Hey Paul, the party's over. Time to get ready to defend the 'Ship

[BballTim]

Actually you are wrong, Bankshot. Travis Heath in today's Hoopsworld, has raised a similar concern. See below:

"2. Paul Pierce Must Still Be in a Post-Championship Haze

Okay, so I gave Paul Pierce the benefit of the doubt last week when he declared he was the best player in the NBA with the assumption my man was still feeling the effects of a little too much post-championship partying.  But when Pierce reiterated his claim he's the best player in the world last week, I just couldn't stay silent on the subject.

"I am a confident player, and a lot of people might look at it like 'Oh, another cocky attitude,' but I don't look at it that way," Pierce told The Providence Journal. 

"I have an opinion, I have a right to have one, and that's the way I feel.  I felt I've played against the best over the years and felt right now that I'm the best player in the world."

Really?  Does he actually believe that?  If so, that's not a good sign for the Celtics next season because it means they're getting fat and happy.

Look, I'll be the first one to say Pierce was the best offensive player in The Finals last June.  However, the Celtics won that series because of their stifling team defense not because they had "the best player in the world" on their roster.

Pierce is one of the better players in the world, there's no question about that.  However, now is not the time to start beating on his chest and resting on his laurels.  I guess we can give Pierce somewhat of a pass since this is the first time he's experienced winning a NBA title, but someone needs to let my man know defending a NBA championship is far more difficult than winning the first one. 

While Boston fans may not want to hear it, Pierce's comment could be the kind that comes back to haunt the Celtics next season. "

Fortunately, most Celtic fans on this forum (who are too young to have experienced the championship tradition) are drunk with the same euphoria as Pierce that we are the champs, and satisfied to win 17. So what if 18 doesn't come for another 22 years? Well, call me greedy, but I grew up in the days when we were expected to win every year.  Let me tell you something, youngsters, we are not going to win 18 by getting pulled over at 3 AM in Las Vegas during the summertime. 

OK, now is your cue to post your cute pix of Paul partying, and basically dismissing my warnings as over-reactionary drivel.   

  Because players like Larry Bird never thought they were the best in the world and never touched a drop of alcohol during the offseason (or the season), right?

[cdif911]

  Because players like Larry Bird never thought they were the best in the world and never touched a drop of alcohol during the offseason (or the season), right?

I hope hope hope you're being sarcastic tim

[crownsy]

I guess I'm the only old f*rt who is worried about Pierce's excessive partying. I guess it's no big deal for a responsible professional athlete to be close to failing a sobriety test at 3 AM in Las Vegas late in the summer, just a few weeks before training camp begins. Sorry I had the audacity to even suggest that there is a potential issue here. 

in this case the "excessive partying" was reveled to be a  dinner with his fiancee and another couple once the facts were in.

HIDE THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN, PIERCE TOOK HIS GIRL TO DINNER!

but, i mean, i've never taken a girl out to dinner when i had to work 7 weeks in the future, that would be irresponsible. can't have women and alchole mixed at any point, they disrupt everything.

[ma11l]

I guess I'm the only old f*rt who is worried about Pierce's excessive partying. I guess it's no big deal for a responsible professional athlete to be close to failing a sobriety test at 3 AM in Las Vegas late in the summer, just a few weeks before training camp begins. Sorry I had the audacity to even suggest that there is a potential issue here. 

I would think that the older guys around here would remember the habits of Bird and McHale and some of the others during their primes.  They weren't exactly angels.

[bossportsfan34]

I guess I'm the only old f*rt who is worried about Pierce's excessive partying. I guess it's no big deal for a responsible professional athlete to be close to failing a sobriety test at 3 AM in Las Vegas late in the summer, just a few weeks before training camp begins. Sorry I had the audacity to even suggest that there is a potential issue here. 

I would think that the older guys around here would remember the habits of Bird and McHale and some of the others during their primes.  They weren't exactly angels.

No kidding. Bird and McHale were beer drinkers, during the season and the off-season. Parish was a pothead. They still won.

And can we lose the term "the 'Ship"?

[Roy Hobbs]

... can't have women and alchole mixed at any point, they disrupt everything.

True dat.

[crownsy]

I guess I'm the only old f*rt who is worried about Pierce's excessive partying. I guess it's no big deal for a responsible professional athlete to be close to failing a sobriety test at 3 AM in Las Vegas late in the summer, just a few weeks before training camp begins. Sorry I had the audacity to even suggest that there is a potential issue here. 

I would think that the older guys around here would remember the habits of Bird and McHale and some of the others during their primes.  They weren't exactly angels.

how dare you slander them with facts!

[LB3533]

Why aren't KG or Ray Allen getting into trouble like Paul?

[TripleOT]

It was reported that Pierce has a large ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery today.  What is this guy doing?  We have a 'ship to defend. 

[ma11l]

Why aren't KG or Ray Allen getting into trouble like Paul?

Probably the same reason why no one even dares to approach KG before a game.  The same reason that Ray goes through the same meticulous shooting routine many hours before the game.  The same reason why Paul is goofing off and dancing and what not in the locker room. 

The three have very different personalities.  They also have very different games.  They are champions because they successfully blended all of their differences into one successful unit.

[crownsy]

Why aren't KG or Ray Allen getting into trouble like Paul?

paul is only "in trouble" because Boston fans hype everything. so far pauls "troubled" off season, without the crazy overblown reaction by some is;

-gave interview to Spanish paper that some didn't like

-had dinner with friends, pulled over for changing lanes without signaling, given ticket for said offence( i assume).


oh lordy, what a troubled off season! someone stop his rampage! we need to get a handle on this guy!

[BballTim]

Why aren't KG or Ray Allen getting into trouble like Paul?

  Paul's the best player in the world as well as the reigning Finals MVP. Of course people pay more attention to him while KG and RA fly under the radar.

[jay_jay54]

Why aren't KG or Ray Allen getting into trouble like Paul?

Probably the same reason why no one even dares to approach KG before a game.  The same reason that Ray goes through the same meticulous shooting routine many hours before the game.  The same reason why Paul is goofing off and dancing and what not in the locker room. 

The three have very different personalities.  They also have very different games.  They are champions because they successfully blended all of their differences into one successful unit.

TP Ma11..very well stated.You can't argue with that.

[cdif911]

[cdif911]

Why aren't KG or Ray Allen getting into trouble like Paul?

Probably the same reason why no one even dares to approach KG before a game.  The same reason that Ray goes through the same meticulous shooting routine many hours before the game.  The same reason why Paul is goofing off and dancing and what not in the locker room. 

The three have very different personalities.  They also have very different games.  They are champions because they successfully blended all of their differences into one successful unit.

they're like the odd couple, except there's 3 of em

speaking of Ray's routines, if you missed this article in April on boston.com about ray's close to ocd nature, check it out: http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/04/20/routine_excellence_is_allens_secret/?page=1 - well worth the read and it gives a lot of insight into ray's personality