Re: Foxwoods + Pierce vs. Carter

[Kestutis.Kveraga@dartmouth.edu (Kestutis Kveraga)]

--- You wrote:
Confession time. I found myself humming "The wonder of it all..." to myself the
other day. I guess I was sitting on the sofa, dog on my lap, spacing out. It's
happened more than once, I hate to admit. I find the Citizens' Bank ads a lot
more annoying, except for the admittedly corny one where the guys are playing
keep-away with the bank employees on Pitino's instructions.
--- end of quote ---

All of these commercials drive me up the wall. But it doesn't have to be that way - there are lots of great commercials that keep me giggling for years. Even if I don't appreciate the product, it reflects positively on the company when they select brilliant and creative advertising people to make their commercials (Budweiser is an example). I think the most effective way to get rid of the bad commercials is to write to the company and tell them that running  this crap reflects badly on them. Because Fox certainly doesn't care as long as it gets paid. 
Sure, there's always the VCR to cut the commercials out, but I'm usually too impatient not to watch the game live. And I don't want to miss any action flipping through the channels.  I guess I'm a Celtics junkie :)

--- You wrote:
Pierce v. Carter tonight is exciting, but I think the separation Carter's game
has had from Pierce and his fellow rookie class makes some of us upset that
Pierce "isn't improving one iota" or "didn't work as hard on his game" and so
forth. For a transition year to shooting guard, I think Pierce had a wonderful
second year. Carter might have had similar ups and downs if he had made that
transition last year. That team is built around him, and yes he is a more
talented player and we should get over it. 
--- end of quote ---

I agree with you on Pierce's incremental improvement, but don't quite agree with the last  statement, unless by "talent" you mean leaping ability (and people do equate the two a lot). Carter is the quintessential "Sportscenter superstar" - much of his "superiority" over Pierce is hype, IMO. Carter shoots a slightly better FG% (44 vs. 46), which is to be expected, because Pierce shoots more threes (181 vs. 117 career). Carter's assist and block averages are a bit higher (2.8 vs. 3.6 apg and .9 vs 1.3 bpg), but Pierce is a better thief (1.9 vs. 1.3 spg).  Carter scores more (18.4 vs. 22.9), but he doesn't have 'Toine at his side, either. Then again, Pierce went down with fairly serious ankle sprains both seasons and that cut into his production quite a bit. 

Pierce gets by more on basketball skills, rather than on amazing physical ability, and I really think he should concentrate on improving his body now that he's back, since that's mostly what separates him from Carter (not that he's ever going to jump as high). Carter may also bring more mental focus and intensity game in and game out, but I hope Pierce has turned a corner in that regard, and we will not see any 'underwater' play from him this season. Lastly, Pierce is a better defender, and a nice person, whereas Carter is pretty punkish, IMO.  

In sum, Carter is a little better right now, but the difference is nowhere near as large as avid Sportscenter fans seem to think. My hope is also that Pierce's game will age more gracefully than Carter's - when some of these high-leapers can't jump as high anymore, their game drops off dramatically, whereas the Malones and the Stocktons just keep on ticking into their late 30s.

Kestas