Why does Paul need to act like that?

[Bankshot]

Paul, you've been there. Act like it.

My thoughts exactly.  Paul is a former Finals MVP for Pete's sake.

Co-sign.   

How old are you, 70?

Eh, I don't think it's a big deal.  He hit a huge shot and shut up a crowd that was taunting them all night long. Larry Bird often didn't "act like he's been there."

[Evantime34]

Didn't read through the thread so ignore this if it is a repeat.

What Paul Pierce did was revive a rivalry. When an opposing fan base has someone who they can point to as the villain it adds a lot of fuel to the fire. What Pierce did was good for the Knicks and there fans, good for the rivalry and good for basketball in general. Although I would have liked to see him catch Nate.

[screwedupmaniac]

Why does Paul need to act like that, you ask?

Because it made the victory that much sweeter. And when you hit a game winner in Madison Square Garden...in front of arguably the second most annoying fan in the NBA in Spike Lee (Jack Nicholson takes first place)...you have to do something to add a little umph to that kick to the crotch.

I'm glad the Knicks are back, and I look forward to breaking their hearts, even moreso now that they're good again.

[Greenbean]

I find it a bit strange that there is so little support for LeBron's Decision ESPN special since I see it as a logical extension of such self aggrandizing trends, as were the follow-up theatrics of/for the Miami 3-Egos.  

I think the distinction is that Pierce's display was a spontaneous outburst of joy and celebration, while Lebron's "Decision" was a calculated, tone-deaf promotion of one man's ego.  If Lebron wants to celebrate after hitting a game winner, more power to him.

Come on now Roy...

When is this going to happen?

[nba is the worst]

Paul, you've been there. Act like it.

My thoughts exactly.  Paul is a former Finals MVP for Pete's sake.

Co-sign.   

How old are you, 70?

Eh, I don't think it's a big deal.  He hit a huge shot and shut up a crowd that was taunting them all night long. Larry Bird often didn't "act like he's been there."

To me the team's celebrating regular season wins shows their commitment to regular season success as far as getting playoff HCA is concerned (same with KG in the 76ers win).

We all know PP is prone to this type of thing, it's his personality.

[LB3533]

#1.) It was MSG

#2.) Paul hit a game winner in the playoffs against the Heat and celebrated fairly "normal" so he has displayed "class" after hitting a game winner.

[Vermont Green]

Reading this really surprises me.  When I saw Pierce's "antics" I was not impressed.  I understand that he is emotional but I still don't like to see it.  You would not see Bird, Magic, MJ run around like an air plane and certainly not take a bow.  Maybe a fist pump or maybe a put that in your pipe and smoke it comment to an opposing player.

I think players need to keep their heads in the game, even if there are 0.4 seconds left.  If there had been 1.4 seconds left, we would have lost.  They beat the Knicks on a Wednesday night for crying out loud.  Pierce did not act like a champion in my opinion.

[PosImpos]

because it's awesome?

take that, spike lee


nothing tops "i just took my talents to south beach, now on to memphis," though

[Boris Badenov]

Every student of NBA history knows that there is a history of interactions between opposing players and the NY fans. This is right up their alley, and I bet that they appreciated the gesture as much as one could in those circumstances - just like they appreciated Reggie Miller for the same things.

It's not like PP did this after beating Minny.

PS Enough with the Bird comparisons. That is the man who said "Moses does eat s**t" when he spoke at the 1981 championship parade.

[crownsy]

Reading this really surprises me.  When I saw Pierce's "antics" I was not impressed.  I understand that he is emotional but I still don't like to see it.  You would not see Bird, Magic, MJ run around like an air plane and certainly not take a bow.  Maybe a fist pump or maybe a put that in your pipe and smoke it comment to an opposing player.

I think players need to keep their heads in the game, even if there are 0.4 seconds left.  If there had been 1.4 seconds left, we would have lost.  They beat the Knicks on a Wednesday night for crying out loud.  Pierce did not act like a champion in my opinion.

you don't suppose his reaction might have been different in an entirely different situation do you?

hitting a shot with 1.4 is alot different than with .4 left, true story.

All i have to say to you guys who are acting like this is anything other than a great moment is

[wahz]

He acted like that because

1. It was in NY
2. He was doing a Reggie Miller repeat, maybe give him some credit for knowing his basketball history
3. He then gave credit to NY for improving and if everyone else wants it to be a rivalry it is what it is
4. He knew it was quite appropriate given the background and he didn't overdo it
5. He was happy. We have older players who get this excited in a regular season game. Its awesome

I was way more worried about Rocket Man Nate jumping all over the place. The guy isn't human or close. He jumped several feet in the air without trying and did it twice in a second. he's gonna hurt something or someone

[guava_wrench]

Paul has always been a trash talker and that was just another manifestation of that personality.

Take it or leave it. I am not a fan of flying around like that in a December game because, but it is better than being the lackadaisical Pistons who didn't take the regular season seriously.

[rondohondo]

Why would you have a problem with this. It was a pure reaction to hitting a game winning shot. He did one lap around the court,but didn't bow at center court until the game was officially over.

By the way did you not see Amare Stoudamire pretty much taunting on every dunk or blocked shot. He seriously stood over Ray or PP(I forget which one) for about 5 seconds just starring down at him after he blocked his shot. He should have been T'd up for that.

[tenn_smoothie]

i don't like it either, never have liked it - Celtics don't act like that !!

paul pierce has always had that LA street mentality inside and though KG & Ray have forced Pierce to mature some, he will always have that street dog in him - which is why he says things he shouldn't and pulls stupid stunts on the court like last nite.

don't think you'd ever see, Bird, Havlicek, Cowens or Russell or KG for that matter pull any of Pierce's antics.

[CNYCeltsfan]

You take the emotion out of Paul pierce's game, like Garnett, and you take what makes hism special off the court.  I rather have him point his finer to the sky like Larry Bird as the ball dropped, but thats not paul pierce.  He is an emotional guy who uses his emotions to make him better.  His tweet after miami's game and the tweets in the final are also technically Classless...but they are also fun and when you score 20k points you get to celebrate how you want to.