Feel bad for PP, Legacy somewhat tarnished

[SHAQATTACK]

Has zero to do with his legacy .

If anything it just reminded everybody he really was a true Boston Celtic , even when he was sitting on the bench of another team.

[JohnBoy65]

Its something we see too often more in the NBA than any other sport...

Players that just try to hold on to their careers by playing them out to the max and in the end they are a fraction (or less) of what they once were ...

It was sad to see Pierce get a pity start (and finish) when if he retired say 2 years ago he could of went out with a bang.. Now I thought it was amazing to see him knock down the final shot of the game but to see a scorer of his magnitude finish at 6ppg last and 3ppg this year is just sad...

We have seen it with Iverson (who needed the $), Shaq, Ewing, even KG to name a few...
Its just better to see players go out on much higher notes rather than a coach granting them a pity minute...

So is Kobe's legacy better than Paul's because he stayed, and finished with the Lakers, all while scoring 20ppg on 25 shots a game?

[BudweiserCeltic]

I feel bad for this thread... just misguided, Pierce's legacy is not tarnished and will live on forever. His final shot just adds to it.

[Ilikesports17]

complete nonsense.

[Vermont Green]

Pierce got $3.5M to play a role on the bench of the Clippers.  Many players (those who play in college but never make it to the NBA) would only dream of having that chance.  To me, if Pierce is OK with it, I have no judgement of it whatsoever.  Other than bringing his career season average numbers down some, I don't see how this diminishes his legacy.  At least not in my mind.  Perhaps if he was sitting on the Celtics bench it would be different, I don't know.  He is a great player.  It was great to see him one last time.

[Moranis]

I don't think it diminishes his legacy at all. In 20 years, people won't even remember his time with the Clips.

Switching sports, is Willie Mays' legacy diminished because he finished his career with the Mets? Do we think less of Babe Ruth because he played for the Braves? What about Bobby Orr playing for the Black Hawks?

Or, what about Dave Cowens on the Bucks? Is his legacy harmed?

Pierce is a competitor who likes being around the game. If he wants to hang around past his prime, good for him. He's earned that right, and history won't judge him poorly for it.

I don't think the issue was Pierce switching teams, but moreso Pierce looking like a washed up player who just can't hack it anymore.  Now sure 20 years from now, no one will really remember Pierce as a Clipper, but it is sad to watch him play and very few players know when to hang it up. 

[colincb]

The OP has somewhat tarnished his CelticsBlog legacy with this thread. Fortunately, this is a very forgiving crowd.

[CelticPride2016]

I think people are being a bit too harsh towards the original writer. Willie Mays certainly did hurt his legacy. Movie actors do this all the time. Try checking out some of Joan Crawford's last films. Muhammad Ali did hurt himself some legacy and his health from not knowing when to quit. Carl Yaz was another one (am not gonna try to spell his name). Yeah, thanks Yaz for ten years of .260 batting average, 70 ribbies, and 18 taters. That was some excellent stat padding. Or Cal Ripken. Or Brett Favre in football seemed to be the archetype for the overrated, well past his expiration date old man athlete. It's like older people who go after much younger folks for significant others. It's pitiful and cringe-worthy.

I agree with this thread, yet only with the basic point. On the other hand, Pierce clearly helped his legacy by getting big time crowd love and nailing the final shot. Pierce's jersey will be retired soon and he is one of our all-time greats. Pierce was the bridge and answer out of the painful 90's.

I saw the game which had Shaq calling Paul, The Truth.

I remember him getting stabbed, then returning as if it never happened.

Paul would have been better off retiring after his stints with Brooklyn and Washington. But he had such a long, amazing career, these last couple years of gratuitous scrub pay won't hurt him too badly. He should've retired after the year in Washington or last year. I see the point being made.

I was starting to resent the Celtics each year they kept bringing back the Old Three. It's this drooling over players well past their prime which is the downfall of many a team.

[Roy H.]

I don't think it diminishes his legacy at all. In 20 years, people won't even remember his time with the Clips.

Switching sports, is Willie Mays' legacy diminished because he finished his career with the Mets? Do we think less of Babe Ruth because he played for the Braves? What about Bobby Orr playing for the Black Hawks?

Or, what about Dave Cowens on the Bucks? Is his legacy harmed?

Pierce is a competitor who likes being around the game. If he wants to hang around past his prime, good for him. He's earned that right, and history won't judge him poorly for it.

I don't think the issue was Pierce switching teams, but moreso Pierce looking like a washed up player who just can't hack it anymore.  Now sure 20 years from now, no one will really remember Pierce as a Clipper, but it is sad to watch him play and very few players know when to hang it up.

All of those guys (Mays, Ruth, Orr, Cowens) hung on too long. From what I understand, each was a little sad to watch, but legacy-wise, the greats are almost always remembered for their primes.

Willie Mays certainly did hurt his legacy.

No way. He's a top-five position player all-time, and playing out the string with the Mets doesn't tarnish that.

[Moranis]

I don't think it diminishes his legacy at all. In 20 years, people won't even remember his time with the Clips.

Switching sports, is Willie Mays' legacy diminished because he finished his career with the Mets? Do we think less of Babe Ruth because he played for the Braves? What about Bobby Orr playing for the Black Hawks?

Or, what about Dave Cowens on the Bucks? Is his legacy harmed?

Pierce is a competitor who likes being around the game. If he wants to hang around past his prime, good for him. He's earned that right, and history won't judge him poorly for it.

I don't think the issue was Pierce switching teams, but moreso Pierce looking like a washed up player who just can't hack it anymore.  Now sure 20 years from now, no one will really remember Pierce as a Clipper, but it is sad to watch him play and very few players know when to hang it up.

All of those guys (Mays, Ruth, Orr, Cowens) hung on too long. From what I understand, each was a little sad to watch, but legacy-wise, the greats are almost always remembered for their primes.

Not always, but generally that is true.  I mean look at Iverson, he became a caricature of himself hanging around. 

These guys also greatly reduce their stats, which does affect their legacy.  Pierce, for example, is now under 20 ppg for his career with his rpg under 6 and apg under 4.  Had he walked away a couple of years ago, none of that would be true. 

[rochrist]

Its something we see too often more in the NBA than any other sport...

Players that just try to hold on to their careers by playing them out to the max and in the end they are a fraction (or less) of what they once were ...

It was sad to see Pierce get a pity start (and finish) when if he retired say 2 years ago he could of went out with a bang.. Now I thought it was amazing to see him knock down the final shot of the game but to see a scorer of his magnitude finish at 6ppg last and 3ppg this year is just sad...

We have seen it with Iverson (who needed the $), Shaq, Ewing, even KG to name a few...
Its just better to see players go out on much higher notes rather than a coach granting them a pity minute...

His legacy isn't even slightly tarnished.

[Androslav]

He will be in the organization within a year IMO.
15 years, the title, the clutch. Tarnished?

[freshinthehouse]

Or Brett Favre in football seemed to be the archetype for the overrated, well past his expiration date old man athlete.

To be fair, Brett Favre had an MVP caliber year in his 2nd to last season and was one play away from a super bowl appearance.  He was hardly washed up.

[CelticPride2016]

Willie Mays certainly did hurt his legacy.

No way. He's a top-five position player all-time, and playing out the string with the Mets doesn't tarnish that.

You are probably correct. Maybe the more apt phrase is tarnished memories. Like when the Patriots went 18-1. The overall legacy wasn't hurt by losing the Super Bowl, as they piled on more SB wins in later years, but that did put a sour asterisk on the perfect season.

No one can take away what Ali did, but it's tough not to remember him taking an unnecessary beating far after the point he should have retired.

Pierce hung around an extra couple years, but at least like someone else said, veteran players are good for the younger guys. Gerald Wallace was washed up, but I think he did help "the kids" when he was here, and I didn't like the David Lee move for that reason. We had survived two years of Gerald. We swapped one expiring contract for a worse one. Though now I am venturing off into other areas of potential discussion.

Pierce didn't embarrass himself as much as other players who have hung on too long in various sports.

[CelticPride2016]

Or Brett Favre in football seemed to be the archetype for the overrated, well past his expiration date old man athlete.

To be fair, Brett Favre had an MVP caliber year in his 2nd to last season and was one play away from a super bowl appearance.  He was hardly washed up.

Fair enough. I am no football expert. He seemed to keep coming back long after he should have quit.

Robert Parish seemed to hold on too long.

Maybe Roberto Duran?