Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
Pierce holds a $5.5 million player option for the second and final season of a two-year pact he inked with the Wizards last summer in the aftermath of a rough stint in Brooklyn. He might be able to find another midlevel deal on the open market, especially after his postseason exploits, but he seems to be enjoying his time in Washington and has to like the direction of the Wizards.
Through five postseason games, Pierce is averaging 16.2 points per game while shooting 54.2 percent from the floor and 51.5 percent beyond the 3-point arc. Pierce has stepped up in big moments, which is noteworthy considering how Ainge spent part of his after-the-season news conference last week talking about how the Celtics need players that are capable of scoring in crunch-time situations.
“I think the hardest skill to find in our league is guys that can score in the fourth quarter — the last-six-minutes-of-the-game-type scorers, offensive creators,” Ainge said. “Usually the offensive patterns don’t score baskets at that time — usually, it’s the individuals and talent. I think that that’s always a priority, regardless of need by position.
“But those kind of players are hard to find. I think that Isaiah [Thomas], he’s our best at that right now, so it would be nice to find one or two more of those before the season starts next year. And ideally at other positions.”
For those of you who bailed on the playoffs once the Cavs swept away the Celtics, I highly recommend watching the Wizards. They’re starting to play well and Paul Pierce is doin’ his thing.
I’m willing to bet the Wizards make the Eastern Conference finals. And while I don’t think they have enough to beat Chicago (the Cavs are going down) or the Warriors, I find it hard to believe the Truth would walk away from a team that’s close to becoming a legitimate championship contender.
How many more years can Pierce play at this level? One? The man turns 38 in October.
Now if the Wizards shock the world and win the championship, then maybe the Truth is compelled to return to Boston and finish out his career mentoring our guys.
It’s a great storybook ending, but I just don’t think it’s in the cards.
Now excuse me while I return to my dream. Rosie needs helps with her dress.
On Page 2, did you know Larry Legend played one game of college baseball and nearly ended his career?
Bird redeemed himself in his second at bat, drilling a single up the middle to drive in two runs.
“That gave us a 3-1 lead,” Warn said. “Did he win that game for us? I wouldn’t tell him that. But his runs proved to be the winning runs because they didn’t score any more.”
That day of baseball could have ended just like that. Bird 1-for-2 with two RBIs. ISU winning both games of the doubleheader. But it didn’t.
While later playing first base, Bird made a move that silenced the monstrous crowd. A play, that for a few moments, some thought had ended Bird’s upcoming NBA career.
“Larry collided with the catcher and they both went down and they just laid there not moving,” Warn said. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, what have I done?’ “
Just when you think you know everything about Larry Legend, the Indy Star drops this tasty morsel on our plate.
Typical Bird. Such the competitor, he’s incapable of scaling back his desire to win even in a baseball game where his appearance is nothing more than a publicity stunt.
What if… Bird suffered some type of injury that prevented him from becoming the greatest basketball player in the history of the universe? Who would I have idolized in the 80s? I might have actually dated girls instead of watching him play and memorizing his stats.
I highly recommend reading the entire article. Great stuff.
The rest of the links
Herald – Stevens starting to feel like a New Englander | CSNNE – Mock draft : Cs land Dekker |
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
