Re: Ouch

[Kim Malo <kimmalo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 10:17 PM 1/30/2004, Sean Giovanello wrote:
> I am pretty down on Pierce.  This year has shown he how much he needed 
> Antoine or someone comparable.  At least 2 out of 5 games now, Paul seems 
> more of the problem than the solution.  I dont think his attitude has been 
> good this year and it seems to be getting worse.  I cant help but wonder 
> whether Ricky Davis has anything to do with it.  I am going to remember 
> that dunk miss tonite for a long time.

Actually I think you're being unfair to both of them. Paul's had the same 
sort of problems all season, well before Ricky came on board. And while 
Pierce's on court behavior can drive me crazy in a lot of ways, I think 
that failed dunk was nothing more than an attempt to give the crowd and his 
teammates *something* to be enthusiastic/fired up about. They'd been 
getting pretty heavily boo'd and NOTHING was going right.

As to Pierce's broader problems, you're more on target with the idea that 
he needs an Antoine or someone else to actually run the team and just use 
him as a key weapon. IMO his season long problems are from trying to figure 
out his new role- he's thinking too much, getting away from the things that 
made him effective, and trying to do things that just don't suit him. 
Including trying to be the sort of natural leader that he really isn't, but 
with no alternative on the team to do it instead or reign him in when he 
needs it. Something I think Ainge thinks as well, based upon comments 
during the conference call about Pierce would benefit from a veteran point 
guard leader on the floor.

Kim