Okay, I give in--at long last, an NBA post. Do you want to know the truth about The Truth? People caught up in mythology have taken a how-dare-you attitude to the comparisons of Paul Pierce's Game 1 injury-ridden emergence from the lockerroom to an injured Willis Reed taking the court to start game seven of the 1970 NBA Finals. A writer at Fox Sports, who moonlights as a medical doctor and film critic, opines that Pierce should be awarded an Oscar. I'm tempted to throw a "How dare you?" right back at him--and the congregants of the Cult of Willis Reed. Both Pierce and Reed had injuries to their legs (Pierce's knee, Reed's thigh), were playing for their first title against the Lakers, and sent the arena into a frenzy by their mere presence. The big difference is that Paul Pierce won the game with his play, while Willis Reed merely, well, played. He scored four points, took down three rebounds, and had one assist. Here's the box score for those living in a world constructed by sports mythology rather than reality. Pierce, on the other hand, drained consecutive threes, helped make the best player in the NBA look like Bonzi Wells, and, after an anemic first half, took over the game. It's not game seven, it's not New York, and it may not turn out to be that great an injury, but what Paul Pierce did was not only dramatic in a Willis Reed way, but effective in a Kirk Gibson way as well.
Postscript: Like Willis Reed, I tore a muscle in my thigh. Instead of thousands of rabid fans cheering me on, a crowd of Marines laughed uncontrollably as I writhed in pain (Had they been in my place I would have responded similarly, and they knew it). I had fallen from atop a Light Armored Vehicle onto the rocky soil of Twenty-Nine Palms, California. Only on the way down my leg hit a ladder rung extending from the LAV's steel hull, and to hear the story told by my amused comrades in arms, I bounced several times after hitting the ground. The bruise on the back of my thigh was larger than Kevin Mench's head and I was unable to bend my leg at the knee without causing severe pain. I didn't go to the locker room. I didn't get to call a time out. I didn't even get medical treatment or convalesce. I spent another week riding in the gunner's seat. The Marines didn't think more of me for any of this. They certainly would have thought less of me if an injury, even the one I endured, impeded my training. When respect, rather than a multimillion dollar contract, is on the line, you play the game and no one gives you an "ataboy." Give me my overdue online standing ovation--please.
Speaking of an overdue standing O (I’m giving you your props as I write Dan), Pierce doesn't seem to be looking for one. He was the best player on a really, really bad team last year and never mailed it in once knowing that they were going nowhere.
This season he is again the best player on the best team in the league when it counts and not only ever mails it in but picks it up when his team needs him.
He's quoted on ESPN saying that even though he has a bad knee sprain, when the lights come on, he smells the popcorn and the adrenaline starts to flow, he'll be ready. I believe him.
Not surprising toughness from a guy who was stabbed 11 times in the face, neck and chest and came back as one of the best players in the NBA.
Dan, that's the best story you've told yet. I'm proud of everyone involved for doing the right thing.
"The bruise on the back of my thigh was larger than Kevin Mench's head ...."
When he was in Texas, he was affectionately called 'Buckethead' by some of the fans. In the words of Mike Myers (So I Married an Axe Murderer), "that boy's head is like Sputnik."
Whose afraid of the big bad Kobe? The guy can't shoot at all against the Celtics. He's 24 of 72 in his three games against them this year.
As for The Captain aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand the truth, that game was inspiring. More than Willis Reed it reminded me of Larry Bird's return to the court in the 1991 playoffs (though having been four at the time, I don't remember it first hand).
::applause::
Dan! Your old UMass Minuteman buddy here! Haven't talked (via email) since before your first book came out! Loved the newest article in National Review and would love to hear from you and catch up. I've been working with Bill Bennett on a project to get his two volume history of the United States (America: Last Best Hope) adopted into high schools. Got to present along with Bill in January...a very cool experience. Shoot me an email so we can chat. Go Celtics!
Well the Celtics got casual in the fourth and took their foot off the pedal tonight. But other than losing focus a bit there, they demonstrated that they are superior to the Lakers in every facet of the game
Still think the Lakers should be favored, Ralph?
I really don't care who wins. I detest both teams. I'll just remind you that the Finals format favors the team with the worse record; the next three games are in L. A. Shots that weren't falling for Kobe and Co. in Boston, will fall at the Staples Center.
Paul Pierce has monstrous career numbers in LA. Celtics will win 1-2 games there.
Commerce. The NBA and related enterprises stand to make a quarter of a BILLION dollars if the Finals go seven games. Last night you saw the Celtics mail it in and make the darling of the NBA (the best player in the NBA, as the commentators call him) look good after they, essentially, shut him down in the previous two games. Commerce.
They shut down the Lakers offense once again last night. The team averages 109 points, but scored only 87. If the Celtics offense hadn't been having one of the worst nights of the year for them, they would have won that game easily.
Is that LA's best shot? If so, we'll wrap this up in five games.
Celts have demonstrated they can have their way with these guys. So many uncharacteristic missed shots down the stretch last night. Hmmmmmm....?
Six games with the final win back in Bean Town.
Commerce.
OH MY GOD
HOLY CRAP
OH MY GOD
Yep.
