11/21/24
March 08, 2006
On a Tear: Paul Pierce has scored at least 30 points in six straight games and 12 of his last 13, a feat no other Boston Celtics player has ever accomplished.
posted by chemwizBsquared to basketball at 08:30 AM - 26 comments
As a person I couldnt care less about Pierce. I hated that he made All American over Vince after their junior years. However, I must admit PP is unguardable. I think people overlook the fact the guys like him, Vince and Tracy have the same amount of range as any 3 point specialist but they can actually get their shot off no matter what stud is guarding them that night. I do believe that an athletic SG holds the record for most 3 pt makes in one game. I wont say the name, I'll let you figure it out.
posted by Drallig9399 at 09:01 AM on March 08, 2006
Pearce is a wicked, wicked player on a bad, bad team. However scoring 30 in 12 of 13 isn't that impressive when you have three guys averaging more than 30 a game this year. Drallig9399 - you'll also find that this record is shared by a decidely unathletic power forward named Donyell Marshall.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:14 AM on March 08, 2006
Pierce was a great selection for the Olympic team - as long as Kobe will share.
posted by Bill Lumbergh at 09:19 AM on March 08, 2006
I hated that [Pierce] made All American over Vince after their junior years Please don't try to put Vince in the same category as Paul Pierce. Vince wouldn't have Paul's all-around game even if he had Karl Malone strapped to his back.
posted by yerfatma at 10:06 AM on March 08, 2006
That's two separate sentences, hot shot.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:31 AM on March 08, 2006
records were made to be broken. even if you dont like the athlete, still give him or her the credit that is due. with the exceptions of the Barry Bonds athletes.
posted by wvu1fan at 10:31 AM on March 08, 2006
Pierce is ten times the player Vince Carter is. Maybe there was in argument in college but in the pros there's no question that Pierce has the better all around game (not to mention is more durable). Pierce is the leader on a very young, very raw team, but the future looks pretty bright for the Celtics. Tommy Heinsohn (who knows a thing or two about basketball) has been quoted as saying that Pierce is the best pure scorer that has ever put on a Celtics uniform. And Heinsohn's partner calling games Mike Gorman had this to say about Pierce in a recent interview: Paul Pierce is a top ten player who has demonstrated both maturity and leadership in what is shaping up as the best year of his career. He seems to be misunderstood nationally but perception seems to always trail reality. Take it from some one who sits courtside at close to 100 games a year, you cannot have any legitimate discussion about the best 2/3 players in the league without Paul in the mix. And for my money nobody, not Kobe, not Lebron, not Dwayne, gets to the basket more effectively than Paul Pierce does. I realize he's a homer, but he knows more about the game than I do, so I'll trust his comments.
posted by smg at 10:38 AM on March 08, 2006
sorry for the two sentence comment. Ill get better as I go,Weedy.
posted by wvu1fan at 10:41 AM on March 08, 2006
I wouldn't say Pierce is one of the top ten players in the league right now. He is on a struggling team, and he is the best. He is definately a great scorer, but he must learn how to help his team win before I buy into his stock. Nash, O'Neal, O'Neal, Wade, LeBron, Kobe, Duncan, Artest, T-MAC, Iverson, any of the Pistons. The list could be longer... all better than Pierce this year.
posted by Snikastyle at 12:02 PM on March 08, 2006
So your definition of "better than" is "play for a better team than"? How is Ron Artest having a better season when he didn't play most of it? Shaq missed any number of games. T-Mac is a mess right now. must learn how to help his team win Again: leading them in points, boards and assists. Probably steals too. What more would you have him do?
posted by yerfatma at 12:17 PM on March 08, 2006
Pierce won the game for the Celtics last night. Put the team on his back down the stretch, and hit the game winner in OT. That, is helping his team win. Also, I just checked ESPN.com and Pierce is leading the Celtics in scoring, rebounds, and steals...somehow from Minnesota Ricky Davis is still leading in assists per game. :-) Also, what do you call a player who ranks in the top ten in most stat categories?
posted by smg at 12:33 PM on March 08, 2006
any of the Pistons... all better than Pierce this year. I'm sure you're right; take Pierce out of Boston, put Ben Wallace, Kelvin Cato, Antonio McDyess, Tony Delk, Tayshaun Prince, or Rasheed Wallace in his place, and the Celts would easily be leading the league in wins.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 02:22 PM on March 08, 2006
They were trying to work a Pierce for Darko deal but the Magic beat them to it.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 02:46 PM on March 08, 2006
Paul Pierce is a franchise type player, he's really going to shine when he gets a stronger supporting cast. The Celtics have done well with him in the past, they just need to get back to that level of skill on the team, and try to make it a little more deep.
posted by everett at 03:03 PM on March 08, 2006
oh yeah.... Pierce is way better than Carter, I don't care what NBA Live says
posted by everett at 03:04 PM on March 08, 2006
posted by yerfatma at 03:12 PM on March 08, 2006
Yerfatma... I particularly like the writers use of the term "grill piece"
posted by everett at 03:20 PM on March 08, 2006
Uh, weren't the Celtics the #3 seed in the East last year? If I do recall, yeah they had some veterans (Walker, Payton), but Pierce was the star of that team...its not his fault that he's got a team of youngsters...I'd KILL for the Rockets to have kids on our team...the way I see it, if Pierce can hold it together in Boston for one, two more years...I think that the Celtics have a shot at being a scary group in the playoffs... Keep developing guys!
posted by chemwizBsquared at 08:32 PM on March 08, 2006
He is definately a great scorer, but he must learn how to help his team win before I buy into his stock. Nash, O'Neal, O'Neal, Wade, LeBron, Kobe, Duncan, Artest, T-MAC, Iverson... As a Celtics fan, I often bemoan their lack of titles over the past couple of decades, but I have to take issue with this statement. Last time I checked, Nash, J. O'Neal, Wade, LeBron, Artest, T-Mac and Iverson had exactly the same number of titles as PP...
posted by Venicemenace at 10:09 PM on March 08, 2006
And how many of them hit a game-winning three last night? (All of which is starting to piss me off because they should be losing to get a better pick in the draft.)
posted by yerfatma at 06:09 AM on March 09, 2006
If the Celts can avoid winning a title for oh, another sixty years or so, eventually they'll be as popular as the Sawx! Let's start a new tradition...Celtic angst! "Ainge angst" has a nice ring... Strangely enough, even though I've never lived in Boston, I've been a Sox fan since '83 and a Celts fan since '80...I still loathe the Pats, though.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 07:27 AM on March 09, 2006
I went to the Celtics game last night against the 76ers and it was another great game for Pierce. He messed around and got a triple double and hit a crucial three to go up one with 30 or so seconds left...great game. And to update a previous comment of mine in the media guide he leads the team in Points (27.2), Rebounds (6.9) and Assists (4.6 - Not Rickey!)...and also steals. I felt like the refs were going to give the game away because after just two minutes and fifty seconds into the fourth quarter the Celtics were over the team limit with fouls. Lesson learned? You breath on Iverson, you get called for a foul.
posted by smg at 08:57 AM on March 09, 2006
See also: Carter, Vince. McGrady, Tracy.
posted by yerfatma at 09:39 AM on March 09, 2006
When Rasheed Wallace breaths on a ref he gets a foul.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 02:36 PM on March 09, 2006
Pierce has been a monster this year. I don't know if he's bought into Doc Rivers' message or what, but he showed up this year ready to dominate, and he's led the team in points, boards and assists (I think). In addition, he's taken on a leadership role I never thought he would be capable of or want.