One thing I don't appreciate about Paul Pierce

[pokeKingCurtis]

The OP brings up a good point.

Nothing wrong with a little swagger.

However, the problem is I think either Pierce doesn't know when to pick his spots OR he just opens his mouth against superior players with statements/comments that he can't back up.

More often than not, trash talking always comes back to haunt you, doesn't matter what team you're on.

These were the two points going through my head as well. I love the fact that he trash talks, and there are definitely places where you can do it throughout the game....But sometimes its too much.

Pierce, and more so KG, got to a point with the C's where they would over board trash talk and not be able to back it up. It got frustrating to watch sometimes. However, it is still a part of Pierce's game I've always enjoyed...

The "buries it right in Harrington's face!!" is the holy grail of Pierce trash talk moments for me.

Over-achievement, brought to you by a little too much swagger.

We might not have had the fantastic fights in '09, '10, '11, '12 and '13 without the overconfidence they have. The "man, we weren't supposed to be here, neck in neck, the other team has so much more talent". We might not have had those.

[Fafnir]

I think the trash talk is to motivate Pierce himself more than anything. The Nets were in that game despite shooting poorly from deep by killing it on the offensive glass.

Fundamentally Pierce played really well last night, the Heat just hit the clutch 3 late in the fourth and the Nets couldn't respond.

[gpap]

I think the trash talk is to motivate Pierce himself more than anything. The Nets were in that game despite shooting poorly from deep by killing it on the offensive glass.

Fundamentally Pierce played really well last night, the Heat just hit the clutch 3 late in the fourth and the Nets couldn't respond.

Yea, that 3 pointer by Bosh in the 4th quarter was a dagger and reminded me of that clutch 3 he hit in game 7 of the ECF, 2 years ago vs the Celtics.

[clover]

Do you feel that way about Larry Bird back in his playing days?

I think Larry Bird though was actually able to back it up.

Fair enough--though that presumably would have peeved his opponents even more.

[D.o.s.]

Depends on when it was -- was Bird as fervent a trash talker in, say, '92?

[ScoobyDoo]

To the OP, I get what you're saying for sure and I can't say I'm a huge fan of that approach. I hated the "we ain't coming back" comment after Game 2 in the 2010 finals. Hated it. I would've much preferred him saying, after they had swept the three games in Boston "we knew we weren't going back to LA...". Just get the job done first, then spout.

I also get that this has always been part of Pierce's game and what gets him going. I think Pierce is a great, great player, but somehow I always felt a bit more comfortable, as far as being able to consistently back up the bravado, when Larry or Michael would say something like that, guys that were at a whole other level...

All the above being said, I still don't think that's why the Nets lost last night. Pierce did his best to carry them, making "a lot" of big plays. The fact is that Joe Johnson and Derron Williams need to carry that team to victories at this point - they need to be the ones coming up "big" down the stretch in these game. I think they're both chokers as far as I can tell.

It's their time, not Pierce's, and I think neither of them delivered - seemed afraid of the moment.   

[merkins]

I enjoyed watching Pierce's game last night, when he wasnt in foul trouble on the bench.  He's still got the confidence he's always had and hes always chirped a bit as a player.  Remember, Kidd is encouraging this to hopefully get the Heat off their game. 

The assembly of parts that is the Nets is only competing based on the savvy of their veterans being able to score when needed.  They do not play with any rhythm or continuity in their offense,  they simply have guys who have been there before that take turns shouldering the load to stay in these games.

Pierce trash talking is part of that and I enjoy it.

[ram]

they simply have guys who have been there before that take turns shouldering the load to stay in these games.

that is true and that is what cost them in the last few minutes.  Joe Johnson tried to shoulder the load against Lebron and he forced a couple of very tough shots.

[manl_lui]

Pierce talks trash too much, in a way that motivate his opponents to win. Remember that 'we aint come back to LA' in the G2 of 2010 finals? Lakers were so p---ed and took the G3 with their 120% effort. This time, it is reported that Pierce again said something to Lebron after the Nets won G3. Surprise surprise, Lebron erupted and scored 49 tonight. Paul has his own philosophy on this trash talking thing, but in hindsight I'd guess it's still better to avoid motivating the opponents.



http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/05/12/4111912/lebron-james-hopes-miami-heat.html

guess he was also responsible for Lebron's game 6 massacre in 2012 in the ECF.

trash talking happens, don't act like Lebron don't trash talk or taunt. Remember game 1 in ECF in 2012, he was taunting KG?

You can trash talk as long as you can back it up. I have no problem with Pierce doing that as he always backed if not usually back up his words.

[guava_wrench]

Do you feel that way about Larry Bird back in his playing days?

I think Larry Bird though was actually able to back it up.

He was usually on a better team than that Nets team.