04-30-2005, 10:05 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Celtics Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 16,806
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Boston Globe: Pierce Calls for the Ball
Quote:
By Shira Springer, Globe Staff | April 30, 2005
INDIANAPOLIS -- For the Celtics, it was a cruel case of be careful what you wish for. Before Boston learned Antoine Walker would be suspended for Game 4 tonight against the Pacers, Paul Pierce said he wanted the ball more, wanted to take more shots, wanted to be the go-to guy. He thought his status as the team's leading scorer, captain, and lone representative at the 2005 All-Star Game earned him the right to try to carry the team through tough times. Without Walker, Pierce will get his wish. And he'll also draw more attention from the Indiana defense.
But Pierce accepts the challenge. It sounds as if he has been waiting for such an opportunity throughout the best-of-seven series.
"If I'm going to get criticized when we lose, I want an opportunity to help this team win," said Pierce. "And I just want opportunities when I'm on the court. If we're going to go down, we've got to be able to go down fighting with our best. I feel like the ball needs to be in my hands a little bit more. I think I go too many possessions without touching the ball. If I'm one of our best scorers, if I'm one of our best players, then I need that opportunity, because at the end of the day when we lose it's going to be like, 'What is Paul Pierce not doing?' "
Pierce noted that he didn't believe the Pacers' defense had dictated where the ball went. ''If I'm the leader of this team and if I'm the captain, I want the opportunity. I can understand that. I can handle the pressure. If I go out and I miss 22 shots and that's the reason we lose, I can deal with that. I'm the captain of this team and they pay me big money to be the captain and to be the leader of this team, to take the pressure off other guys, and I want to be able to do that."
Pierce's remarks should not be read as criticism of coach Doc Rivers and his offensive philosophy or play calling. That said, Rivers has always maintained the Celtics need to move the ball, that it should not matter who takes the shots. Throughout the playoffs, Rivers has talked about the importance of trust and unselfishness.
"I'm not going to get on what the coach is doing," said Pierce. "You've got to understand Coach Rivers is still a young coach in this league. This is like his third or fourth playoffs, so he's still learning a lot, like me. I'm still learning as I get older. I can't say if his decisions or adjustments [are right]. We have to follow him. He's our coach. He's the guy who watches the tapes with our staff."
Rivers is also the guy who conducts team meetings before practice. And according to Rivers, the Celtics yesterday discussed getting Pierce more touches.
"He's essentially repeating what I just said in our meeting," said Rivers. "He's not saying anything that's earth shattering. I just told the guys in the meeting, 'Hey, guys, we had Paul rolling and we come out three times in row and swing the ball to the other side.' Ball movement doesn't mean you don't move the ball to Paul. But Paul's going to be responsible when he gets double-teamed, and if he gets double-teamed, he has to move the ball to the open guy. That was the point I was making."
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Last edited by Premier : 04-30-2005 at 10:20 AM.
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