Danny Ainge compares Pierce to DJ, KG to Bird

[Roy Hobbs]

From this week's Sports Illustrated:

As for Paul, he's a very determined player, like Larry, but he reminds me of DJ.  Like DJ, Paul can get a little salty.  He's up and down moodwise.  And on the court he's kind of an energy conserver.  He doesn't play all out all the time.  That used to drive me nuts about DJ because I was the other guard and I'd think "This guy is so gifted.  What's he doing coasting?"  But then, like with DJ, Paul has stretches that are unbelievably special.  You need something to happen, whatever it is -- a blocked shot, winning a jump ball, a steal, a rebound, a pass, a shot -- and Paul supplies it.  That's how DJ was.

[Bird and Garnett are] completely different.  KG is more of a sentimental guy, more feeling, kinder.  Larry was not kind.  Larry was grouchy.  That's how he was born, that's how he competed.  He would bust everybody's chops, get angry and frustrated.

But here's what KG is like:  We're in training camp in Rome, and I see him in the weight room.  Then he goes to practice, works his butt off and gets his shots up after practice.  Then, for the next 45 minutes, KG is running around the gym rebounding for Rajon Rondo.  Let me tell you something:  In a million years Larry Bird would never do that.  He might make me rebound for him, but not the other way around.  KG is focused and intense like Larry, but he really cares about the feelings of his teammates, cares that he's perceived as almost the team mother.

Interesting stuff. 

[johnnyrondo]

From this week's Sports Illustrated:

As for Paul, he's a very determined player, like Larry, but he reminds me of DJ.  Like DJ, Paul can get a little salty.  He's up and down moodwise.  And on the court he's kind of an energy conserver.  He doesn't play all out all the time.  That used to drive me nuts about DJ because I was the other guard and I'd think "This guy is so gifted.  What's he doing coasting?"  But then, like with DJ, Paul has stretches that are unbelievably special.  You need something to happen, whatever it is -- a blocked shot, winning a jump ball, a steal, a rebound, a pass, a shot -- and Paul supplies it.  That's how DJ was.

[Bird and Garnett are] completely different.  KG is more of a sentimental guy, more feeling, kinder.  Larry was not kind.  Larry was grouchy.  That's how he was born, that's how he competed.  He would bust everybody's chops, get angry and frustrated.

But here's what KG is like:  We're in training camp in Rome, and I see him in the weight room.  Then he goes to practice, works his butt off and gets his shots up after practice.  Then, for the next 45 minutes, KG is running around the gym rebounding for Rajon Rondo.  Let me tell you something:  In a million years Larry Bird would never do that.  He might make me rebound for him, but not the other way around.  KG is focused and intense like Larry, but he really cares about the feelings of his teammates, cares that he's perceived as almost the team mother.

Interesting stuff. 

I loved the KG rebounding for Rondo part. Now THAT'S a great leader. For all the Kobe loving and KG questions prior to the Finals, I think that story shows why KG got the ring.

[zerophase]

i have new respect for kg, and a new, lesser respect for bird. he makes it sounds like bird was arrogant, cocky, much like jordan, but i suppose when your THAT good, its hard not to be. its interesting the stuff he says about pierce. i like that he doesn't give all positives in his comparisons.

[Onslaught]

i have new respect for kg, and a new, lesser respect for bird. he makes it sounds like bird was arrogant, cocky, much like jordan, but i suppose when your THAT good, its hard not to be. its interesting the stuff he says about pierce. i like that he doesn't give all positives in his comparisons.

The very best of the best players are arrogant and cocky.

[Big Ticket]

Interesting stuff... I'll definitely be picking up a copy of this issue to go along with my two SI cover from the Twins' World Series wins.

[cordobes]

he makes it sounds like bird was arrogant, cocky, much like jordan, but i suppose when your THAT good, its hard not to be.

Bird was probably more cocky and arrogant than Jordan. Merry ******ing Christmas.

[fairweatherfan]

he makes it sounds like bird was arrogant, cocky, much like jordan, but i suppose when your THAT good, its hard not to be.

Bird was probably more cocky and arrogant than Jordan. Merry ******ing Christmas.

Oh, you better believe that's a TP.

[celticmaestro]

bird was confident. i wouldn't call it arrogant. and he was a great team-mate. danny knows better than i do, but i think this puts larry in the wrong light. just my thinking though.

[RebusRankin]

Danny should know better than to put Larry in a bad light like that. Take away some of his tps. 

[Schupac]

Stuff like this makes me like Larry Legend MORE.  I mean, that's personality.  Maybe it's my own... curmudgeonly nature, but I think it makes him more human and likeable.

[Onslaught]

Bird would probably say that he's never chase down Ainge's rebounds because he'd have to run all over the place from the bricks he threw up.
But it was simple to do it for Bird. Just stand under the net and catch the ball.

[pjob23]

I'm a 19 year old kid who LOVES watching my Celtics Dynasty DVD's, mainly to see Bird being the greatest in his prime, but anyone who knows the real Larry knows he doesn't care what people think. The only reason why he talked about the Celtics before the finals this year is because the NBA made him, He didn't care, he didn't want to be at a finals game. He has said that his only priority as in the NBA is the Pacers. Larry was GOD as a player, but as a man off the court, He is just a cold guy.

[Roy Hobbs]

I'm a 19 year old kid who LOVES watching my Celtics Dynasty DVD's, mainly to see Bird being the greatest in his prime, but anyone who knows the real Larry knows he doesn't care what people think. The only reason why he talked about the Celtics before the finals this year is because the NBA made him, He didn't care, he didn't want to be at a finals game. He has said that his only priority as in the NBA is the Pacers. Larry was GOD as a player, but as a man off the court, He is just a cold guy.

Although Larry was the first guy (literally) to congratulate Danny after the Celtics won the title this year.  On that issue, I think Larry was sincere when he said he wanted the new generation of players to get their time in the sun; he apparently told Magic the same thing, and criticized him a bit for hogging the limelight.

It's hard to peg Larry.  He and Danny still have a good relationship, and I know that he got along with quite a few of his teammates.  Others, though, things were a little more tense with, and obviously there was the stuff with his daughter.

[dark_lord]

Larry was GOD as a player, but as a man off the court, He is just a cold guy.

he is even worse as a father!

[Onslaught]

I'm a 19 year old kid who LOVES watching my Celtics Dynasty DVD's, mainly to see Bird being the greatest in his prime, but anyone who knows the real Larry knows he doesn't care what people think. The only reason why he talked about the Celtics before the finals this year is because the NBA made him, He didn't care, he didn't want to be at a finals game. He has said that his only priority as in the NBA is the Pacers. Larry was GOD as a player, but as a man off the court, He is just a cold guy.

Although Larry was the first guy (literally) to congratulate Danny after the Celtics won the title this year.  On that issue, I think Larry was sincere when he said he wanted the new generation of players to get their time in the sun; he apparently told Magic the same thing, and criticized him a bit for hogging the limelight.

It's hard to peg Larry.  He and Danny still have a good relationship, and I know that he got along with quite a few of his teammates.  Others, though, things were a little more tense with, and obviously there was the stuff with his daughter.

I liked the fact that he didn't want to have much to do with this Finals. I didn't see a need for all the talk about the past that they did. It's important to talk about but not to the point that they did.
I love me some Larry Bird but this year was about this team.