Pierce

[Pereira, Jorge M]

Lots of topics bouncing around here about PP.  I'd like to comment on
the "transition" itself.  

Imagine you are PP. He's the star of the team, whatever success it has
is because of his talent and charisma.  All of a sudden everyone is
telling him to change, the team can't win unless you stop being selfish
and so on.  Half of him (his ego) is saying 'Oh, now I'm selfish, I'm to
blame for all this?  You'd be nothing without me!; the other half is
saying, 'they may be right.  Jordon did it, others did it and it
worked...

He goes out and tries his darnest yet the coach yanks him a couple of
times because he overdribbled and lost the ball. Doc has to.  Only way
to teach him. PP's pride is hurt even more.  Not only it's embarrassing
in front of everybody but he was genuinely trying to be a team player.
Totally frustrated he goes to the bench and throws things, makes a scene
directed at Doc, right out there for everyone to see, on TV too.
FRUSTRATION, and only frustration was his problem, nothing else and Doc
knew it enough to let it ride without making a scene himself.  

That was the culminating point of PP's struggle.  From there on he had
time to think about it, and instead of sulking he bought on completely
to the team thing.  The blow up had to happen before the change.
Luckily both Doc and PP were "man" enough to put their personal
feelings, agendas aside for the good of the team.  And in my eyes at
least they showed they are good people and intelligent guys.

jorge

-----Original Message-----
From: celtics-bounces at igtc.com [mailto:celtics-bounces at igtc.com] On
Behalf Of Kim Malo
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 5:03 PM
To: The Boston Celtics Mailing List; celtics at igtc.com
Subject: Re: Pierce

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