The Incomparable Paul Pierce

by Jeff Clark on Jun 9, 2008 10:50 PM EDT in Boston Celtics News & Links

This is something that many of us have known for a while, but few have put it so eloquently as Jason Whitlock does in his article today:

His game doesn’t remind you of another all-time great player. You see, we knew Magic Johnson was a better big guard than Oscar Robertson. We could see that Michael Jordan easily eclipsed Jerry West and surpassed Julius Erving. It didn’t take long to figure out that Larry Bird had more game than John Havlicek.
And now, we compare Kevin Garnett to Tim Duncan and Kevin McHale. We rate Allen Iverson and Chris Paul in comparison to Isiah Thomas. We look at how Dwight Howard stacks up against Moses Malone. And, of course, Kobe is judged on the Jordan meter.
Paul Pierce? He’s nearly a total original. At halftime of Boston’s 108-102 game-two blowout-turned-squeaker over the Los Angeles Lakers, I asked Basketball Bob Ryan, perhaps the most knowledgeable NBA writer of the past 30 years, to compare Pierce’s game to any former player. Ryan, a columnist for the Boston Globe, couldn’t come up with a name.
Nope. In order to give Pierce his proper due, we’re going to have to acknowledge that he is setting a new standard. We’re going to have to acknowledge the originality of his game. He’s a little bit Charles Barkley, a teeny bit Bernard King, a dash of George Gervin, a sliver of Elgin Baylor and a small helping of Reggie Miller.

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

My late grandfather said Paul Pierce always reminded him of [url=“http://www.nba.com/historical/playerfile/index.html?player=cazzie_russell”Cazzie Russell[[/url].

by BleedinGreen417 on Jun 9, 2008 11:17 PM EDT reply actions

Bah. Here’s the correct link

http://www.nba.com/historical/playerfile/index.html?player=cazzie_russell

by BleedinGreen417 on Jun 9, 2008 11:19 PM EDT reply actions

Terry Cummings?

by liam on Jun 9, 2008 11:39 PM EDT reply actions

Wow, interesting article when read in full.

Firstly, I completely agree that Paul Pierce is a unique talent and a stud at that. But hey, most Celtic fans have known that for ten years.

Secondly, I largely disagree with Whitlock’s analysis of Garnett. The great thing about Pierce and Garnett as a duo (as I have said on this site before), is that one can dominate one end of the floor and the other can dominate the other end of the floor. That is what makes this team so tough.

Add in Ray Allen and you have a very potent three headed monster.

Great news that Paul is getting his due from more than just Celtic fans, he deserves everything he gets. Who knows, maybe next year he will be a starter in the All-Star game. Now that would be something.

That said, we still need to win two more games, that is what really counts and that is what Paul is really all about.

Cheers

Aussie

by Aussie Celtic on Jun 9, 2008 11:42 PM EDT reply actions

Jared Dudley @ Boston College : NCAA Hoops :: Paul Pierce with Celtics : NBA

by Brendan on Jun 9, 2008 11:46 PM EDT reply actions

I agree Aussie, I thought he was overly harsh on KG. Why is that if you don’t shine offensively everything else is ignored? I just wish if a player has a bad night offensively they don’t get bashed solely because of this at least acknowledge defense as well. Isn’t defense what wins championships?

by NoraG1 on Jun 9, 2008 11:51 PM EDT reply actions

Jason whitlock calling KG a candy ass? Wow

by Hollywood on Jun 10, 2008 12:04 AM EDT reply actions

He’s a real professional lol.

by NoraG1 on Jun 10, 2008 12:10 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, that was way out of line. I guess the finals are the first Celtics games he’s seen all year.

by Last Train on Jun 10, 2008 1:11 AM EDT reply actions

I’m all for Pierce getting his props in the national media. However, the last two pieces written by Whitlock have been extremely poorly written. This one – his diatribe on KG is a flat-out hack job. You don’t have to belittle KG to amplify Pierce’s impact on the team. The piece he wrote before that on how the reason the ratings are going to be higher in this finals is because of the lack of tattoos was even more ridiculous.

by soap07 on Jun 10, 2008 1:15 AM EDT reply actions

The Truth seems to always get fouls called on him in the finishing of quarters and games and he never seems to get the benifit of the doubt or the call.

However in the west it seems thst freethrows decide most of there games. Just look at the benifit of the doubt that Kobe always seems to get and if he don’t just watching his reaction is worthy of watching the game.

Sorry but my little brother is a Laker fan and I have always be a Celtic fan and frankly I am fed up with hearing that Kobe stacks up with The G.O.A.T.

Anyway nice piece, and it certainly is worth the time to read.

by MoBSTa_69 on Jun 10, 2008 1:39 AM EDT reply actions

yeah, I’m choosing not to address the KG comments :o

by Jeff Clark on Jun 10, 2008 4:26 AM EDT reply actions

bleedingreen417, i like the cazzie russell comparison, tho pp is better.before we canonize him, let’s let the playoffs take their course.

by nazzbo on Jun 10, 2008 6:11 AM EDT reply actions

It doesn’t really matter who Pierce reminds us of. He just needs to keep playing like Paul Pierce is capable of. Except for Kobe, the Lakers don’t have anyone who can guard him.

by Greg37 on Jun 10, 2008 6:25 AM EDT reply actions

It’s unfortunate…

I believe that Whitlock is an extremely inciteful writer, however, at some point in most of his articles he feels the need to take a drastic angle. This really deters his ability to emphasize the credible points of his piece.

I can only imagine his thought process writing this wow, Paul Pierce is really a unique talent. Who would I complare it too…wait, not enough sex appeal. KG is soft. Oh yeah, this will get me national attention!! [/i]

Whitlock should stop while he’s ahead. No need to cheapen your story by trying to make it more incendiary.[i][/i][i]

by huzy on Jun 10, 2008 7:21 AM EDT reply actions

I love Pierce and have really grown attached to him over the last couple of seasons when he still tried even though the team was clearly not going anywhere. However, I could not read this article after the first sentence saying OR wasn’t the best big guard in the game. I’d take him over Magic…

by RickyD Fan on Jun 10, 2008 8:22 AM EDT reply actions