Re: The Boston Celtics Mailing List Digest V9 #271

[Tammo29@xxxxxxx]

p.s. BTW, did anyone videotape the final minutes of that Yugo game? All I 
recall is that Andre Miller clanked the tying three-point shot, even though 
the play was reportedly called for Pierce. If Pierce was getting open, then 
it is apparent which guy was being "selfish". It would be interesting to cue 
up that tape to prove that Pierce was too damn "lazy" to get open on the last 
two plays. ;-) 

One can argue that the USA wasn't as effective on offense when Pierce was in 
the game, but the numbers would almost certainly prove you wrong.


Joe H
  ***************************************************************************

I have the tape.
On the next to the last play Pierce did get open, but Miller went to Reggie 
instead.

If there was a set play, it was an ugly one.  The way it set up Pierce and 
Reggie Miller were on the same side of the court.  Pierce broke free and ran 
across the baseline.  It looked like Antonio Davis was supposed to set a 
pick, but he never moved to the baseline until Paul's defender was already a 
step past him.  In the meantime it looked like Reggie Millers defender was 
thinking Miller was setting a pick for Pierce and ended up out of position 
leaving Reggie standing right under the basket for an easy lay-up.  If the 
play was for a three pointer from Pierce then (Andre) Miller didn't wait long 
enough for the play to develop because Pierce did get open despite the fact 
their was no pick.  But it looked to me like Andre was looking for Reggie the 
whole time.

The last play started out the exact same way.  Still no pick from Davis.  
This time the Yugoslavian's looked like they knew what was coming and 
switched, leaving a man ready and waiting for Pierce when he got to the three 
point line.  

It would take someone with some sort of ax to grind to find fault with Pierce 
here.
I'm not even sure I would blame Andre Miller.  After all, Reggie Miller is a 
pretty good second option. 
But if Andre did blame Pierce to the press, then he was being an ass.


Our two biggest problems all tournament long were our point guard play and 
our inside play.  The guys we brought for those positions may be very good 
NBA players, but their games don't translate well to the international style.

BTW, it's funny how Pierce has been labeled by some as "the" selfish player 
in these games. Especially when compared to other guys on the top teams.
If anyone cares to check, he was in the top ten among all players in assists 
per game for the tournament.  
Of the big name players getting all-tournament nods...Nowitzki, Stojokovic, 
Ginoboli... 
None of them where in the top ten.
And only Ginoboli took less shots then Pierce.  
All three of these guys struggled from the 3pt line
Nowitzki- 29%
Stojokovic- 36%
Ginoboli- 11%
compared to Pierce's 49%
And Paul was 2nd among this bunch in overall fg%
Nowitzki- .406
Stojokovic-.446
Ginoboli- .484
Pierce- .477
<A HREF="http://www.fiba.com/oneplanet/world/main_top.asp?CC=WMM&YearBegin=2002&Topic=Teams&HighL=teams";>Individual and team statistics</A>

This is not to say Pierce should have had a place on the All-Tournament team.
When your team comes in 6th you don't deserve that honor.  
It's simply to point out that he did play extremely well.