Sacramento Bee: Pierce has Edge In Rookie Battle

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[THE SACRAMENTO BEE]

Kings Notes: Pierce has edge in     
rookies' battle

By Quwan Spears
Bee Staff Writer
(Published Feb. 17, 1999

Give the first round to Paul Pierce.
In a battle of top rookies, the Boston
Celtics' Pierce outplayed Jason
Williams during the Kings' 101-98 win
at Arco Arena on Tuesday night.
   
Pierce, the No. 10 pick in the 1998
NBA draft, scored 19 points, grabbed
seven rebounds, had five steals and
blocked three shots.
  
Williams, selected seventh by the Kings, 
struggled. He scored 10 points
with seven assists, and never was a
factor.
     
"In the back of my mind, I think about
the battles with the other rookies in
the league," Pierce said. "It's nice
to be compared with some of the top
young talent, but I'm more concerned
about matching up with the veterans.
They're the true measuring sticks in
this league."
     
Pierce kept the Celtics in the game
with hustle. With Boston leading 94-93
with 3:45 to play, the rookie from
Kansas came up big. He blocked a shot
by Corliss Williamson, then
intercepted a pass that led to a
driving layup by Antoine Walker.
    
The Celtics led 96-93 with 2:53
remaining and appeared to have the
momentum.
   
But later, Pierce made a mistake that
stymied the Celtics' chances at a
victory.
   
With the score game tied 96-96 and
1:39 remaining, Walker tried to hit
Pierce in the corner, but the ball
slipped through the rookie's hands.
    
"It was one of those plays where it
was bad timing," Pierce said. "I was
expecting Antoine to shoot, and he
decided to pass. I didn't really see
it coming."