Pierce

[Kim Malo]

At 02:16 PM 3/13/2008, Ryan W wrote:
>Thanks for reminding us, Kim.  But I think one of the
>underlying aspects of this story (both the recent good
>press, and Paul's maturation under Doc's tutelage) is
>how underappreciated Paul has been as a player
>throughout his career, from draft night until even up
>to this season.  Hardly any media give him his due
>respect as a ball player, and even in his best
>season--the one where he changed his game at the age
>of 30 (who does that anymore, unless forced by
>injury?) and took up defense in a consistent manner
>(he was good in spurts before)--there is nary a
>mention of him as a MVP candidate.

That's apparently not true anymore. According to Sean Grande just 
last night, over the past few weeks *he's* the one whose name keeps 
popping up in the discussion amongst the top 5 options rather than 
Garnett, in part because of his play when Garnett was out (which also 
cost Garnett).

>  I'm not saying he
>should win it--I think Garnett is the obvious choice
>and I'll be pissed if LeBron or Chris Paul or Kobe win
>it just because KG got injured for 9 games

Prepare to be pissed then...

>  And I
>think the disrespect--which probably stems from the
>fact that Paul isn't a flashy, high-flyer like most 2s
>and 3s in the NBA--caused some of those behavioral
>problems referenced by Kim.

I don't think so. There weren't enough blatant public episodes a la 
an Artest or even Artest's more whiney than evil former running mate 
in Indy for that to be a case. And I'm not sure it is active 
disrespect vs some underrating. For example, I've never thought he 
got enough credit for the rebounding, which is not a matter of easy, 
fell in his lap, stats, but something he WORKS to get. But that's 
merely underrating not active disrespect. While his game DID have 
major holes and problems, effective a scorer and rebounder as he 
could be at times. I think how bad the Cs were while he was their 
center hurt him a lot more than any behavioral problems. And not 
wholly unfairly.

And look, I wasn't jumping all over Pierce for the way he behaved 
before. I was simply pointing out that saying he never caused a 
problem wasn't true, while noting that there are plenty of valid 
reasons to really praise him now. I came not to bury Caesar but to 
praise him <g>

>Also,
>with KG and Ray in the fold, and their respect
>enumerated many times, I think Paul feels secure for
>the first time since Antoine was traded in 2003.

Yup, a legit point that doesn't often get made, at least not that 
way. Because I also think part of last season's emotional turnaround 
was related to a different type of security issue, where he got 
engaged and had someone here, not back in his childhoon home, to 
trust who was completely on his side outside the game as well, in 
contrast to the feeling very isolated and estranged way he came 
across in an extended Globe Magazine interview the year before.

>  We
>haven't mailed in one game this season.  That's
>because of Doc.

Nor, at least as significantly. did we mail them in last season, when 
it would have been a lot easier to do so because of the losing and 
when we weren't as full of real professionals.

Kim