Celtics Stuff Live, WMike Fine-Sun. Apr. 6th- 7:00-9:00 PM.

[The real JB]

Mike Fine of the Patriot Ledger has covered the Celtics through three decades. He is considered one of the "grizzled veterans" of the press room and doesn't throw around superlatives superficially, so his recent exclamations of glee at the team's success have been rather shocking.

Check this out from his column of March 28th .

Simply the best. Better than all the rest.
The Boston Celtics don

[Gant]

JB, you guys are doing a great job on your show.

I have an unrelated question though: Let me know if I have this wrong, but my impression was that you were fairly negative on Paul Pierce before this year.

Is that true? And if so has this season changed your opinion?

[SuperDeluxe]

When is Gant going to be invited to the show?

[Gant]

When is Gant going to be invited to the show?

I can't be on. I don't speak English. I only write it.

[SuperDeluxe]

I can't be on. I don't speak English. I only write it.

So you are like me

[Gant]

-= original quote snipped =-



So you are like me

[The real JB]

Gant:

JB, you guys are doing a great job on your show.

I have an unrelated question though: Let me know if I have this wrong, but my impression was that you were fairly negative on Paul Pierce before this year.

Is that true? And if so has this season changed your opinion?

"Fairly negative?"
Does that mean I was fair in my negativity, or only a little negative?


I was always in awe of his courage. Paul is a gamer, who has a fighting attitude like a hockey player, but until this season, he did not seem to acknowledge that basketball is a team game.
Since he started out this season, playing defense and passing out of pressure, my criticism waned and compliments have been conveyed.
In fact, just last month, after the 27 points (on only 11 shots), 6 boards and 9 assists game (was it New Orleans?) I opened the podcap with some pretty glowing comments, including that it was "the perfect game" and that Paul had played as well as any player at his position that I have ever seen and comparing that game to typical Oscar Robertson.
Of course Oscar did that for a whole career and Paul is just rising to that level, (thanks to the gentle but persuasive influence of Doc Rivers and the not so gentle influence of Garnett).
I will say, here and now, that if Paul continues to play in the unselfish, team oriented manner, not only should the team get it's 17th banner, but Paul's number will be raised and the Hall of Fame will come calling.
"Is that what you wanted Alfred?"

[Gant]

Gant:

JB, you guys are doing a great job on your show.

I have an unrelated question though: Let me know if I have this wrong, but my impression was that you were fairly negative on Paul Pierce before this year.

Is that true? And if so has this season changed your opinion?

"Fairly negative?"
Does that mean I was fair in my negativity, or only a little negative?
:roll:

I was always in awe of his courage. Paul is a gamer, who has a fighting attitude like a hockey player, but until this season, he did not seem to acknowledge that basketball is a team game.
Since he started out this season, playing defense and passing out of pressure, my criticism waned and compliments have been conveyed.
In fact, just last month, after the 27 points (on only 11 shots), 6 boards and 9 assists game (was it New Orleans?) I opened the podcap with some pretty glowing comments, including that it was "the perfect game" and that Paul had played as well as any player at his position that I have ever seen and comparing that game to typical Oscar Robertson.
Of course Oscar did that for a whole career and Paul is just rising to that level, (thanks to the gentle but persuasive influence of Doc Rivers and the not so gentle influence of Garnett).
I will say, here and now, that if Paul continues to play in the unselfish, team oriented manner, not only should the team get it's 17th banner, but Paul's number will be raised and the Hall of Fame will come calling.
"Is that what you wanted Alfred?"

:lol:

"Fairly" means off-course far enough that asking the above question makes sense.


I thought Paul Pierce was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. He had the choice of trusting his not-ready teammates and the Celtics losing, or being extremely aggressive and taking the whole burden on himself.

No matter what he did he was going to look bad, just as Doc Rivers was going to look bad no matter his choices. That's the nature of teams with inadequate rosters.

Kevin Garnett faced the same decision in Minnesota: Trust his not-ready teammates or be overly aggressive. He usually decided to play a team game no matter what and got equal criticism for his choice.


Ironically Pierce's critics reflected his own mistake: Frustrated by losing, they put their heads down and took a narrow view (of him, just as he sometimes did with the court). If they had looked up and seen the big picture, things would have seemed much different.


Thankfully those unhappy days are past. Now we move forward- united, in our sporty green garb.