Why does everyone hate Paul Pierce?

[Joseph17]

I've been noticing that people make bad remarks about Paul Pierce's personality and playing style. I never noticed him doing anything wrong or saying anything that was that bad. Why does everyone hate him? Some people also say that his game is boring. I don't understand this either. He's pretty fun to watch imo.

[Bleeding Green]

Gimme names. I'll snuff them out.

His game can be really ugly, though. I wouldn't say boring, but just ugly--with the driving to the basket and just flailing his arms in an attempt to get fouled at least. But it works, so who is complaining?

Freaky avatar.

[campybatman]

In my opinion, Paul Pierce is the most unappreciated and the most disliked superstar in Boston among the four major sports teams.

With Garnett now a Celtic, it gives those fans even more reason enough to move Pierce to the back of their minds. Personally, I can't stand it. If I'm his only fan in Boston. I'm not but it sure feels like it on some days. Then so be it. I can speak objectively and call Paul out when need be but I can too see what he has meant and continues to mean to this franchise. It's a shame. Paul Pierce is an iron man and wants to be a Celtic. But, yet the man's a scapegoat to these same home fans that root for the name on his jersey.

Boston fans get to see him regularly. So, they're more apt to dump on him for everything. While national fans that follow him like him for what they do see of him which is an awesome talent.

Maybe because he grew up being a Lakers fan. I don't know. Joking aside, Boston doesn't like him. Bird had help in his day and Pierce has had little to no one that could even compare to Bird's teammates over the years in starter and bench. Still, Pierce is a target for no better reason then to single him out. Hence, why enough people desire to see the return of Antoine Walker to Boston, yet again. Because he was the last real teammate Pierce has played with. Well, version one of Walker and not subsequent versions that would follow and certainly not the latest version: three point X. I'm referring to the On The Bench edition.

[aSizzLe]

^ are you saying that boston dislikes pierce?

You, my good sir, is crazyyy.

[daveisceltics]

Maybe because Pierce doesn't play for anyone else's favorite team except ours??

[Datruth345]

to me its easy

Pierces game, while highly effective, isn't attractive to the networks or the highlight shows

he has one of the most vast offensive arsenals in the entire nba, some like tommy heinson say he is the best offensive players in celtics history. but has about a handful of sportscenter plays a year, so he falls under the radar

his game is predicated on jumpshots and slashing to the basket and drawing contact

i love pierce and i love his heart, desire, loyalty to the celtics, his everything

he has never been in the headlines for anything negative, aside from the indiana playoff debacle and the george karl things, but everything just had to do with him wanting to win. compare that to othe rplayers, trade demands gun charges, strip club debacles and it is silly to even compare them

i'm pretty drunk right now, but i love paul pierce and his game regardless of my alcohol consumption


i wish everyone felt the same as me

go celtics

[aSizzLe]

^ gotta say... great post for being drunk lol

[canman1971]

I'm not sure I agree with this, but I do feel the general population is not very smart, so nothing surprises me.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Pierce has always been one of my favorite C's from the minute we drafted him. I don't know who the original poster was talking about bashing him. Although I do agree he is one of the most underappreciated stars in Boston EVER. But he has had some **** teams so that probably has something to do with it.

But don't kid yourself, without Pierce, KG and Ray don't lead this team to 62 wins by themselves...

[Tricky Ricky]

Ive been noticing this to, people like to say he was the best player on a bad team and stuff like that. I guess theyre just upset were finally winning

[Truthiracy]

Don't put any stock into what NetsForce and Cevap say, their only mission in life is to post as much hate about the Celtics as possible, regardless if it makes any sense or not.

[celticfan42487]

His first 4 years while he was getting all his press with his amazing play.

He also happened to be a little bit cocky, a bit of a 3 point launcher, always next to wiggle compalin Walker and laughing with him, and one of the bigger abusers of the rules with the pump fake lean in shot.. wich is the rules but it's still cheap.

Add that into his very disapointing chucker-esque season in 03-04 when it looked like perhaps he is apart of the reasons for the losses on his team and people said he was always overated.

The first years are what people remeber him for not the past 4 years.

[campybatman]

he has never been in the headlines for anything negative, aside from the indiana playoff debacle and the george karl things, but everything just had to do with him wanting to win. compare that to othe rplayers, trade demands gun charges, strip club debacles and it is silly to even compare them

Thank You!

How do you not respect a person that got stabbed multiple times and could've died from this night club attack during the off season and still came back to begin that season without setback. That's damn impressive!

[celticfan42487]

I remeber him being labeled as a thug earlier on in his career for those stabings.

Associating with wrong type of people out of Inglewood.

I agree he's never been in the papers for something he's done that good. It's always been him and Walker [who draws attention and talks to the press] or him doing in a not so good light.

[EJay33]

I haven't been a Pierce supporter since he elbowed Jamal Tinsley, got ejected from a playoff game, and was a rare Antoine Walker hotstreak away from costing the Celtics a playoff game. Then had the audacity to make a mockery of the situation in the post game press conference all while getting paid over $10 million per year to play sports.

Also, for large parts of his career if he doesn't get calls he will complain to the ref rather than run back on D. I even saw him doing it in the Wizards game a couple days ago. As previously mentioned in this thread, he leans into defenders to get to the line. True, it benefits the Celtics, but I don't particularly care for watching players rack up cheap fouls by flopping when they aren't even trying to score baskets and Pierce does a lot of that.

He also is responsible for some boneheaded plays. Spin-moves into 3 defenders and the patented Antoine Walker step-back three, for example. Combined with the losing and the fact that he was getting paid as much as Tim Duncan drove me nuts.

Also when he whined on TV and said he'd pay fines to protest the NBA dress code I worried that he'd never get it and never develop the maturity necessary to win in the NBA,

With that said, I was happy with his play early in his career and felt that we were fortunate to get him at 10. I wish he dedicated more time to keeping himself in shape, but he has said that he planned to adopt Ray Allen's workout regime so that is a plus. I also think Pierce's durability is one quality that sets him apart from some other NBA stars. For instance, there is no reason why Pierce should've had a better career than Vince Carter given the talent level, but Pierce brings it every day and Vince doesn't. I could insert a dozen names for Vince Carter, too.

I also think Pierce has done a good job of adjusting to Garnett and Ray, reducing his stop attempts, upping his FG%, and decreasing his turnovers. I think he's good, I don't love him to death, and I'd certainly have traded him to Portland against his will for Chris Paul, but we're going to need him in the playoffs if we're going to win a championship.

[alwayslovetheceltics]

the only fans that hate Paul are the bitches fans. we all know that no one should care about the opinion of the bitches or their fans.

as per the players, with the exception of LBJ and Q Bitch, Paul seems to get along with everyone.

LBJ hasn't liked Paul since Paul dropped 50 on him, and Q-Bitch is a just a Bitch.

[cisco]

I haven't been a Pierce supporter since he elbowed Jamal Tinsley, got ejected from a playoff game, and was a rare Antoine Walker hotstreak away from costing the Celtics a playoff game. Then had the audacity to make a mockery of the situation in the post game press conference all while getting paid over $10 million per year to play sports.

Also, for large parts of his career if he doesn't get calls he will complain to the ref rather than run back on D. I even saw him doing it in the Wizards game a couple days ago. As previously mentioned in this thread, he leans into defenders to get to the line. True, it benefits the Celtics, but I don't particularly care for watching players rack up cheap fouls by flopping when they aren't even trying to score baskets and Pierce does a lot of that.

He also is responsible for some boneheaded plays. Spin-moves into 3 defenders and the patented Antoine Walker step-back three, for example. Combined with the losing and the fact that he was getting paid as much as Tim Duncan drove me nuts.

Also when he whined on TV and said he'd pay fines to protest the NBA dress code I worried that he'd never get it and never develop the maturity necessary to win in the NBA,

With that said, I was happy with his play early in his career and felt that we were fortunate to get him at 10. I wish he dedicated more time to keeping himself in shape, but he has said that he planned to adopt Ray Allen's workout regime so that is a plus. I also think Pierce's durability is one quality that sets him apart from some other NBA stars. For instance, there is no reason why Pierce should've had a better career than Vince Carter given the talent level, but Pierce brings it every day and Vince doesn't. I could insert a dozen names for Vince Carter, too.

I also think Pierce has done a good job of adjusting to Garnett and Ray, reducing his stop attempts, upping his FG%, and decreasing his turnovers. I think he's good, I don't love him to death, and I'd certainly have traded him to Portland against his will for Chris Paul, but we're going to need him in the playoffs if we're going to win a championship.

Wow. I guess the OP is right. There are still some Pierce haters out there.

[15th overall]

I think alot of it just comes down to marketability. His game is based more on strength and smarts rather than finesse, which unfortunately for Paul doesnt translate well into 3 second clips on Sportscenter.

That's why you see inferior players like Vince Carter get so much love. His games pretty but his playoff record sure as hell isnt.

Chauncey Billups gets the shaft for the same reasons IMO.

[campybatman]

I could be alone in this opinion but I sincerely regard Pierce as the second best small forward in the league behind only James. The eastern conference playoffs will feature some of the other noteworthy small forwards: Prince, Turkoglu, James, Butler and Iguodala. The old Pierce might have saw this as an individual challenge needing to go head-to-head with some them. However, I doubt he'll allow himself to be concern by his defensive assignment or for it to distract from the Celtics' bigger objective which is to win these playoffs games. He'll leave it to the media to yak about the players involved.

I say the old Pierce but that Pierce could still show up if need be. That is, Pierce is a capable scorer but unlike James or Bryant. Pierce doesn't need to score a lot even if he's the first option on offense and the go-to player. The Celtics have added two All-Stars so Pierce oftentimes can defer his offense and concentrate on other things to help his team to win the game. What's interesting is how both Cleveland and the Lakers supposedly acquired help via a trade(s) to assist LeBron and Kobe. But, yet, they still feel the need to dominate the ball or their team puts them in predicaments where they've to score a ton of points. In contrast, the only time when anyone of the big three has to "take over" is whenever the reserves have failed them. If you've worthy teammates or role players holding their own. That makes life so much simpler for your stars. Pierce understands this and plays accordingly.

[GuyClinch]

He has his share of 'haters' - and the major reason for that is really simple. The C's have been bad to mediocre for many years and Pierce has been on those teams for many years.

Each and every year people would say - see Pierce isn't very good. He is the reason why we lose. Other fans would say - no his teamates just suck. The other fans have been proven right..but they are still venegful from the hate they have accumulated through the years of mediocre play.

That being said..

Pierce has PLENTY of fans. Not "everyone" hates him. <g> Ask any of his haters they are frustrated by the Pierce fans on this board to no end.

One little thing that irks me a tiny bit is the media seems to forget Pierce was injured most of last year when doing the "Garnett is MVP" spiel. They also forget that Garnett didn't win that many games either.

Pete