No Excuses

I just posted this on another thread, but I’ll repeat it:

If you think Kobe’s big play on Pierce was a foul (as I did initially) then you simply haven’t gone back and watched it repeatedly in slow motion. Kobe was extremely lucky with his timing, but he got all ball and there was no foul.

(Now if you want to talk about how later, Kobe wasn’t called for traveling when he fell to the floor in the corner and then passed the ball off: then I’ll listen to that gripe.)

No griping here. I like the maturity shown by Paul regarding the reffing and the calls. I also appreciate that he publicly complimented Kobe. Now he just needs to will his team to a W on Tuesday.

Very smart move by Paul. Paul gets a bunch of calls he shouldn’t. He certainly gets more than Kobe. He doesn’t need to make anybody mad. If Paul plays like he did last night at home, we win going away on Tuesday.

The traveling call should have been made. But both Paul and Kobe have already gotten their token traveling call for the series. They’d have to be in a full blown sprint from halfcourt to get another one.

That’s what’s wrong with the NBA game today.

Quite right, Finkelshyhook.

Cman hit the nail on the head… MATURITY

As an old time fan (grew up watching during the Russell era), there have been a number of Celtics who have had to carry the burden when their supporting cast was nondescript. Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White come immediately to mind. Paul Pierce had to assume that role when he came to the hopeless world of Wiggle Butt Walker and was deservedly criticized for immaturity during earlier years of doing the best he could on poorly coached and populated teams.

I can’t express how pleased I am to see how he has blossomed to fill the become the quiet lead-by-example backbone of this team. He brings his offense as needed (taking over only when the other players are misfiring), his defense has been outstanding (consistently shutting down the other team’s ace throughout the playoffs). And now on top of this, what do we see? A humble, intensely focused young man at the top of his game willing his team to victory and letting his playing do the talking.

I am in old school heaven! There’s simply no doubt in my mind whether banner #17 will be hoisted to the rafters this year, whether #34 will be hoisted there after he retires, and who the MVP of the playoffs will be.

Congrats, Paul Pierce

Yes, congrats Paul Pierce, for not crying to the refs after you were stripped CLEANLY twice by a better player in the clutch, when you had a chance to earn your first championship in your home town. This does show a lot of MATURITY!

so what is your point S. Nicholson? It does show a lot of maturity and class, that’s not something that Mr Bryant is renowned for. You sounds like a disheartened Laker fan clutching at straws. If you’re implying that Bryant is a better player, it can only be by the voting of the sports writers at the end of the regular season.

Pierce has had his way with Bryant in the playoffs. Pierce and his team will be hoisting the 17th banner up in their rafters by the end of this game. On the other hand, Bryant will be calling out scapegoats and slamming doors. And his wife better get those two darling daughters out of his sight! 8^)