Pierce is Back!

[Change]

Can't say he departed. But our captain is dunking again. He looks fit and ripped. Overall Captain Pierce is in great shape.

[BudweiserCeltic]

50-60-90

[nickagneta]

Where did he go?

Did he leave on vacation and just get back and that was someone else playing in Celtic green this year?

Because if you're talking about the quality of his game, I never knew it had taken a setback.

[Atzar]

Where did he go?

Did he leave on vacation and just get back and that was someone else playing in Celtic green this year?

Because if you're talking about the quality of his game, I never knew it had taken a setback.

Maybe just the fact that everything he chucks in the general direction of the rim is going in right now. 

I think his percentages will come back to earth a little bit as the season gets going.  In terms of physical condition, though, I agree with the OP - I didn't realize he could still get up like he has on some of his dunks this season.

[nickagneta]

Where did he go?

Did he leave on vacation and just get back and that was someone else playing in Celtic green this year?

Because if you're talking about the quality of his game, I never knew it had taken a setback.

Maybe just the fact that everything he chucks in the general direction of the rim is going in right now. 

I think his percentages will come back to earth a little bit as the season gets going.  In terms of physical condition, though, I agree with the OP - I didn't realize he could still get up like he has on some of his dunks this season.

You don't remember opening night last year where Pierce was in such good shape he literally almost got LeBron James to fall down on his body fakes because he was so quick to cut back on the crossover move? His athleticism early last year was off the charts. He was faking people out of their jocks left and right.

He got overworked due to the rash of injuries to the team in the second half of the year but the first two months of last season I think you are forgetting how well he was moving and defending and jumping. What people are remembering is the sluggish Pierce of March April and May but in November and December of 2008, Pierce's athleticism was just like it is now.

[Atzar]

Where did he go?

Did he leave on vacation and just get back and that was someone else playing in Celtic green this year?

Because if you're talking about the quality of his game, I never knew it had taken a setback.

Maybe just the fact that everything he chucks in the general direction of the rim is going in right now. 

I think his percentages will come back to earth a little bit as the season gets going.  In terms of physical condition, though, I agree with the OP - I didn't realize he could still get up like he has on some of his dunks this season.

You don't remember opening night last year where Pierce was in such good shape he literally almost got LeBron James to fall down on his body fakes because he was so quick to cut back on the crossover move? His athleticism early last year was off the charts. He was faking people out of their jocks left and right.

He got overworked due to the rash of injuries to the team in the second half of the year but the first two months of last season I think you are forgetting how well he was moving and defending and jumping. What people are remembering is the sluggish Pierce of March April and May but in November and December of 2008, Pierce's athleticism was just like it is now.

I remember that, but nonetheless I think this is what Change was referring to. 

Paul Pierce has a high-impact style of play, so it's no surprise that he slows down as the season wears on now that he's older.

[Change]

Where did he go?

Did he leave on vacation and just get back and that was someone else playing in Celtic green this year?

Because if you're talking about the quality of his game, I never knew it had taken a setback.

Maybe just the fact that everything he chucks in the general direction of the rim is going in right now. 

I think his percentages will come back to earth a little bit as the season gets going.  In terms of physical condition, though, I agree with the OP - I didn't realize he could still get up like he has on some of his dunks this season.

You don't remember opening night last year where Pierce was in such good shape he literally almost got LeBron James to fall down on his body fakes because he was so quick to cut back on the crossover move? His athleticism early last year was off the charts. He was faking people out of their jocks left and right.

He got overworked due to the rash of injuries to the team in the second half of the year but the first two months of last season I think you are forgetting how well he was moving and defending and jumping. What people are remembering is the sluggish Pierce of March April and May but in November and December of 2008, Pierce's athleticism was just like it is now.

He hit the weights this off-season. There is a distinct difference last year and this season. All I'm saying Pierce is ripped.

[nickagneta]

Where did he go?

Did he leave on vacation and just get back and that was someone else playing in Celtic green this year?

Because if you're talking about the quality of his game, I never knew it had taken a setback.

Maybe just the fact that everything he chucks in the general direction of the rim is going in right now. 

I think his percentages will come back to earth a little bit as the season gets going.  In terms of physical condition, though, I agree with the OP - I didn't realize he could still get up like he has on some of his dunks this season.

You don't remember opening night last year where Pierce was in such good shape he literally almost got LeBron James to fall down on his body fakes because he was so quick to cut back on the crossover move? His athleticism early last year was off the charts. He was faking people out of their jocks left and right.

He got overworked due to the rash of injuries to the team in the second half of the year but the first two months of last season I think you are forgetting how well he was moving and defending and jumping. What people are remembering is the sluggish Pierce of March April and May but in November and December of 2008, Pierce's athleticism was just like it is now.

He hit the weights this off-season. There is a distinct difference last year and this season. All I'm saying Pierce is ripped.

I don't see it. You got picks because I just don't see it.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Look at those cannons

http://www.celticsblog.com/photos/celtics-hold-off-hornets-to-remain/367528

[Bahku]

I didn't know he had left! Seriously, he had a great year last year, other than not winning the Championship ... he's been getting better and better progressively for the last few years ... that's the TRUTH! (TP for being a Pierce-lover)

[Change]

Where did he go?

Did he leave on vacation and just get back and that was someone else playing in Celtic green this year?

Because if you're talking about the quality of his game, I never knew it had taken a setback.

Maybe just the fact that everything he chucks in the general direction of the rim is going in right now. 

I think his percentages will come back to earth a little bit as the season gets going.  In terms of physical condition, though, I agree with the OP - I didn't realize he could still get up like he has on some of his dunks this season.

You don't remember opening night last year where Pierce was in such good shape he literally almost got LeBron James to fall down on his body fakes because he was so quick to cut back on the crossover move? His athleticism early last year was off the charts. He was faking people out of their jocks left and right.

He got overworked due to the rash of injuries to the team in the second half of the year but the first two months of last season I think you are forgetting how well he was moving and defending and jumping. What people are remembering is the sluggish Pierce of March April and May but in November and December of 2008, Pierce's athleticism was just like it is now.

He hit the weights this off-season. There is a distinct difference last year and this season. All I'm saying Pierce is ripped.

I don't see it. You got picks because I just don't see it.

Since you remember last season. Can you explain why he had such a slow start? He wasn't the paul pierce of old.

If you are comparing the two seasons. looks at his FG% which is considerably higher. He has more rebounds, more steals, and is turning the ball over less.

I'm not criticizing the captain, since he is my favorite player. I'm just saying Paul is in better shape than last year.

[Atzar]

Where did he go?

Did he leave on vacation and just get back and that was someone else playing in Celtic green this year?

Because if you're talking about the quality of his game, I never knew it had taken a setback.

Maybe just the fact that everything he chucks in the general direction of the rim is going in right now. 

I think his percentages will come back to earth a little bit as the season gets going.  In terms of physical condition, though, I agree with the OP - I didn't realize he could still get up like he has on some of his dunks this season.

You don't remember opening night last year where Pierce was in such good shape he literally almost got LeBron James to fall down on his body fakes because he was so quick to cut back on the crossover move? His athleticism early last year was off the charts. He was faking people out of their jocks left and right.

He got overworked due to the rash of injuries to the team in the second half of the year but the first two months of last season I think you are forgetting how well he was moving and defending and jumping. What people are remembering is the sluggish Pierce of March April and May but in November and December of 2008, Pierce's athleticism was just like it is now.

He hit the weights this off-season. There is a distinct difference last year and this season. All I'm saying Pierce is ripped.

I don't see it. You got picks because I just don't see it.

Since you remember last season. Can you explain why he had such a slow start? He wasn't the paul pierce of old.

If you are comparing the two seasons. looks at his FG% which is considerably higher. He has more rebounds, more steals, and is turning the ball over less.

I'm not criticizing the captain, since he is my favorite player. I'm just saying Paul is in better shape than last year.

Stop looking at stats from last year.  Remember how he ate LeBron in the season opener?  He was in shape at the beginning of the season, he just got tired/hurt/whatever.

Too small of a sample size to compare this year's stats to last.  .529 on FG's, .588 on 3's and .933 on FT's is unsustainable.

[Harris34]

He's clearly thinner in the face, and to me he also looks a step quicker than he has in previous years. He was still great before, I just think he's quicker and lighter now, which is going to help him tremendously. Also, does it look like his stroke is a little different this year?

[nickagneta]

Here's a picture from last season's opener taken from this site reporting on the Cavs/Celtics game of 10/28/2008

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/0306/nba_g_pierce_lebron_576.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.scoresreport.com/tag/paul-pierce/&usg=__ptVwV0allnvUTrl2StEGMlk35Jg=&h=324&w=576&sz=42&hl=en&start=51&sig2=6VX9TM2z2poKskugRnpf9A&um=1&tbnid=Y-FLvhOfMXsLuM:&tbnh=75&tbnw=134&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpaul%2Bpierce%2Bversus%2BCleveland%2Bopening%2Bnight%2B2008%26ndsp%3D21%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26start%3D42%26um%3D1&ei=UWruSuuYGMzZlAecxtj_BA

As compared to the above photo from this year

[Change]

This is him dunking on Hornets



Ripped