Re: GMs say Pierce no longer untouchable

["Josh Ozersky" <jozersky@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, I think he has, although less so since Twon left.
The bottom line is that you can give the ball to Pierce
when you need two points and he will get them for you.
There are exceedingly few guys in the league you can 
say that about:  Kobe, Duncan, Sam Cassell when he's on,
and that's it.  That's always been the thing with Pierce, and
why I like him over Dirk and his other rivals.  I will admit
that he stopped delivering this year, but last year he was 
still doing it for us, even with the uncalled hacking that won
the Nets the ECF.

Josh
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Berry, Mark S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <celtics@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 1:11 PM
Subject: Re: GMs say Pierce no longer untouchable


> Josh wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> I disagree.  I knew going in that Pierce wasn't a leader,
> and that he was an all-pro basketball player.  I still know
> that.  You knew both of these things too, Mark.  I wouldn't
> trade Pierce for anyone except another legit, proven superstar.
> 
> 
> --- --- ---
> 
> 
> 
> Josh, it's not that he isn't a leader. You're right. We knew that. I
> think he has quit on this team. I think he's doing his own thing out
> there, loafing, acting disinterested and, to compound matters, he's
> blaming all the problems on his teammates, coaches and management.
> 
> 
> 
> Again, you have to be careful about who you build your team around. I
> think we're finding out this year that Pierce may not be the right guy.
> 
> 
> 
> By the way ... Pierce had a great finish to the 2000-2001 season, a
> great 2001-2002, but he wasn't great last year and he's far from great
> this year. I'm not by any means suggesting you give him away. Not at
> all. You have to get HUGE return, either in a package or in a
> one-for-one deal. But let's not pretend Pierce is still the guy who
> looked like a first-team All-NBA player two years ago. He hasn't been
> that guy since the Celts lost to the Nets in the ECF.
> 
> 
> 
> Mark