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Post by jb on Jul 7, 2006 5:17:50 GMT -5
The big news is the "minor" surgery, but the article also expresses the obvious concerns about Pierce wanting to sign the contract extension, without some solid signs the C's could compete for a championship in the next few years.
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<http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2006/07/07/in_la_pierce_has_big_dreams?mode=PF>
The Boston Globe In LA, Pierce has big dreams
By Shira Springer, Globe Staff | July 7, 2006
{Excerpt}
Pierce will not take part in the competition because of a sore left elbow that forced him to miss the final three games of the season. After playing pickup games last week and absorbing contact for the first time since the season ended, Pierce decided he needed elbow surgery. According to Pierce, team physician Brian McKeon will operate in August, leaving the captain more than enough time for rehabilitation before training camp starts in October.
``I was debating it because the swelling went down," said Pierce. ``But I played last week and it started to hurt again. If I keep playing, I feel like it's going to swell up. The best thing is for me to get it out of the way. It's something I've got to do. It's a minor surgery, a minor cut, just clean it out. It's not a long rehab, probably about two weeks. If I was going to play USA [basketball], it was just going to get worse. It was something that was going to linger."
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 7, 2006 10:53:23 GMT -5
Sounds like people are talking to him (probably Antoine) and he's thinking it may be best for him to move to a contending team. This may be the last year Pierce gives the youth movement a try. If things aren't working out like he wants it to, he may opt out and go to another team (presuming we don't get him to sign an extension this summer).
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Post by jb on Jul 8, 2006 6:49:56 GMT -5
Interesting response by Ainge from this morning's Steve Bulpet column in the Herald.
Ainge has been caught a bit off guard by speculation that Pierce will try to move on to another club. “I don’t know why this is such a big deal,” he said of the potential of a new contract. “Paul’s said from the beginning that he’s interested in getting something done with us.” When it was mentioned that Pierce has talked often about the importance of playing for a championship and that such an opportunity might be further away with the Celtics, Ainge said, “I just believe what Paul tells me; not what he tells anybody else. I believe what he says. “I’m in constant contact with Paul and Jeff. I’ve been talking to Jeff just about every other day. I believe Paul wants to be in Boston, and we want Paul in Boston. That’s why I’m confident we can get a deal done. Both sides want it. That’s my opinion.”
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Post by The Eye of the Q is upon you! on Jul 8, 2006 18:38:29 GMT -5
Interesting response by Ainge from this morning's Steve Bulpet column in the Herald. Ainge has been caught a bit off guard by speculation that Pierce will try to move on to another club. “I don’t know why this is such a big deal,” he said of the potential of a new contract. “Paul’s said from the beginning that he’s interested in getting something done with us.” When it was mentioned that Pierce has talked often about the importance of playing for a championship and that such an opportunity might be further away with the Celtics, Ainge said, “I just believe what Paul tells me; not what he tells anybody else. I believe what he says. “I’m in constant contact with Paul and Jeff. I’ve been talking to Jeff just about every other day. I believe Paul wants to be in Boston, and we want Paul in Boston. That’s why I’m confident we can get a deal done. Both sides want it. That’s my opinion.” Knowing the history of how much Ainge tells the truth, I believe that Paul Pierce is not really interested in signing an extension with the Celtics. This is beginning to point in the direction of a complete teardown and rebuilding of the Celtics with youth. I would look at possibly trading away Pierce in February.
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Post by jb on Jul 8, 2006 19:15:00 GMT -5
[quote author=quinielabox board=0506 thread=1152267470 [/quote]
Knowing the history of how much Ainge tells the truth, I believe that Paul Pierce is not really interested in signing an extension with the Celtics. This is beginning to point in the direction of a complete teardown and rebuilding of the Celtics with youth. I would look at possibly trading away Pierce in February. [/quote]
There is another element to that and it's the relationship between Paul and the owners. Did you read Sportsguys piece on tradable players that says the first thing you see in Grousbeck's office is the huge framed and signed Pierce jersey? The owners are hardly celebrities without the players. Those that hob nob with the team, love the buzz and the "broads." I wouldn't doubt a power play with Rivers and Pierce on one side and Danny on the other. Regardless of what Pierce says publicly, he can't be thrilled that Ainge brought in two point guards and wants to give them the ball and let them run. I think that Rivers sides with Pierce and the owner, for security and because Danny keeps trading his favorite players to force him to play the kids and Ainge's preferred style. Doc can't be thrilled that his Pierce; penetrate and dish to the perimeter shooters is being dismantled.
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Post by ferbo on Jul 8, 2006 19:29:46 GMT -5
Not sure I agree. I'll be su rprised if there is a dropoff in PPs scoring. I think he may wind up getting some different kinds of scoring. Maybe more slashing. Maybe more jumpers where he gets a pass back out of the paint.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Jul 8, 2006 21:19:11 GMT -5
I am hoping that the best change in his game will be that we won't see him dribbling into double teams and losing the ball or dribbling up top of the key in an ISO for most of the shot clock. I hope Doc keeps the ball in the hands of the PG's now that we have 2 pure points and let them get it to Pierce in a spot to score and that will cut down on his turnovers.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 8, 2006 21:38:28 GMT -5
I totally agree, FL. The ball must be in the PG's hands for the bulk of the time, and we should be running a lot of pick and rolls to allow them the opportunity to create offense for us. Our players need to be doing their part by setting strong picks, rolling down to the basket after setting picks, and getting open on the perimeter for kick out shots. All the players should be moving to get open, and be prepared to receive passes where they can catch and shoot.
Pierce must show the ability to be this kind of player. Gerald Green must show that he is this type of player.
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Post by esco33 on Jul 8, 2006 23:09:22 GMT -5
It's not like Pierce hasn't played with point guards before. Even though he wasn't a great point guard, Kenny Anderson had the ball in his hands more than Paul when he played with the Celts I think. And Gary Payton last year directed the offense, not Paul.
I think he will be fine, and will love getting sweet dishes and easy open looks from the plays setup by Telfair and Rondo.
I really do not see it as an issue at all.
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Post by DERRENMATTS on Jul 8, 2006 23:29:35 GMT -5
But Kenny Anderson and Gary Payton did not play the way Telfair does. At the point in their careers when they came over to Boston, they weren't playmaking PG's any longer. They were passed their primes. In the Kenny Anderson era, Toine and Pierce did a lot of iso's. In the Payton era, he mostly walked it up and didn't do anything resembling the Payton of yester years, and Pierce was still doing iso's. Neither of them created offense for the team.
Telfair is a different type of PG than those 2 when they played for us. The tempo should be a lot faster with him (if Doc and the players stick to the gameplan) and hopefully we'll see a real playmaking PG creating our offense.
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