NBA '08 Playoff Thread

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=Pierce-Game1

To suggest that Pierce put his team in jeoperdy in the biggest game of his career is laughable. Hell, look at that facial expression. He heard a pop, thought he tore something, and was in real serious pain. Apparently he paid for his decision to return after the game. You have to wonder how effective he's going to be in Game 2 and beyond.

 

The Lakers must play more physical on both sides of the ball. Their finesse style is playing right into Boston's hands. There are a few feisty bench guys who play some hard D, and Odom does sometimes, and Kobe does most of the time...but it needs to be a more consistant effort.

And what was with all the missed free throws? Are the Lakers really that bad of a FT shooting team or was it an aberration? Why wouldn't Phil play more Kobe down the stretch? And speaking of Kobe, why didn't he drive to the basket more? The Celtics have shown a tendency to foul unnessasarily.

 

Remember after the Celtics lost a playoff game a few years ago and Pierce came to the postgame presser with a ridiculous towel wrapped around his head, looking like he had a big toothache? He was complaining that he'd been beaten up all game long without the refs calling it. Great player, but there's a lot of actor in that guy.

 

I don't think anybody would deny he wasn't hurt it was the spectacle that followed that was a joke.

 

Apples and oranges. That would be like comparing tennis to football -- in basketball, no one's going to hope that he's bleeding because that would mean a four-minute power play technical free throws. It's just not the same thing.

Re: wheelchair, I must admit, I did mock Dwyane Wade when he got carted off years ago. But at least Pierce came back.

 

Ryan Malone spent the day laughing at Pierce and his wheelchair.

 

Can we start calling Mark Jackson the new Bill Walton. Every time they see something happen, they say it is the greatest thing ever. They embelish so much it's ridiculous. Paul Pierce gets hurt and compares him to Muhammed Ali. Give me a freakin break.
I think Pierce was hurt, but obviously not as bad as he let on. I just think he wasn't used to the pain in his knee and got a little carried away with the theatrics of being carried off the court and in a wheelchair.

 

IMHO, I don't think the Lakers need to change much on offense because, again, if you watch a replay of the game, count how many of their shots rimmed in and out. The rims were unkind last night. I've watched the Lakers play every game this season and they'll knock those same shots down most nights. Losing Game 1 was not a surprise to me (hell, go back and look, I even had the score almost right). I honestly believe the Lakers will win Game 2. No matter what, I doubt Pierce and Perkins (ankle) are 100 percent. This knee injury may turn Pierce into a perimeter player and, well, if he can shoot 7-of-10 from the field every game, then hats off to him and the rest of the Celtics.

As for the Lakers free throws, it was an aberration when Fisher misses both FTs and that they miss a lot as a team. Lamar Odom missing free throws is not an aberration. He just sucks on big stages.

 

PaulO weighs in on today's topic: Celtics’ Pierce: Academy Award-Caliber Actor?

It gets better after the jump, with references to Oral Roberts and Laurence Olivier.

 

I guess Phil jackson has never played sports (Bostonbred)

 

Not directing this at anyone specifically, just saying that there is a line between being overly dramatic and faking an injury. Pierce certainly could be accused of the former, but there's no way on the latter.

 

I have to question Jackson calling out Pierce. What exactly does he gain from the statement? Pierce just gets more motivation to perform well...not that he doesn't have enough already considering he'll be playing practically in his backyard in Games 3-5.