Pierce: Celtics are still best team

[CB4]

Despite their elimination at the hands of the Magic on Sunday night, Paul Pierce still believes that the Celtics are the NBA's best team.

Last year's Finals MVP says that the loss of Kevin Garnett put a damper on Boston's plans to repeat as NBA champions.

"You can't cry over spilled milk," Pierce said. "Unfortunately we didn't have the big fella for this run, so hopefully the main thing right now for him is to get healthy, keep the core together and bring him back next year and see what happens. Hopefully we can stay healthy for next year. See what happens.

"We believe that we are the best team in the NBA, still," he added. "Before the season, everyone was asking if we would repeat, and I said yes, but only if we are healthy. In the NBA injuries happen, it (stinks), but you have to deal with it."

 

[.RoCkEtS1]

Lmao. Even with Garnett back they aren't the best team. They are old and the only future bright spots are in Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis. Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are way past their prime and Pierce is past his prime as well. The Lakers and Cavaliers are both easily better then them.

I hate the stupid and conceited mind state of Paul Pierce.

 

[celtsxpatsxsox]

wtf Pierce, if you wanna say something like at least wait till after the playoffs or at the beginning of next season. Not right after you get eliminated in game 7.

 

[zack54attack]

 

[ThunderHorse]

sore loser much?

I guess it's better to get out your tears now... rather then just eat it like a man and admit you got beat, at home, by a team you probably should have beaten.

 

[ralaw]

Obviously it comes across a bad way, but IMO Pierce has a point. Without their best player for half the season the team won 60 games and almost made the conference finals. If everyone returns healthy and playing at a high level I don't see them being beat too easily in a 7 game series. Garnet's absence allowed their young bigs to grow even more as players and we all saw what Rondo can do.

 

[dell71]

Obviously it comes across a bad way, but IMO Pierce has a point. Without their best player for half the season the team won 60 games and almost made the conference finals. If everyone returns healthy and playing at a high level I don't see them being beat too easily in a 7 game series. Garnet's absence allowed their young bigs to grow even more as players and we all saw what Rondo can do.

Agreed.

 

[Len B]

Lmao. Even with Garnett back they aren't the best team. They are old and the only future bright spots are in Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis. Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are way past their prime and Pierce is past his prime as well. The Lakers and Cavaliers are both easily better then them.

I hate the stupid and conceited mind state of Paul Pierce.

Your bold point is ruining your argument.

KG, Pierce, and Allen together last season won the title.

This season, KG goes down. Celtics still get #2 seed and win 60 games. This is a team that lost two of its most important players to injury (Powe and Garnett) and had to field a lineup of House, Marbury, Scalabrine, TA, Mikki Moore, etc. and STILL took the Magic to seven games without Pierce or Allen catching fire.

Now Rajon Rondo emerges as an All-Star point guard, and Glen Davis emerges as a great role player.

Those 5 players (if Davis doesn't go for glory with the Clippers this off-season) plus any other role players that come back next year (ie: Marbury, or another signing) make a strong case for the Celtics contending for the #1 spot again.

Oh and that "prime" thing? Ray Allen only shot 48% this year (best of his career) and improved on his championship season statistics. Paul Pierce scored over 20 ppg and can make the argument that his season was also better than last year's regular season.

 

[Gonzo]

Your bold point is ruining your argument.

KG, Pierce, and Allen together last season won the title.

This season, KG goes down. Celtics still get #2 seed and win 60 games. This is a team that lost two of its most important players to injury (Powe and Garnett) and had to field a lineup of House, Marbury, Scalabrine, TA, Mikki Moore, etc. and STILL took the Magic to seven games without Pierce or Allen catching fire.

Now Rajon Rondo emerges as an All-Star point guard, and Glen Davis emerges as a great role player.

Those 5 players (if Davis doesn't go for glory with the Clippers this off-season) plus any other role players that come back next year (ie: Marbury, or another signing) make a strong case for the Celtics contending for the #1 spot again.

Oh and that "prime" thing? Ray Allen only shot 48% this year (best of his career) and improved on his championship season statistics. Paul Pierce scored over 20 ppg and can make the argument that his season was also better than last year's regular season.

/homer.

Go Pacers.

 

[stevsta]

lol @ celtics players thinking b/c some people were injured they were still the team to beat just like you guys said last years injurys happen gotta move forward lmao

 

[stevsta]

Yeh, how's Bynum working out for you guys this post season anyways?

:wavey:

quite good were in the conf finals while you guys just got ousted by the magic

 

[stevsta]

he asked about the individual play of Andrew Bynum, not where the Lakers are. You love trying to base your argument about individual players on the team play...just like a couple days ago "Well Derek Fisher was part of the 3 peat so he's better than Rondo."

I guess DJ Mbenga>Tim Duncan this season right?

hmmmmm what is the title of this thread i was merely talking about how L.A. as a team are winning games and moving along Andrew Bynum while he hasnt been omg greatness has played his role well in being a big body who can altar shots something we were missing last year in the finals

 

[stevsta]

solid opinionated response. You earned yourself a cookie, now go float little boy.

my life got a little better with boston out

 

[dave]

Obviously it comes across a bad way, but IMO Pierce has a point. Without their best player for half the season the team won 60 games and almost made the conference finals. If everyone returns healthy and playing at a high level I don't see them being beat too easily in a 7 game series. Garnet's absence allowed their young bigs to grow even more as players and we all saw what Rondo can do.

Agreed. Injuries are huge in all sports, but they're monstrous in the NBA.
You lose a Garnett, you lose nearly an entire game with your best player.
With only five guys on the court, that's insurmountable.
It would have been like Orlando playing Boston without Dwight Howard, or L.A. playing Denver without Bryant.

 

[ralaw]

Those 5 players (if Davis doesn't go for glory with the Clippers this off-season) ....

I hope he stays in his current role. I like Davis in the role as a role player...If he takes a big contract to be some team's starting PF he will quickly become overrated.

 

[Splugeon]

Celtics probably had to deal with more injuries than almost any team this season, and not only more, but crucial injuries to key players.

See: Utah Jazz.

 

[Vinsane]

Celtics probably had to deal with more injuries than almost any team this season, and not only more, but crucial injuries to key players.

See: Utah Jazz.

The Washington Wizards say, "No".

 

[Vinsane]

ehh, I don't think this was the last year they'll have to win it. The Cavs post game dies a little more with every step and Orlando just guaranteed that Stan Van Gundy's job was safe...so the eastern conference will still be up for grabs next season

As opposed to the "Until someone knocks them off". Routine you constantly spewed all season when I told you around November/December time frame the Power had shifted in the East? To refresh your memory the Celtics were the Truth (pun intended) without KG only months ago, still considered the best team in the East by you. The only argument you could ever give was the "Well they're the defending champs...etc, etc, etc," Now your saying "The Eastern Conference will still be up for grabs"?

It must be nice to play the "Best" card when it comes to your team. Failure to accept the fact that Boston isn't the best anymore just drives the opinion of you as the "blind one". Not based on lack of knowledge of the game or it's players but due to your homer glasses you can't seem to remove from your face.

 

[Len B]

lol @ celtics players thinking b/c some people were injured they were still the team to beat just like you guys said last years injurys happen gotta move forward lmao

We are moving foward.. we're talking about next year.

:wavey:

 

[Len B]

Agreed. Injuries are huge in all sports, but they're monstrous in the NBA.
You lose a Garnett, you lose nearly an entire game with your best player.
With only five guys on the court, that's insurmountable.
It would have been like Orlando playing Boston without Dwight Howard, or L.A. playing Denver without Bryant.

This is actually the best (summarized) post in this thread. KG is a top ten NBA player, and people are acting like the Celtics suck because he wasn't there.