Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
"It was an emotional moment for me," Pierce said afterwards. "Tough for me to swallow. I was just thinking about all the years I have been here and you don't see it too often where a player accomplishes that kind of feat playing with one team. It is a great accomplishment, you know, the fans seeing my ups and downs throughout the years and sticking with me, just to be able to accomplish this type of feat . . . It means a lot to me. I'm not going to downplay it."
[…] "Five years ago I wouldn't have dreamed I would be scoring 20,000 points in a Celtics uniform," Pierce said. "The team was going in a [bad] direction, I was a disgruntled player at the time. To be here and talking about this feat is an incredible moment for me."
CSNNE: Pierce makes history with his 20,000th point
I just want to point out to everyone that what we're seeing in Pierce is rare. Ray brings it up in that link… it's hard to stay with one team for your whole career. Either the player gets pissed and says "trade me" or the team says "we're moving in a different direction."
I'm an unabashed Paul Pierce fan. Tommy Heinsohn calls him the best pure offensive player the Celtics have ever had. I know this will trigger the debate with Larry, but Pierce is the slasher that Larry never was… and that's Tommy's point. Larry was the better shooter… but Pierce has more weapons at his disposal.
That aside, it's just great to see an athlete doing it all in one uniform. Yes, even Kobe. We all need villains… and I'm happy that Kobe has been a consistent villain for us.
Thanks, Paul… and congrats.
On Page 2: KG can never win
To his supporters, Garnett gets himself into such a state that his mind leaves his body in such a way as to invite loud howls and an incomprehensible running soliloquy that is only understood by small woodland creatures, and apparently, Charlie Villanueva. It’s his fuel and also what makes him great.
“I’m a passionate player,” Garnett said. “With all these rules I’m trying my best to get out of situations. I’m definitely not trying to invite them. The game is passionate and I play with a lot of energy for the 15, going on 16 years I’ve played this way. If you like my style that’s what you’re going to love about me. I leave it out there 100 percent on the court.”
To his detractors, that’s nonsense. A convenient cover for a career filled with cheap theatrics in place of meaningful confrontations.
Others defend Garnett on the grounds that Villanueva should have handled his business like a man, and kept it on the court.
“What I don’t like is the whole Tweeting thing,” Rivers said. “I’ll state that as well. Guys talk on the court. It doesn’t mean they should or shouldn’t. The fact that we’re talking about this is just silly. I used to play and I can’t imagine us running and talking about what was said.” Then he joked, “Larry [Bird] has said some terrible things to me and I’m still hurt by them.”
WEEI/Flannery: The two sides of Kevin Garnett
Nicely laid out by Paul there. People's opinions of KG are set in stone. For the second time this week, I'll point to a Matt More tweet to help lay out my case:
Well, this was a good one, and then Rondo took over. And then some crazy stuff happened, and KG was a jerk and the Celtics won. Recap? Recap
Matt doesn't like KG's antics. His call. But all the C's fans I saw on Twitter had opposite reactions to last night's game. And they won't change their minds. KG is who he is. You love him… or you don't.
Of course, our curiosity is what it is. So a lot of people want to know what KG really said. I don't care anymore. Now I want to know what Larry said to Doc.
The rest of the links:
Herald: Paul Pierce, Celtics dip into OT budget | Pierce in higher Big 3 | Shaq status on hold | KG's cancer jab a miscommunication | Rivers bothered by tweeting of in-game comments | ESPN Boston: Doc breaks his own rule | First impressions: C's 105-Bucks 102 | Pierce reaches 20,000 points | WEEI: The Truth about Paul Pierce and 20,000 points | Celtics sear the deer in OT | Ray on Twitter & NBA: It's a fragile world | Globe: C's push for win | Pierce gets his point across | nothing is scared | KG living on the edge lately | CSNNE: KG not trying to invite "situations" | MWDN: Pierce hits 20k in win | C's notebook
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