Bill Simmons' MVP... Ranks Pierce fifth...

campybatman · Post #1 » by **campybatman** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:36 am

I'm not going to say much on the topic but I feel that Simmons made a good point here. I can't find the exact article... But, when asked if it bothered him not to even hear his name mentioned as a consideration for MVP this season. Pierce responded by simply saying that it doesn't... He's more interested in winning as many championships as he possibly can before his career's up.

It would be nice to win a league MVP if I were a star player. However, Pierce realizes that fans of generation to generation will judge you more not on individual awards but who did you play against, how many years were you at the top of your game and how many titles did you help win for your franchise. Pierce always talks about his own legacy and what he'll like to leave to the memory of Boston fans of him. He wants to get inducted into the Hall Of Fame one day. I respect that. A lot of players only care about the salary, All-Star appearances and little else. I mean winning a championship doesn't even cross their minds until it's too late in their career. Pierce I think wants to look back on his career and be able to smile from his accomplishments in retrospect.

5. Paul Pierce
Numbers can't possibly describe Pierce's all-around impact on a banged-up team that had no business winning 60 games. Since the beginning of February, when KG's knees finally went south, Pierce averaged a 23-6-3, defended the opponent's best perimeter scorer every night and carried the Celts emotionally. When Leon Powe went down in mid-March, the Celtics played their next 12 games with Kendrick Perkins, Mikki Moore and Glen Davis as their only big men ... and went 10-2 during a desperation stretch. If Pierce and Howard are equally important to their teams, and Pierce's team won more games, why wouldn't he rank higher on the MVP ballot? What am I missing?

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ons/090415

MyInsatiableOne · Post #2 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:05 am

Was a decent article from Bill...I agree with his Pierce assessment...

cisco · Post #3 » by **cisco** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 12:55 pm

If Pierce and Howard are equally important to their teams, and Pierce's team won more games, why wouldn't he rank higher on the MVP ballot? What am I missing?

I was wondering this myself. I was listening to ESPN radio one day last week and they were pondering who was the next MVP candidate after Lebron, Kobe and Wade. They were saying maybe Dwight Howard, but after him, they couldn't think of anyone else. Chris Bosh was then mentioned as the only other possible candidate they could think of. :roll:

I really hope the Celtics win it all again this year. I am so sick of the blatant disrespect of our all-stars! :evil:

Dave_From_NB · Post #4 » by **Dave_From_NB** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 1:22 pm

cisco wrote:
If Pierce and Howard are equally important to their teams, and Pierce's team won more games, why wouldn't he rank higher on the MVP ballot? What am I missing?

I was wondering this myself. I was listening to ESPN radio one day last week and they were pondering who was the next MVP candidate after Lebron, Kobe and Wade. They were saying maybe Dwight Howard, but after him, they couldn't think of anyone else. Chris Bosh was then mentioned as the only other possible candidate they could think of. I really hope the Celtics win it all again this year. I am so sick of the blatant disrespect of our all-stars!

Chris Bosh for MVP? From the playoffs to the draft lottery, even Bosh stopped pimping himself as an MVP candidate when the Raptors crashed. They may as well just rename the award the Most Stats Player if players from under-achieving teams are in consideration.

campybatman · Post #5 » by **campybatman** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:17 pm

That was a slight exaggeration of Garnett's knee injury. He wrote knees... But, I read it as generally speaking. No doubt, Boston will have their collective backs against the wall. Still, it wasn't as if they haven't been playing without Garnett recently. So, the shock for them might lose a little impact, maybe not. Besides, the playoffs begin this weekend for Boston, so Pierce and company don't have the time to stress over the lost of a starter. They've to remain focused... Orlando's entering the playoffs and dealing with injuries too. But, they might be healthier than Boston. I don't know, I don't follow their team. And let's not forget about San Antonio losing Ginobili... Houston lost McGrady, Detroit lost Iverson and Philadelphia lost Brand. This has certainly been a strange season this season for name players and injuries.