Re: [Celtics' Stuff A lot to like in the Cs

[JB <jimmetz@xxxxxxx>]

On Friday, September 20, 2002, at 12:21  AM, davidp4660@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 9/19/2002 4:07:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> mgriffin@rillc.com writes:
>
>
>
> If the Celtics fail to make the playoffs a roster shake-up involving
> one of the captains would have to take place as they would be our most
> valuable commodities.
>
>
>
> I agree, but not until at least one more year goes by.   As
> frustrating as Pierce's game is for me, I'd still rather go with a
> sure thing, and Paul Pierce is a sure thing.  Pierce is already a top
> 10 player-a lot would have to go right for Lebron James before he'd
> even be as good as Pierce was as a rookie.  I heard the same about
> Vince Carter, Grant Hill, Penny Hardaway and a number of other
> freakish young studs-and it's the same old thing.  How many "the next
> Larry Bird's" have come down the pike?  How many "the next MJ" or
> "Magic"s have been found?  Somehow, I can't get too excited over a
> 17-18 year old swing player who think's he, too, is the next MJ.
	DavidP

************************

	With all of the chatter over the failure of the American team in the
Pan Am Games and the C's loss to New Jersey, we shouldn't lose sight of
  Dave's point. We are damn lucky to have Pierce.
	Paul did not ruin the "chemistry," or dissipate the concept of "team
play" that infected the Celtics during the Pitino years. In fact, Paul,
perhaps more than any other player, has helped the team, through his
leadership, to focus on the team goals, that helped them reach the
Eastern finals.
	Who was it that got Walker to pull his head out of his rear end? Who
got Anderson to play defense? From this end of the bench, I say it was
Paul, who was never afraid to take a charge, or fight in traffic for
rebounds. As he became the premier scoring threat and moral leader, the
team started to exhibit winning tendencies.
	No question he got a bit full of himself, due to the success and the
fawning of the press, but as the team looked for him to bail them out,
night after night (remember Walker's shooting % early in the season?),
isn't this to be expected? When team USA struggled early against
inferior competition, Paul bailed them out. Are we blaming him when he
was unable to do the same against the better teams? He didn't start
taking over games until it was obvious that something other than
"status quo"  was necessary. It was the same during the regular season,
for two or three quarters, he laid back and when  his scoring dominance
was needed, he was let loose.
	I think  if some of his critics would honestly look at the New Jersey
series and even the Pan Am games, you will  see Paul trying to
penetrate and dish, trying to pass out of the double teams. Some of
these skills will take some time to perfect, but as the defensive
pressure, even in the earlier rounds developed, there is no doubt,
passing out of the pressure was a priority.
	Paul wants to be, one of the dominant players in  the league, but I do
  not believe he would sacrifice the good of  the team to achieve it,
nor do I believe he expects to reach that level, without bringing the
team with him.


		JB

	Unchain My Heart !