Post by DERRENMATTS on Oct 19, 2007 1:01:21 GMT -5
I wasn't privileged to see our last game, but thanks to the highlights NBA.com posted, I got to see bits and pieces of the game--and I really liked what I saw.
One thing that really stood out for me--something that really made an impact on how I now view Pierce--is the new person he's become. He's playing with fire in his belly, with a hop in his step, thinking one step ahead of the next move, etc, and loving every moment of it. Pierce has always been a star caliber player, but my reservations of Pierce in the past stemmed from the opinion that he wasn't playing with the positive attitude he's playing with now--it was as if he was being held back from being the better player he could be. It was as if he had a bungee chord attached to his waist that prevented him from making the jump to the next level. And of course, a big portion of that was because he played on really bad teams. He was forced to selfishly hold onto the ball and look for his own shots because no one else on the team could score points for us. His sad amount of turnovers were due to the fact that he tried too hard to make things happen cause he was the only one who could make things happen. His pouting and look of indifference at times was because he knew he had no hope--his hope of playing winning basketball in Boston was a far fetched dream.
And another reason for my reservation towards Pierce was I didn't feel Pierce fit the role of the main show, the big ticket, the big man on campus. In my opinion, Pierce fits the best in the role as the younger brother who puts on a scoring show and excites the crowd.
This was the case when Antoine was here, and it appears to be the case now. Pierce seems to thrive most when the pressure is off his shoulders to be the class act, to be the mouth of the organization, to be the guy the team looks to, who will bring a fiery speech that re-energizes them. No, Pierce just wants to go out and play. He doesn't want to be burdened with the other peripheral things that go along with being the sole leader and captain of the team. And that's why he looks so free now--he has Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to help shoulder a big load of these responsibilities.
Its as if this unwanted burden has been lifted off his shoulders. He's playing with youthful vigor that speaks volumes of the joy that's running through his heart. He's playing with bounce and freshness, and is having fun competing with his two other star teammates (and they are certainly making basketball easier for him). No more does he need to carry his team every single minute of the game. No more will the blame for losses fall on his shoulders. For the first time in his career, he's on a team that has a legitimate shot at the NBA crown, and that's fueling his engine to play with more passion and unselfishness--and he's loving every minute of it.
Its incredible seeing all the extra passes, and seeing how crisp and simultaneously the passes are zipping around the court. This is how real basketball is played; this is the impact star veterans make on a team; and this is what Pierce has been wishing for all his life. Ray Ray and KG have added years to Pierce's basketball life, and together, they will help each other obtain something they all have been longing for--a championship ring.
Buckle in fellas, the thrilling ride to the Show is about to start!!! Next stop--the top of the NBA. ALL HAIL THE TRIOLOGY!!!!
One thing that really stood out for me--something that really made an impact on how I now view Pierce--is the new person he's become. He's playing with fire in his belly, with a hop in his step, thinking one step ahead of the next move, etc, and loving every moment of it. Pierce has always been a star caliber player, but my reservations of Pierce in the past stemmed from the opinion that he wasn't playing with the positive attitude he's playing with now--it was as if he was being held back from being the better player he could be. It was as if he had a bungee chord attached to his waist that prevented him from making the jump to the next level. And of course, a big portion of that was because he played on really bad teams. He was forced to selfishly hold onto the ball and look for his own shots because no one else on the team could score points for us. His sad amount of turnovers were due to the fact that he tried too hard to make things happen cause he was the only one who could make things happen. His pouting and look of indifference at times was because he knew he had no hope--his hope of playing winning basketball in Boston was a far fetched dream.
And another reason for my reservation towards Pierce was I didn't feel Pierce fit the role of the main show, the big ticket, the big man on campus. In my opinion, Pierce fits the best in the role as the younger brother who puts on a scoring show and excites the crowd.
This was the case when Antoine was here, and it appears to be the case now. Pierce seems to thrive most when the pressure is off his shoulders to be the class act, to be the mouth of the organization, to be the guy the team looks to, who will bring a fiery speech that re-energizes them. No, Pierce just wants to go out and play. He doesn't want to be burdened with the other peripheral things that go along with being the sole leader and captain of the team. And that's why he looks so free now--he has Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to help shoulder a big load of these responsibilities.
Its as if this unwanted burden has been lifted off his shoulders. He's playing with youthful vigor that speaks volumes of the joy that's running through his heart. He's playing with bounce and freshness, and is having fun competing with his two other star teammates (and they are certainly making basketball easier for him). No more does he need to carry his team every single minute of the game. No more will the blame for losses fall on his shoulders. For the first time in his career, he's on a team that has a legitimate shot at the NBA crown, and that's fueling his engine to play with more passion and unselfishness--and he's loving every minute of it.
Its incredible seeing all the extra passes, and seeing how crisp and simultaneously the passes are zipping around the court. This is how real basketball is played; this is the impact star veterans make on a team; and this is what Pierce has been wishing for all his life. Ray Ray and KG have added years to Pierce's basketball life, and together, they will help each other obtain something they all have been longing for--a championship ring.
Buckle in fellas, the thrilling ride to the Show is about to start!!! Next stop--the top of the NBA. ALL HAIL THE TRIOLOGY!!!!
