Paul Pierce: We're GLORIFIED Role Players

[Da_Kidd]

Best quote out of all these interviews so far. The fact that he understands that this is still Deron's team and the only thing driving them is to win a championship is one that stands out just for the fact that their throwing their egos out the door for a crack at their 2nd title.

Really huge since I was afraid that there were too many "star" players on this team, one of the major questions heading into the season. Selfless players like JJ, Brook and Deron and the intensity of KG and PP is just the perfect combination.

Oh and I love the Pearl Jam reference as well.

On a side note though, if I ever meet Prokhy I would seriously smoke with that man. That guy is a G and is funny as hell. Love having him as an owner. I feel like he is Steinbrenner reincarnated.

[bostonfan34]

You don't want this to be a Deron Williams-led team. You want it to be a Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce led team, with Deron Williams and Brook Lopez being the major firepower...and I think that's exactly what will happen.

[LobCityRondo2KG]

I still think in crunch time of a close game Paul Pierce will be the main option for you guys.. He will force some things and make bone head plays at times but he will make up for it with clutch plays too.. He is a gamer that isnt afraid to take the last shot

[Da_Kidd]

Paul Pierce recognizes that he doesn't need to carry a team anymore to provide longevity to his career. It started last year in Boston, letting Rondo run the show and taking a step back from his usual gimme-the-ball and clear out PP.

Make no mistake about it, this is STILL Deron's team but the leadership and gamesmanship that KG and PP provides will only help Deron in that aspect.

[NyCeEvO]

I think you're both right.

Pierce and KG will definitely lead this emotionally and will be looked upon as to guide us, but D-Will and Lopez are expected to do much of the physical heavy lifting for the team.

I wouldn't worry too much about who ends up being THE overall guy because we actually need them to keep the egos in check in order to play well together.

I'm glad KG and Pierce talked a lot about sacrifice, especially with KG stating that players will need to commit to doing things that they're not necessarily good at/don't want to do but need to do for the benefit of the team. Lopez...rebounding, D-Will...defense, JJ...actually looking like he cares about playing basketball lol.

[sunshinekids99]

Best quote out of all these interviews so far. The fact that he understands that this is still Deron's team and the only thing driving them is to win a championship is one that stands out just for the fact that their throwing their egos out the door for a crack at their 2nd title.

Really huge since I was afraid that there were too many "star" players on this team, one of the major questions heading into the season. Selfless players like JJ, Brook and Deron and the intensity of KG and PP is just the perfect combination.

Oh and I love the Pearl Jam reference as well.

On a side note though, if I ever meet Prokhy I would seriously smoke with that man. That guy is a G and is funny as hell. Love having him as an owner. I feel like he is Steinbrenner reincarnated.

Paul Pierce gets it and so does KG. Hell the past few years they said the Celtics main guy was Rondo and they went as far as he could take them. Your not going to see either guy rock the boat.

Good luck this year

[stepbackj34]

Best quote out of all these interviews so far. The fact that he understands that this is still Deron's team and the only thing driving them is to win a championship is one that stands out just for the fact that their throwing their egos out the door for a crack at their 2nd title.

Really huge since I was afraid that there were too many "star" players on this team, one of the major questions heading into the season. Selfless players like JJ, Brook and Deron and the intensity of KG and PP is just the perfect combination.

Oh and I love the Pearl Jam reference as well.

On a side note though, if I ever meet Prokhy I would seriously smoke with that man. That guy is a G and is funny as hell. Love having him as an owner. I feel like he is Steinbrenner reincarnated.

Paul Pierce gets it and so does KG. Hell the past few years they said the Celtics main guy was Rondo and they went as far as he could take them. Your not going to see either guy rock the boat.

Good luck this year

That's your opinion. We didn't start winning this year until Rondo went down and everybody started touching the ball. Paul Pierce is the only Celtics player over the big 3 era that we had a losing record without.

[kmgarnett21]

Pierce and KG (and Ray, ugh) didn't let egos or anything get in the way in 2007-08 when they won it all...and that was when they were all still in their primes. Why would anyone think it would be a problem now?

[sunshinekids99]

Best quote out of all these interviews so far. The fact that he understands that this is still Deron's team and the only thing driving them is to win a championship is one that stands out just for the fact that their throwing their egos out the door for a crack at their 2nd title.

Really huge since I was afraid that there were too many "star" players on this team, one of the major questions heading into the season. Selfless players like JJ, Brook and Deron and the intensity of KG and PP is just the perfect combination.

Oh and I love the Pearl Jam reference as well.

On a side note though, if I ever meet Prokhy I would seriously smoke with that man. That guy is a G and is funny as hell. Love having him as an owner. I feel like he is Steinbrenner reincarnated.

Paul Pierce gets it and so does KG. Hell the past few years they said the Celtics main guy was Rondo and they went as far as he could take them. Your not going to see either guy rock the boat.

Good luck this year

That's your opinion. We didn't start winning this year until Rondo went down and everybody started touching the ball. Paul Pierce is the only Celtics player over the big 3 era that we had a losing record without.

Actually that was pierce and kg opinion.

[stepbackj34]

So? Josh Smith's thinks he deserves a max contract, Rondo thinks he's the best PG in the league, Scottie Pippen thinks LeBron is better than MJ. Player opinions don't mean squat, especially when guys like Pierce and KG always try to say the right thing. And the fact still remains that we didn't start winning until Rondo went down.

It's Rondo's team now though... No more old guys to run with.. Championship!

[sunshinekids99]

So? Josh Smith's thinks he deserves a max contract, Rondo thinks he's the best PG in the league, Scottie Pippen thinks LeBron is better than MJ. Player opinions don't mean squat, especially when guys like Pierce and KG always try to say the right thing. And the fact still remains that we didn't start winning until Rondo went down.

It's Rondo's team now though... No more old guys to run with.. Championship!

The point I was making was to say Pierce and KG will accept the role with the Nets. Not once did I say who was the best player to play for the Celtics.

[Paradise]

If KG, Pierce were with the Lakers, that team would have worked out. It's honestly laughable how people still want to be deluded into believing Deron, Joe, Paul, Kevin, Brook will be fighting over the ball. Deron, Joe, Brook were TOO unselfish last season and basically allowed teams to exploit this team weakness with Evans/Wallace by not taking enough shots and passing out to allow Wallace to shoot threes at 28%. So many times Lopez would get the ball off a pick and roll and then pass to Evans/Wallace instead of taking the hard layup.

So, basically, you upgrade the roster with veterans with an unselfish winning mindset to compliment unselfish younger talent. The only selfish players I could honestly think of on the entire roster is Reggie Evans and Tyshawn Taylor but he's young, so I can't hold it against him.

[EGarrett]

There was never the slightest doubt that this group wouldn't work together. They have 5 guys who all can score, but none of whom are arrogant or selfish. The closest might have been Deron but I have a feeling he's going to fit in nicely.

[2Mas]

So? Josh Smith's thinks he deserves a max contract, Rondo thinks he's the best PG in the league, Scottie Pippen thinks LeBron is better than MJ. Player opinions don't mean squat, especially when guys like Pierce and KG always try to say the right thing. And the fact still remains that we didn't start winning until Rondo went down.

It's Rondo's team now though... No more old guys to run with.. Championship!

You act like we were great without Rondo. A whole 21-17 after his torn ACL. Esp w/ Pierce's neck issue, Green coming back 100%. Terry was better without Rondo def, but those 2 struggling to start definitely affected the team as well.

[therealbig3]

So? Josh Smith's thinks he deserves a max contract, Rondo thinks he's the best PG in the league, Scottie Pippen thinks LeBron is better than MJ. Player opinions don't mean squat, especially when guys like Pierce and KG always try to say the right thing. And the fact still remains that we didn't start winning until Rondo went down.

It's Rondo's team now though... No more old guys to run with.. Championship!

You act like we were great without Rondo. A whole 21-17 after his torn ACL. Esp w/ Pierce's neck issue, Green coming back 100%. Terry was better without Rondo def, but those 2 struggling to start definitely affected the team as well.

You were 16-9 without Rondo and before KG got injured though. Once KG got injured is when you guys started struggling, which imo proved that KG was still the MVP of the Celtics.

And when the other players get better after Rondo goes down, I see that as a damning flaw with the whole "Rondo makes everyone else better" argument.

[2Mas]

So? Josh Smith's thinks he deserves a max contract, Rondo thinks he's the best PG in the league, Scottie Pippen thinks LeBron is better than MJ. Player opinions don't mean squat, especially when guys like Pierce and KG always try to say the right thing. And the fact still remains that we didn't start winning until Rondo went down.

It's Rondo's team now though... No more old guys to run with.. Championship!

You act like we were great without Rondo. A whole 21-17 after his torn ACL. Esp w/ Pierce's neck issue, Green coming back 100%. Terry was better without Rondo def, but those 2 struggling to start definitely affected the team as well.

You were 16-9 without Rondo and before KG got injured though. Once KG got injured is when you guys started struggling, which imo proved that KG was still the MVP of the Celtics.

And when the other players get better after Rondo goes down, I see that as a damning flaw with the whole "Rondo makes everyone else better" argument.

Who got better without Rondo? Terry? Yes i'll give you that. CLee? Dude didn't touch the court in the playoffs. Green? Yes but that's health issue. He said himself doctor said Feb till he feels better. So i'll give you halfs on that. KG? Hell no. Rondo spoon fed an easy 4 pts to him every game. Bradley? Hell no lol. Probably suffered the most with KG. Pierce? Definitely picked up the load, so i'll give you that but he said yesterday that pinched nerve bothered the sh*t out of him & his efficiency was terrible & avg 5to's in the playoffs. He had a much bigger load to carry though. So who got better? Terry, Bass & maybe Green? Pierce Garnett Lee Bradley Wilcox all suffered without him.

& Just a personal opinion, but with Rondo Boston beats the Knicks. & I feel VERY confident about saying that. I know it's IF this & that & an opinion, but we played nyk the same exact way, if Boston had Rondo's easy diming & ball handling we take that series.

[ddb]

I think you're X factor without a doubt is Joe Johnson. Brook will compliment KG very well. In fact, I think KG will bring the best out of Brook. KG can space the floor offensively meaning Brook will have single coverage most of the time when KG is on the court with him. Deron of course is the primary ball handler who is capable of taking over a game offensively. Ultimately your top 3 options will be Deron, Pierce and Brook with KG as a floor spacing big who picks his spots. Joe Johnson will be sitting in the corners...I don't see how he fits in. I think Joe will struggle more then anyone with this transition. KG/Paul know how to execute together and pick their spots. Deron will always have the ball in his hands and then Brook is the guy they will pound it down low too. meaning JJ is your 5th option. How will he handle that? the way he handles it will make or break this team.

I think your best lineup is going to be DW/PP/AK/KG/BL when those 5 guys are on the floor it's going to be fun. Joe Johnson to me should be the 6th man

[drza]

I think your best lineup is going to be DW/PP/AK/KG/BL when those 5 guys are on the floor it's going to be fun. Joe Johnson to me should be the 6th man

I tend to disagree. I think the best unit will feature KG and AK at the C and PF positions. It creates all of the offensive mismatches of smallball, but with the shocking defensive ability to play big. I wouldn't be surprised if DW/Joe/Pierce/AK/KG ends up being by pretty clearly the best unit for Brooklyn this year.

[PetroNet]

I think your best lineup is going to be DW/PP/AK/KG/BL when those 5 guys are on the floor it's going to be fun. Joe Johnson to me should be the 6th man

I tend to disagree. I think the best unit will feature KG and AK at the C and PF positions. It creates all of the offensive mismatches of smallball, but with the shocking defensive ability to play big. I wouldn't be surprised if DW/Joe/Pierce/AK/KG ends up being by pretty clearly the best unit for Brooklyn this year.

yup, and ive said the same in the other 3 threads. that lineup has a ton of offense, and has lockdown defense potential. if we have a small lead, thats the unit that needs to close out games

[exculpatory]

I think your best lineup is going to be DW/PP/AK/KG/BL when those 5 guys are on the floor it's going to be fun. Joe Johnson to me should be the 6th man

I tend to disagree. I think the best unit will feature KG and AK at the C and PF positions. It creates all of the offensive mismatches of smallball, but with the shocking defensive ability to play big. I wouldn't be surprised if DW/Joe/Pierce/AK/KG ends up being by pretty clearly the best unit for Brooklyn this year.

yup, and ive said the same in the other 3 threads. that lineup has a ton of offense, and has lockdown defense potential. if we have a small lead, thats the unit that needs to close out games

I am surprised u guys would use AK47 rather than BLop at crunch time. U think great O without him & AK that much better defensively?