RE: Deveney on Pierce v. Milwaukee

["Wright, Cecil" <Cecil.Wright@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I note that the league has rescinded the flagrant foul called on Shaq near
the end of the Houston game, as well as the resulting technical which was
called on Phil Jackson.  I would love to think that Stu is seriously trying
to address this issue, however, I saw no mention of the non-call and the
technical awarded to Obie when Pierce got whacked in the mouth a few weeks
back, which I think was THE play which precipitated the focus on
officiating.

In my opinion, it is up to the coach to send a message to the opposition
that there will be an eye for an eye if they continue to beat Pierce up,
which is obviously the plan based upon the article.  When the Allen Iversons
and Jason Kidds get intentionally crushed, they will have nothing to say,
since Pierce endures it nightly.

Cecil  


-----Original Message-----
From: Tammo29@AOL.com [mailto:Tammo29@AOL.com]
Sent: January 22, 2003 2:29 AM
To: celtics@igtc.com
Subject: Deveney on Pierce v. Milwaukee 


  That was a very nice piece.
  I've noticed a trend among the boards lately to blame Pierce for things he

didn't do (the poster last week that accused him of pulling up on a fast 
break for a three when it was actually the other captain) and to not give
him 
credit when it is deserved (a poster on another board credited Antoine for 
Kedricks alley-OOP dunk last night when it was in fact Pierce that made that

nice play, slowing up just a bit to give Brown time to get to the basket but

still keeping the good passing angle).  I'm not really sure why that is and
I 
won't even try to guess.  Don't get me wrong, there have been plenty of 
things to be critical of with him this season.  I just think it would be
nice 
if he didn't have to take the fall for others too. 

Anyway, back to the article.  The Celtics are really going to have to do 
something about the physicality issue.  Teams aren't even bothering to mask 
it anymore.  They're coming right out and telling the world that they are 
going to knock him around at every opportunity and the Celtics are letting 
them get away with it.  When he tries to stand up for himself, like he did 
last night when he got elbowed in the chops away from the ball he is 
criticized for not keeping his cool.  And the Boston papers are totally 
oblivious to the whole incident, saying instead he was arguing a foul called

on him.  Where was O'Brien?  It happened right in front of the Celtics bench

and he didn't even say a word as far as I could tell.  That should have been

his T.
On the other hand I watched Steve Francis and Kobe Bryant get to the line 
repeatedly the other night for nothing more than a brush of the uniform.  
Nowitzki got some calls tonight that Pierce could only dream of getting and 
he was getting them on jumpshots, not even on drives.  It really makes you 
wonder what in the heck is going on.

I don't see any other team letting one of their top players get treated this

poorly without a teammate stepping in and at least trying to even up the 
score, I don't care what Chris Wallace says.  
With Antoine out for two weeks it's just going to give opponents more of an 
incentive to knock Paul around as long as they know they can get away with 
it.
If it keeps happening, O'Brien has to either put in someone like Wolkowyski,

who won't be missed if he's disqualified for a game or two to throw a few 
bodies around himself, or take his complaints to the League through the
media 
so it's at least out there in public for the ref's to think about.   Hey, it

worked for Riley.


TAM