent sure it won’t be the same (Celtics) team on Monday.”

Here’s more from Boston:

• Coach Brad Stevens hinted at a lineup change during the Celtics‘ shootaround on Sunday, Blakely passes along in the same piece. The move would likely involve moving Morris to the bench while inserting either Aron Baynes or Semi Ojeleye into the starting lineup.
• Shane Larkin was participating in passing drills with the Celtics’ training staff on Sunday, though there remains no timetable for his to return to the court, per Blakely (same piece). It was previously reported that Larkin was unlikely to be available during the Eastern Conference Finals.
• Kendrick Perkins, who now resides on Cleveland’s bench, said he hasn’t spoken to Celtics GM Danny Ainge since the team dealt him to the Thunder at the 2011 trade deadline. “The crazy thing is that I haven’t even talked to Danny since the trade,” Perkins said (via Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald). “When I’m watching on TV, he’s always sitting there, but every time I’ve come back to Boston he’s never there. We’ve never even seen each other since then.” 
• Perkins added that Ainge deserves “a lot of praise,” pointing to the acquisitions of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward while commenting on Boston’s depth in the backcourt. “I remember when Marcus Smart was coming out, people were afraid to take a chance on him, but Danny did. He went sixth, but I don’t think no other team would have took a chance on him that high — not from what I was hearing. And then you look at Terry Rozier, too. You have to respect what Danny’s doing. He put together a team, a real team,” the big man said.