Paul Pierce quotes

["hironaka@xxxxxxxxx"<hironaka@xxxxxxxxx>]

Paul Pierce quotes from USABasketball.com

Go Paul Go!


"I'm enjoying every opportunity I get. No matter who I 
get out on the court with...from the days with high 
school players to college players and now I have the 
opportunity to be out here with a team of all-stars. That 
makes it even more fun that I'm playing at this level and 
representing the USA.

"In practices like this, you have to come out of here 
with your game much improved. You don't get a chance to 
play with players of this caliber and face everyday 
competition like this. Me matching up with Reggie Miller, 
Michael Finley, Shawn Marion, that doesn't happen every 
day. Having the opportunity to go out there everyday 
against that kind of competition will give me a 
tremendous advantage going into the season."

On his impression of teammates and does anyone stand out?
"It's hard to say that right now but I don't think anyone 
will really stand out. Everybody is going hard, everyone 
is competing. Some people might think that with an all-
star cast like this, players might go through the 
motions, but everyone is competing. It's practice and 
it's tough to get a basket out here and it's only the 
first full day."

On the intensity of practice:
"The level of intensity was raised in a matter of one 
day. Today (Saturday) we were going a little harder. It 
was a little more intense. Guys aren't going to give up 
easy baskets and hopefully it can be like that a little 
bit more everyday. Coach Karl is stressing to us that you 
have to treat everyday like it's a playoff game. And guys 
know just how hard that is and how hard it is to score in 
the NBA Playoffs."

How does it feel to have a few days of practice under 
your belt?
"We're feeling pretty good. Chemistry is starting to be 
there as we are pick it up each and every day. We're 
starting to get used to playing with one another. 
Everyone has respect for one another.There is a lot of 
unselfishness. Guys are really getting a feel for what we 
are trying to do and what our goal is."

Any guys you are looking to playing with as opposed to 
playing against as you do in the NBA season?
"As a scorer you always look forward to playing against 
the top point guards in the game. So now I get a chance 
to play with Andre Miller and Baron Davis, two guys I 
grew up with who are now superstars, so it's going to be 
a pleasure to play with them instead of against them.

About the community relations activities with Bay area 
kids today:
"This gives us an opportunity to give back to the 
community. A lot of people throughout the country look up 
to us as role models so it's important as part of USA 
Basketball where you represent your country to live up to 
those expectations and it feels good to give something 
back, especially to kids."

"It's always important for us as NBA players or as role 
models to the kids that really look up to, to give back 
to the community because if they not only hear it from 
their teachers and parents but they hear it from somebody 
that they can relate to and look up to also, it goes a 
long way. If we can come out here and touch just one kid 
than we're making a difference and that's what's special 
for me."

"I never had the opportunity to be around my idols 
growing up. My idols were my mom and brothers and they 
always stressed to me that you could be anything you 
wanted, you just got to have big dreams and big goals and 
go out and work hard and try to achieve them. That's 
something that has always stuck out to me and that what I 
try to go out and accomplish even today."

***
 

-------------------
L'e-mail gratuit pas comme les autres.
NOMADE.FR, pourquoi chercher ailleurs ?