Scoop Jackson's Paul Pierce Article.

[Big_Matt34]

I used to really like Scoop when he was with Slam but i really havent been a fan of much of his stuff for a few years now, however i think this is a very good article. Its just about how Pierce may actually be the leader for us in the playoffs

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=jackson_scoop&page=PaulPiercefeature-080606

MY favorite part is this because it shows what PP means to his teammates.

"Standing out on the team like Johnny Gill's voice in New Edition, the one called The Truth has made it abundantly clear that for the Celts in this series, everything will ride or breathe its last breath with him. Through him. Which is why when asked after the game about what Pierce said to him just before he went back on the court during his Willis Reed remix, Celtics reserve Tony Allen said, "He said, 'I'm back. Let's ride, killa!'" Then Allen said as passionately as someone could only about his leader, "I could see it in his eyes, he willed himself back. You know, that's The Truth, man! That's The Truth!"

Also love what Frank Isola said about Pierce lol, just cant put it here. Magic is a class act and the part about him and Pierce is awesome. And just to remind us of what type of player Pierce is historically.

"The truth is that although Garnett might be the savior, The Truth is something more. This is how divine order in Boston works: A guy from the same Inglewood neighborhood as the Forum, a player who, if the Celts win, will be mythically dubbed and crowned "the greatest player ever to come out of L.A." would be the one to restore order to their championship heritage and tradition."

[bbc3341]

good stuff from the guy who wrote that rooting for Garnett has lost all joy because of the Hawk's series...

[Who]

Did Phil Jackson call Paul Pierce the "Heart and Soul" of the Celtics? One of the announcers said he did during the game. I missed the quote in the papers/interviews.

[Big_Matt34]

Yup according to Breen Phil said it. Watch this video and at about 27 seconds he says it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGjFnc1csoE

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

Not a big Scoop fan the last few years, feel like he's been mailing them in on espn.com a lot of the time (and he kind of writes too much to what he thinks people want from him, not writing to his natural strengths, trying too blatantly to be the one to fill Wiley's shoes), but that said, this line is a really good summarizing in one sentence of many of the problems with the NBA and what makes PP a great and special player:

"When Paul Pierce was carried off by Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen, Boston's season hung in the balance.
He doesn't say "my team" a lot. Not like the rest of the players who "lead" teams but their teams aren't here."

Exactly. Pierce ain't saying "A Lebron James team is never desperate" putting himself above his teammates. He leads by example, plays hard defense and SHOWS how the team will play. It ain't talking the talk it's walking the walk.