Pierce (disinterested or fatigued)

[joebianca]

O/T alert:

Anybody have a good link to the Celtic Pride post-game show stream? Outside of Boston, so I can't get it on the radio. Thanks in advance!

[Truck Lewis]

i love pierce and would never ever ever accuse him of being disinterested

but he either is a) fatigued hardcore or b) lackin confidence

i have never seen soooooooo many jumpers blocked....nevermind jumpers by a future HOF,,esp such a clutch future HOF

[The Walker Wiggle]

Maybe Doc should have rested him 4 weeks ago when Pierce was practically begging for it. If the playoff run falls short it's Docs fault, not Pierce's.

Yeah, pretty much, though some fans here want to pretend otherwise. Pierce played more minutes this season than any player on the Bulls' squad, and more minutes than any Bulls' player in tonight's game.

Doc is going to have to find a bench player he trusts, maybe Scalabrine?, and the sooner the better.

[Scalablob990]

Maybe Doc should have rested him 4 weeks ago when Pierce was practically begging for it. If the playoff run falls short it's Docs fault, not Pierce's.

Yeah, pretty much, though some fans here want to pretend otherwise. Pierce played more minutes this season than any player on the Bulls' squad, and more minutes than any Bulls' player in tonight's game.

Doc is going to have to find a bench player he trusts, maybe Scalabrine?, and the sooner the better.

If I could give you 8 TP's at once for your icon I would, it's a masterpiece!

[QuinielaBox]

Pierce should be benched in my opinion. He was lousy tonight. We will lose this series if he keeps going this way. The other guys are trying out there.

Chicago has a ton of energy. Where is our energy level? Was it spent during last years 26 game championship campaign and the subsequent 62 win season? Is it due to Garnett's injury?

Or is it that it is not our year?

[guava_wrench]

Pierce shouldn't force so many jumpers with Thomas or Noah so tight. Pierce doesn't jump like Kobe on his jumpers. He needs to know who he can't get the ball over.

I was also really annoyed when Pierce and Perk watched a fast break from the offensive end and Chicago ended up with a second chance point that could have been avoided if they had run down to work for the rebound.

For those who blame Doc and Pierce's minutes -- sorry, you don't blame others for a player's bad choices.

[KungPoweChicken]

It looked like Pierce was on dope tonight. No hustle, bad decision making, and no emotion, he really looked bad out there.

[cdif911]

Pierce should be benched in my opinion. He was lousy tonight. We will lose this series if he keeps going this way. The other guys are trying out there.

Chicago has a ton of energy. Where is our energy level? Was it spent during last years 26 game championship campaign and the subsequent 62 win season? Is it due to Garnett's injury?

Or is it that it is not our year?

I wouldn't worry too much, Pierce rarely shows emotion (and when he does, its a big deal imo) (and neither does Ray, who's getting on him?)  Pierce didn't have a great game, but he will; he's the captain, he totally understands what its all about; he's been to the top of the mountain and you know he wants to be back -don't worry people, series is tied, it'll come back to Boston tied or 3-1 us, and we take care of business

[The Walker Wiggle]

For those who blame Doc and Pierce's minutes - sorry, you don't blame others for a player's bad choices.

Mental fatigue? No?

I agree completely that Brad Miller's put back was a low point in the game. But there are real consequence to grinding down a 31 year old player, a player in his 11th season. It was much debated prior to the play-offs but we're seeing the consequences now. And no one should pretend that Rivers' rotations, or lack there-of, aren't a factor.

That isn't to say that Pierce is blameless. And regardless of Doc's mistakes (or possibly Ainge's mistakes - if Glenn honestly feels he doesn't have a swingman on his bench he can go to for 20 minutes) it's Pierce that is going to have to pull through in this series, and the next, and the next, and the next.

If I could give you 8 TP's at once for your icon I would, it's a masterpiece!

Ha! Thanks! It's my alternate home jersey, I guess. Although probably too lowbrow to be a masterpiece.

[celticinorlando]

i think pierce is tired..i expect him to get his 4th wind here soon

[CoachBo]

Accusing Pierce of disinterest is absolutely absurd and is without a shred of factual foundation.

The guy is worn down. There is no competent three behind him - thanks for that, Danny and Wyc. He's defending an offensive threat in Salmons. In fact, there's no one competent on the bench now with Powe down besides Eddie House. Yeah, let's cue up some more of that "let's play Bill Walker" and "let's play J.R. Giddens" nonsense. And some of you guys want to question his heart? That's obscene.

This thread is so far off base it's unbelievable.

[CoachBo]

One more thought: This thread should be locked.

[kheeko]

It looked like Pierce was on dope tonight. No hustle, bad decision making, and no emotion, he really looked bad out there.

wow

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

or neither

this is even more ridicoulous then the ray allen bashing after game 1

Paul pierce was on dope? I mean come on now

when paul has a bad game, he gets us 18/8. I can live with that.
Im  even more confident in Pierce turning it around then I wass ray.
ray was asked who to credit for getting involved last night and he said Paul...Paul was doing anything he could to get ray involved, and apparently that happened.

also, just give the bulls credit for guarding him better then anyone has in 2 seasons

[clover]

Unfortunately Pierce has started on the downside of his career, and he's clearly worn out from too many minutes this year. 

If Doc had sucked it up and used Billy Walker earlier in the season he'd have a fresher Pierce--and another serviceable rotation player as well.