Paul Pierce...best in the world

[Edgar]

Reading it in spanish, it doesn't sound exactly that way. He's just saying that considering himself the best is an expression of self-confidence;:he even ads that he's not being arrogant. It's the same reason he lists 5 Celtics players as his favourites in the NBA. IMO, it's a quite standard statement.

EXACTLY

People should read this before posting here IMHO
because this is how it was

[Redz]

Reading it in spanish, it doesn't sound exactly that way. He's just saying that considering himself the best is an expression of self-confidence;:he even ads that he's not being arrogant. It's the same reason he lists 5 Celtics players as his favourites in the NBA. IMO, it's a quite standard statement.

Same type of thing Papelbon got bashed in NY for. Basically you can't say you're confident in your own abilities any more without it being construed that you are a self centered jerk in the media(or blogs)

[td450]

I think he meant it in the sense that he doesn't believe in conceding that someone is better than him, that he's going in believing he's the best. I'm sure he knows that virtually no one believes he is better than LeBron, Kobe or Tim Duncan. However, when he goes into a game, he's going in believing he's better, and he's going to out play you. It's a fundamental competitive stance, and I respect it.

Let's face it. How many times in NBA history has a guy like Pierce, generally considered someone between 10th-20th in the league, gone heads up against the 1st and second best players in the league (as LeBron and Kobe surely are), and played them to a standstill over an entire series? I'm pretty sure that without this same type of confidence, he would have fallen back at some point in the playoffs, as 99.99% of players do.

[celticben]

PP is the best player on the best team, so I find it hard to argue that he is the best player in the world.  However, "Lost in Translation" is more than a movie title...

[oldmanspeaks]

On the basis of individual talent, Pierce may not be in the the top 5. However this isn't a one on one game. Pierce brings a LOT to the table in a team game. It is like the Rusell/Chamberlain debates. Chamberlain was much more talented. However if you wanted to win, you would pick Russell everytime because he made everyone around him better. Jordan was much more talented than Bird or Magic but Bird and Magic made their teammates much better so who was the better player in a team game? Basically I like to win and that means taking advantage of the skills of all your teammates and if was playing with Pierce as a teammate in a pickup game, he would make me appear better than I am. I can't say the same for Kobe.

[cordobes]

Kobe almost did it basically on his own. Lebron almost did it basically on his own

How are the situations even remotely comparable?

LeBron plays with a bunch of role-players, some better some worse, and an old and tired Ilgauskas.

Kobe plays with two max contract players and a great supporting cast, including one of the best benches in the league. Gasol is an in-his-prime former ROY, former All-Star, who lead his subpar team to multiple playoffs appearances in the West. A 20/9/4/2 player. Odom was supposed to be a 1st option, then it becomes clear that he'd need to be the 2nd best player in a good team. He starts playing along Kobe and suddenly he isn't good enough to be a 2nd option. Then, he's not even good enough to be a 3rd option. Now, he's not good enough to be the best 4th player. It looks like that if you play along Kobe and he performs terribly and your team eventually loses, your prestige goes deep down. OTH, had the Lakers won, I bet it'd have been despite of Kobe's supporting cast. Also, Fisher is an experienced and reliable PG who fits perfectly in the triangle. What does exactly Kobe need to win? Two top 5 players as his teammates? A Shaq in his prime?

Imagine a straight up trade with Kobe and James. The Lakers would be uber-scary. The Cavs would probably miss the playoffs. That's a good picture of the current difference between them.

(sorry for the threadjack).

[Rondo2287]

Pierce was the best player in a series between the two best teams.  Who is to say that he is not the best player. 

[crownsy]

Kobe almost did it basically on his own. Lebron almost did it basically on his own

How are the situations even remotely comparable?

LeBron plays with a bunch of role-players, some better some worse, and an old and tired Ilgauskas.

Kobe plays with two max contract players and a great supporting cast, including one of the best benches in the league. Gasol is an in-his-prime former ROY, former All-Star, who lead his subpar team to multiple playoffs appearances in the West. A 20/9/4/2 player. Odom was supposed to be a 1st option, then it becomes clear that he'd need to be the 2nd best player in a good team. He starts playing along Kobe and suddenly he isn't good enough to be a 2nd option. Then, he's not even good enough to be a 3rd option. Now, he's not good enough to be the best 4th player. It looks like that if you play along Kobe and he performs terribly and your team eventually loses, your prestige goes deep down. OTH, had the Lakers won, I bet it'd have been despite of Kobe's supporting cast. Also, Fisher is an experienced and reliable PG who fits perfectly in the triangle. What does exactly Kobe need to win? Two top 5 players as his teammates? A Shaq in his prime?

Imagine a straight up trade with Kobe and James. The Lakers would be uber-scary. The Cavs would probably miss the playoffs. That's a good picture of the current difference between them.

(sorry for the threadjack).

TP, can we get off kobe's joke at this point? he has a really, really good team, and he can't get it done. end of story.

as to the pierce comments, i really could care less, he was clearly being tounge in cheek a bit (he doesn't actually think our starting 5 comprmises the best 5 players in the NBA) and if you ask any star athlete that, thier going to say themselves, because as Jeff pointed out on the main page, the minute you think your not the best, your not even close.

[LarBrd33]

Every player feels they are the best in the world.  It's how they motivate themselves.   And I'm about 99.9% sure that I've heard Pierce answer a question like this before the same way.  Whether or not he actually thinks he is the best player in the world doesn't matter.  I wouldn't read too much into it.  I imagine he laughed/smiled a little after saying it.  

[Roy Hobbs]

PP is the best player on the best team, so I find it hard to argue that he is the best player in the world.

Pierce was the best player in a series between the two best teams.  Who is to say that he is not the best player.

Paul Pierce isn't close to the best player in the world.  The "best player on the best team" criteria is silly.  Was Chauncey Billups the best player in the world a few years back?

That being said, I have absolutely no problem with what Paul said, especially because it's clear what the context was.  He was simply indicating that he plays without being intimidated by anybody, and is confident in himself.

[LarBrd33]

PP is the best player on the best team, so I find it hard to argue that he is the best player in the world.  However, "Lost in Translation" is more than a movie title...

Actually Ben, he's the second best player on the team.  The first is Kevin Garnett. 

Yes, I know Pierce played great in the playoffs and had key moments.  I know that he went toe to toe with LeBron in game 7 and played strong defense on him throughout the rest of the series (basically eliminating his own offense in the process).   Yes, I know Pierce technically "outplayed" Kobe, but you can't possibly compare the two players.   Kobe was going up against one of the greatest defenses of the past 30 years.  Every player on the Celtics had the task of shutting down Kobe Bryant.  Meanwhile, the Lakers were unquestionably the weakest defensive team Boston faced in the entire playoffs (at least Atlanta protected the rim).   You can't compare Kobe trying to go up against 5 guys to Pierce scoring within a team offense against a weak defense.

If we're talking about statistical efficiency, Pierce was in the top 35 last year.  If we're talking the playoffs... KG was #7 and Pierce was #23.  Pierce rightfully gets the glory, but everyone just chill out.   He's not the best in the world... he's not even the best player on his own team.  And that's not to say I disagree with his Finals MVP trophy... but lets just be real, mmmkay?

As for his comments.  Pierce aint delusional.  But he's also not going to say "Kobe's the best in the world" or "LeBron is the best in the world".  Maybe when he's good and retired he can say that kind of stuff (like Magic praising Bird), but right now he's in the thick of his career... so if some Spanish reporter asks him "Who is the best in the world?", I fully expect Pierce to say, "Paul Pierce" and then give a little wink.

And to anyone who takes Pierce's comments seriously...  they asked him a few months ago (prior to the playoffs) who the MVP of the league was and he said Kevin Garnett in support of his teammate.  Just take the Spanish comments for what they were... He was just showing pride in the Finals MVP trophy and refusing to give credit to his enemies.  Pierce always does this kind of stuff.  I seem to remember a few years ago they asked him who rookie of the year should be and he said Delonte West.  Part of his character   

[bbc3341]

btw  - I am the best poster in the world, just walking that thin line, you know how it is...

[bigjohnson34st]

Kobe and Lebron are both considered to be the best players by most basket fans. Individually, Paul outplayed lebron and Kobe offensively and defensively. How do you argue his position. And cut the "team" crap. One on one he outplayed both.

[KungPoweChicken]

[quote author=celticben link=topic=21702.msg340041#msg340041 date=1217429207

Yes, I know Pierce played great in the playoffs and had key moments.  I know that he went toe to toe with LeBron in game 7 and played strong defense on him throughout the rest of the series (basically eliminating his own offense in the process).   Yes, I know Pierce technically "outplayed" Kobe, but you can't possibly compare the two players.   Kobe was going up against one of the greatest defenses of the past 30 years.  Every player on the Celtics had the task of shutting down Kobe Bryant.  Meanwhile, the Lakers were unquestionably the weakest defensive team Boston faced in the entire playoffs (at least Atlanta protected the rim).   You can't compare Kobe trying to go up against 5 guys to Pierce scoring within a team offense against a weak defense.


I hope you are being sarcastic with the whole Kobe trying to go against 5 guys thing. I thought basketball was a 5 on 5 game? The point I'm trying to make is that most of the U.S has the Lakers as heavy favorites to win it all. But when the C's mopped the floors with the Lakers, everyone has been making excuses for Kobe. "Kobe had no team" (But when the Lakers acquired Gasol most people said the Lakers were the best) "Kobe's team played no defense" "Kobe's team didn't have Pierces supporting cast".

Call me crazy, but is it impossible to think that Paul Pierce is as good and maybe better than Kobe? Has Kobe ever won without Shaq? No. Does Kobe make his teammates better? No. Has Kobe done much else in this league besides volume shooting, bossing his teammates around, and sulking? No.

Statistics do not tell the whole story. And I can confidently say Kobe is not the best basketball player in the world. Come playoff time, I am much more scared of Lebron.  Pierce has every right to call himself the best.

[bigjohnson34st]

And are we forgetting that Kobe has his own big three. Pau and Lamar are legitimate allstars. And in terms of Boston having the best defense in the last 30 years, you may be right. (although I think Detroit's of the late 80's was, they were just brutal). If Boston was #1 in defense, then San Antonio was second. Even with Bowen it did little to stop Kobe. Give Paul his proper respect. He sat with a horrible team (and questionable moves by Danny) for years. He shined at the right time. Which all great players do. Just like Ray. He struggled the first two rounds only to tie the NBA record for 3's in the finals. 17million well spent. As sports fans we remember the big stages. Paul flat out outplayed both when it mattered.