Paul Pierce is on a mission TOUGH TO TAKE: Paul Pierce can’t bear to look as the Lakers’ Derek Fisher shoots free throws in the closing seconds of last night’s game. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>LOS ANGELES - Blame Paul Pierce [stats] if you’re a little sleep deprived this morning. If not for him, you could have gone to sleep in the second quarter last night. The Celtics [team stats] were down 17 after one quarter and would get behind the Lakers by as many as 19. And after blowing a 24-point advantage in Game 4, you had to believe LA wouldn’t be playing so fast and loose with the lead this time. But Pierce didn’t wait for the Lakers to lose the upper hand. Instead, he took it. His Celtics had staggered through the first quarter, playing almost as though they’d already been sipping the champagne that was awaiting their victory. Pierce was their cup of coffee and cold shower. He had 13 of the Celts’ first 17 points in the second, and assisted on one of the other two hoops. At the game’s first major fork in the road, Pierce decided it should continue to be a contest. He had 16 points, three rebounds and two assists in the frame. “I just wanted to be aggressive and attack,” said Pierce after the Celts ultimately fell short, 103-98. “I notice when I’m aggressive, everybody else is aggressive, so I just wanted to make plays. I feel like I have an advantage night in and night out. That’s all I do, try to get to the rim and take advantage of my opportunities.” And it wasn’t like he was a one-quarter wonder. On a night when Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett were the only other Celtics in double figures with 16 and 13, respectively, Pierce was equal parts grit and brilliance. He finished with 38 points, six rebounds and eight assists. He didn’t leave Staples Center with any hardware but, if it’s possible, he managed to collect an even greater level of respect from the basketball community. Throwing in 30-something in the regular season is one thing. Doing it in this setting is completely different. “Paul is one of my favorite players in the league,” the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant said. “He’s tough. There’s not a lot of players that have a well-rounded offensive game. What I mean by that, he’s got a good mid-range game, long ball, pull up to the hoop, pull up left, pull up right. He has the whole package. I enjoy watching him play, I enjoy playing against him, and he’s fantastic. “As far as tonight, he did what a great player does. He attacked and saw opportunities to keep his team in the ballgame, and that’s what he did.” But it is true also that Pierce wound up on the wrong end of perhaps the key play of the game. With 40 seconds to go and the Celtics down by two, Pierce made his move from up top. But Bryant reached in and poked the ball to Lamar Odom. Kobe then ran a fly pattern, hauling in Odom’s pass and dunking to create the space the Lakers would keep with free throws. It appeared on replay that there may have been contact on the play, but Pierce wasn’t copping any pleas. “I don’t think so,” he said. “I thought it was great defense. That’s all it was; it was good defense. I wouldn’t ask the refs for a call down the stretch. You let the players decide the game, and I thought that’s what happened. He made a great defensive play. He reached around and tapped the ball from behind, and it was just a great defensive play. Kobe is a great player. He made two big steals on myself there in the fourth quarter that I shouldn’t have allowed.” But Pierce should be allowed some latitude in this one. He played every minute, save for two seconds near the end when the Celts were committing an intentional foul. And he insists he has more to give. “I always leave it on the court,” Pierce said. “You know, that’s just something I owe to my ballclub, franchise, every time I step on the court. And I have plenty in the tank. It’s not over. I’ve got to suck it up for two more games, if that. It’ll all be worth it in the end.” Even if he keeps you awake past midnight.</div>
How come Paul didn't get the ball in any of the final possessions? I thought that was a little ridiculous, and pretty much lost the game for them. I'd much rather trust the ball in Paul's hands than KG (missing FT's and dunks) or Ray (missing the clutch layup). Oh, and it's your pick in the Hot Chick Draft, CK
i gotta admit that Pierce has gained my respect this year. The guy is a "gamer", at first I doubted him, but ever since going blow for blow with lebron and making more crucial plays down the stretch in that game 7, dude is a legitimate superstar in my eyes....and he has easily outperformed kobe in this series.
If KG doesn't step up, I honestly don't see any superstar material on the Celtics at this stage of their career. Vlad and Luke Walton were on Pierce. Pierce is now averaging 23 PPG, nothing too memorable to be honest.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Dream @ Jun 16 2008, 03:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>he's also been Ding up Kobe.........and he had to defer to two other all star players.</div> Last year he wasn't lighting up the place either in the regular season. I would say it is a body of work. Also we're talking about "Superstar", a guy with Lamar Odom PER in the playoffs.
Paul Pierce has had a great career considering his numbers the crap that's been around him, and his ownage of kobe in the finals.....give the man his props and stop trying to put him on the same level as lamar odom..........
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Dream @ Jun 16 2008, 03:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Paul Pierce has had a great career considering his numbers the crap that's been around him, and his ownage of kobe in the finals.....give the man his props and stop trying to put him on the same level as lamar odom..........</div> The Celtics are a great defensive team. Pierce has had inferior defenders on him. Kobe would "own" Pierce if he didn't have to deal with KG, and Vlad was on him. Superstars have garbage around them all the time and put up much better numbers. If he is a superstar, he's nothing special. He's played empirically worse in the playoffs. Lamar Odom and him are about 17 PER a piece.
Well Pierce has played better than Kobe for the better part of the series imo. Pierce has been willing to take it to the hoop strong and willing to defend Kobe. Kobe often has been guarding an injured Rondo lol.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lavalamp @ Jun 16 2008, 04:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well Pierce has played better than Kobe for the better part of the series imo. Pierce has been willing to take it to the hoop strong and willing to defend Kobe. Kobe often has been guarding Rondo lol.</div> I don't remember the part where I said Kobe has had a great series... Pierce also has more defensive help from Posey, KG, etc. on his team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Jun 16 2008, 05:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lavalamp @ Jun 16 2008, 04:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well Pierce has played better than Kobe for the better part of the series imo. Pierce has been willing to take it to the hoop strong and willing to defend Kobe. Kobe often has been guarding Rondo lol.</div> I don't remember the part where I said Kobe has had a great series... </div> I know but you brought up Pierce putting up PER numbers like Odom, which is kind of saying that he and Odom are at the same level. However Pierce may not be considered a superstar, but in the 2008 NBA Finals, the biggest platform in the NBA, Pierce has played more like a superstar than Kobe has.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lavalamp @ Jun 16 2008, 04:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Jun 16 2008, 05:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lavalamp @ Jun 16 2008, 04:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well Pierce has played better than Kobe for the better part of the series imo. Pierce has been willing to take it to the hoop strong and willing to defend Kobe. Kobe often has been guarding Rondo lol.</div> I don't remember the part where I said Kobe has had a great series... </div> I know but you brought up Pierce putting up PER numbers like Odom, which is kind of saying that he and Odom are at the same level. However Pierce may not be considered a superstar, but in the 2008 NBA Finals, the biggest platform in the NBA, Pierce has played more like a superstar than Kobe has. </div> Yeah he's played better, that doesn't make him a Superstar, Kobe isn't that consistent right now, and Pierce has not blown people away with his numbers. Nor are the defenders on him of the same caliber.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Jun 16 2008, 04:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He's played empirically worse in the playoffs. Lamar Odom and him are about 17 PER a piece.</div> seriously, you put value into that PER crap?? Isn't that made by the stats nut/moron over at ESPN?? absolutely useless stat IMO.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ Jun 17 2008, 08:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Jun 16 2008, 04:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He's played empirically worse in the playoffs. Lamar Odom and him are about 17 PER a piece.</div> seriously, you put value into that PER crap“ Isn't that made by the stats nut/moron over at ESPN“ absolutely useless stat IMO. </div> That's one stat I chose out of many. Personally I think it gives a good gist of the issue.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Jun 17 2008, 07:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>If you're honestly suggesting Pierce and Odom are playing at the same level in this series....</div> Uh no... Glad to see Odom bounce back though.
