MVP(ierce)
I recently mentioned how Paul Pierce should get some serious consideration for this season’s MVP. I made it a quick bullet point but, through some additional fan comments and KG winning the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award, I decided this needed some more discussion – so here goes.
I know many of the Celtics’ fans that watch game after game agree with me and realize that without Paul Pierce this team wouldn’t be coming up on 60 wins. That’s not to say the same doesn’t go for Garnett, but he gets the respect whereas Pierce doesn’t. The big additions of Ray-Ray and KG have given the media a false sense of reality – KG is the only MVP on the Celtics because last year they had Pierce and they were dreadful.
Throughout the year the MVP talks have focused around LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Chris Paul. I’m not taking anything away from any of those players as they all are worthy candidates, but I think Pierce needs to be included in these discussions. Personally, I don’t see how anybody but King James could win the award based on his Magic Johnson-like stats and the fact that his team couldn’t win a game in the WNBA let alone the NBA without him. Still, it’d be nice if Pierce’s name was brought up when the term ‘MVP’ came rolling around.
I’ve always been a big Pierce guy. He made the Celtics worth watching throughout the forgettable last decade. He led my greatest Celtics’ moment and the greatest comeback in playoff history in the fourth quarter against New Jersey in the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals. He would come on the microphone at The Garden at every home opener and give some words of hope, even though I’m sure even he knew the words wouldn’t materialize into wins. Most importantly, he loves playing for the Celtics.
Player of the Week
Obviously I’m happy for KG, as he was named last week’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week. The week covered the three games in Texas (San Antonio, Houston and Dallas) and the only loss of the road trip, at New Orleans. KG played great in all four games and I agree somebody from the Celtics deserved the honors after sweeping the dreaded ‘Texas Triangle’. But why not throw Paul into the equation and give Garnett and Pierce a Co-Player of the Week award?
Here’s a breakdown of each player’s stats through the four-game-span.
Garnett averaged 35.5 minutes, 20.5 points on 45% shooting, 11 boards and about 3 assists.
Pierce averaged 39.5 minutes, 23 points on 52% shooting, about 8 boards and 4 assists.
Their stats are pretty much a wash. Anybody who watched these four games knows Pierce and Garnett both played integral parts in each game. They matched numbers throughout the week and I’d have to say it was Pierce who hit more big shots. Again, I’m not saying Garnett should not have won the award, but when is Pierce going to start getting the credit he deserves?
Lack of Recognition
Garnett had an outstanding game against the Suns on Wednesday, but it was Pierce who took a relatively close game and put the final nail in the casket. Pierce has been doing that all season. When he gets hot, he can't miss. Of course the majority of Pierce's hot streak in this game came against the lackadaisical defense of Gordon Giricek, but it was impressive nonetheless. It was mainly Pierce who pushed a manageable 11-point fourth quarter margin (against the league's second highest scoring team) to 20, and put the game out of reach.
Giricek is just one of the many defenders Pierce has left in the dust this season. (Brian Babineau / Getty Images) |
Garnett then stepped to the line after the Pierce show and chants of "M-V-P" reigned down from the rafters. All I could think after hearing that was, sure Garnett had a great game, but the most important player on the court that night was Paul Pierce. Even the questions after the game were centered on Garnett and the MVP race. The media has once again flooded to Garnett and left Pierce on the backburner.
As a small sidebar, the Garnett and Pierce after-show has become one of my favorite Celtics' rituals now. Whether it's a win or a rare loss, I always like watching their post-game press conference. They work well together on the court but they work well off it as well. Their banter is always amusing and Pierce usually has a couple of sarcastic comments to throw Garnett's way. I could easily see them in their own reality show someday - something like Rob & Big. Sure they'd have to move in together, but what are friends for? On second thought, that's a little far-fetched, so I'll settle for a Scalabrine and Pollard reality show instead. That would be nothing short of legendary.
Pleading the Case
As important as Garnett is, I think Pierce has made more big plays. Whether it's catching fire and putting close games out of reach, or driving to the hoop to draw the defense and setup somebody else for an easy basket (see the Detroit games), Pierce is always involved in the plays that decide games.
He was always an All Star but it just seems like he keeps getting better every year. I wasn't sure how well he would fit in with both Garnett and Allen but obviously the results (up to this point) have been incredible. I don't doubt that some of his improvement has stemmed from Garnett, but it's still Pierce who is executing to near-perfection.
As commented on by a Green Room fan, Pierce's free-throw shooting is up about ten percentage points from last season. He seems much more confident from the charity stripe this season, especially in late game situations. I've always been fearful of the Celtics down two with Pierce at the line for a pair with little to no time left. Prior to this year he seemed to hit only one of two in those situations, but this season I have all the confidence in the world he'll make both. I think he realizes he now has other players that can make big plays in crunch time, so the responsibility doesn't rest solely on his shoulders. Pierce has never been shy about his skill level but this year he's playing with a newfound confidence.
His defense has been his biggest improvement. Although his own opinion may differ, he has never been a great defender by any stretch of the imagination. This year has been a completely different story. The defense as a whole has made a monumental improvement from last season thanks to Coach Thibodeau and KG. Thibodeau gives the defensive schemes while KG coaches the floor. Regardless of who is responsible for the change, Pierce is an entirely new player on the defensive end.
Paul is averaging his typical 20, 5 and 5 numbers again this season. But, as anybody supporting Garnett in the MVP race would tell you, it's not all about the numbers. Garnett brings all the intangibles and there is no doubt that he has transformed this team, but more often than not it's Pierce taking over a game for the Celtics. Early on I'd say Garnett was the MVP of this team, but Pierce has been putting on a show the last couple of months.
The Final Word
Perhaps it was Garnett himself who said it best during Wednesday night's post-game press conference: "This is my MVP right here," as he pointed to Pierce.
shut the hell up...u make no sense at all...chris and lebron are doin it by themselves...pierce has 2 all stars...plus the best bench in the league...and best role players...they would make playoffs without pierce...same cant be said about lebron, kobe, and cp3
Paul and KG are both MVP candidates.
Wow, what is this guy Jamal on? LOL
Pierce for MVP!
A) I don't understand when people say "Why didn't they get co-player of the week" or "co-mvp"! All that tells me is that you don't understand the award process. Both are voted on by a panel of voters, making ties very unlikely. Paul Pierce WAS nominated and probably finished a close 2nd, but unlike the MVP Award, they don't list the voting results.
B) I completely agree that STATISTICALLY, KG and Pierce have been quite equal all season. I separate them in two ways, however:
First, KG is almost always the primary concern of the oppositions defense. I've watched almost every game this year, and KG is always the first to receive double teams, and sometimes be followed by an extra 3rd or even 4th defender. When Pierce gets on a hot streak, he'll receive an extra defender, but a lot of those hot streaks can be someone credited to Garnett pulling the defense in and leaving Pierce single-teamed, which is bad news for the opponent. For this reason, I actually give KG a slight statistical edge. He puts up equal numbers, while making it easier for Pierce, Allen, Rondo, and Perk to put up their numbers.
Second, something Pierce praised after the Suns game, KG really did change the culture. He made every player accountable for their efforts on and off the court. There is a level of focus on this team that would NOT be there if not for KG. Pierce is having his best year defensively, and will he deserves almost all the credit for that, it is clear that he would not be working this hard on that end if there wasn't a former MVP busting his butt right behind him. KG has left his teammates no choice, but a championship. There is no way to quantify what these intangibles mean in the way of wins, but it has to be an extra 5-10 along the line.
Paul Pierce was always a solid defender in crunch time. I think he used to reserve his energy during the first three quarters because he had to carry the team offensively. But quite often in the fourth quarter he would guard the other team's top scorer and shut him down. I was at the MN game last year and he put the clamps on Garnett in the fourth quarter in a close Celtics win. Whenever they play the Lakers he does a great job on Kobe in the fourth quarter. I hope they play the Lakers in the finals this year, then we'll see Pierce emerge as the finals MVP when he has Kobe reduced to flopping and grimacing and yelling at the referees when they call charges on him, then dishing to Big Baby on the offensive end so that Glen Davis will have more fourth-quarter points than Kobe Bryant.
Umm... LeBron is the only guy doing it by himself genius. CP3 has a nasty supporting cast of West, Chandler, Peja and Mo Pete/B. Wells... no all-stars but what I'd say to be the best 2-6 group in the league. And Kobe has Gasol and Odom... Paul and KG are both having MVP years... neither will win (like Manny and Papi) b/c they are on the same team... Kobe and LBJ are like A-Rod and Pujols... CP3 is my MVP
I agree that Pierce should be in the discussion if Garnett is. Statistically he's on par with Garnett. Further proof? The Celtics are 7-2 without Garnett and 6-1 without Ray Allen. Why, because of Pierce. And while people can point to Celtics poor record last year, remember Pierce only played about half the season.
And I agree CP3 is ahead of both of them but let's not pretend he's got nobody on his team. West is a bonafide all-star, and Peja is no slouch either. Pargo, Wells and Chandler make for a solid line up and a decent bench.
It is so nice to see Paul Pierce having fun and playing for a team that gets respect. I don't care if he gets the MVP...he is finally getting the support he deserves.
Garnett has a legitimate chance to win MVP. A Celtic winning the MVP would do nothing but shine a great light on the entire Celtics team. This team is so close it is clear to me it'd be considered a team award and I'd think the Celts (including Pierce) would be much happier for KG to win it than any of the other 3 legit candidates.
Pierce, on the other hand, doesn't have a chance to win MVP. And if Celtics fans and media spend their energy/airspace talking about how he should be an MVP candidate, all that'd do on a national scale is weaken the chances for KG to get it. Hornets fans, Cavs fans, and Lakers fans are united around their guy. Would be nice for a big market like Boston to push their candidate just as hard.
Jamal are u even a Celtics Fan... Paul has carried this team by himself for the last 6 years and has done an unbelievable job. With the never ending player changes and rookies, this team have made to the playoffs 4 out 6 years without KG. And Paul did it by himself too with no credit !!!
jamal you are a clown and clearly havent been watchin the celtics games closely if at all
Jamal needs to be banned from this for his stupid comments.
Kobe or CP3 will get MVP, but tha author is simply stating to give Garnett and Pierce their dues. A nice Finals trophy will surely take care of this issue.
Thank you so much for writing this article. I feel the exact same way. We can't take anything away from the other players. All we are asking for is some recognition, PIERCE DESERVES IT!!!
I like your article lifting Paul Pierce up more to the fore. Actually, there have now been other people in the media that mentioned some, or all of your points, the last I've heard (before this) being Chris Webber on the "Inside The NBA" show last night. I think Paul deserves every mention that his name gets regarding his outstanding performance this year.
Great article. I've always felt this way. At the beginning of the season I was hoping that Pierce might get more recognition this year simply because of the heightened media focus on the team. That hasn't really worked out the way I had hoped. I'm happier now that it's at least going to another Celtic player, but still feel Pierce is left out in the cold by a sports media that's not as interested in the total package as they are in the flashy highlights. I'm impressed that, judging by his comments, KG seems to see it our way as well.
Paul Pierce has been an absolute terror this year........The C's were 7-2 when Garnett went out and I am not sure if they have lost a game w/o Ray Allen playing. But I don't think the celtics would do near as well w/o Pierce, and I hope we never have to find out....Let's face it, the offense runs through Pierce even when Rondo is on the court. And when we need a score notice the ball is always in Pierce's hands and he almost always makes the right play by either passing off for an easy score or scoring himself. I am not saying he is the league MVP, but I think he should be right in the conversation with the big 4 (KG, CP3,Lebron,Kobe) On this Celtics team he is the one that we can least afford to lose......GO CELTICS!!!!!
Pierce or Garnett for the NBA MVP? I don't know...Kobe, Bron and Paul all are off the charts this year. However, I agree with you that the C's roll with Pierce. I've been saying this since November. Everyone knew Garnett's energy would lift the Garden to mid-80's euphoria. My worry was that Pierce was too much of a need-the-ball player to work in well with the other two all stars. Yet, when the Celtics man-handled the Nuggets early in the season and Pierce had a behind-the-back assist to (maybe) Rondo, my fears were allayed. Pierce is now my favorite player in the league solely due to his game...and he's got plenty of that. He's always needed someone to tell him to get it together (Walker sparked his comeback efforts in that game against NJ), but man can he play ball.
Thanks for the article. Pierce is my man, always has been. I love KG (what Celtic fan doesn't?), but Pierce has adapted from the situation of being the only man on the floor worth guarding, shouldering the load, carrying on in the face of futility, to a good teammate of other gold-star players, and keeping his cool and good humor in the face of Garnett madness. I think the ones who appreciate Paul the most are the fans that have been here the longest, and survived all the lean years. I actually think the best scenario is for LeBron to win MVP, then one or the other of the two Celtic stars won't be left in the shadows. James can have his trophy, we'll take the Championship, thank you.
My buddy and I both noticed the same thing during the Wed. Suns game... Pierce was killing the Suns and then Garnet went to the line for the MVP chants (well deserving by the way). At that moment my friend and I wondered out loud how cool would it be if Pierce got to the line soon after and the Garden crowd (Boston fans know thier sports) started chanting MVP for him too. Nobody wins unless everybody wins! This needs to happen at some point down the stretch.
Apparently Jamal does not think Pierce should win MVP. Nor does he adhere to traditonal grammar and style rules.
Jamal, you sir a rebel in the finest sense of the word. I salute you.
i totally agree
pierce has done more than garnett this year and he should get MVP considerations. when garnett went down he mange to beat the mavs and the spurs without kg.
wow jamal, grow up. lakers were a 6th seed team until they got gasol. lebron is fighting for the 4th seed. I dont' disagree that kobe/lebron are the #1 and #2 best players in the league, that isn't my definition of MVP.
For the year he's been having, I would give CP3 the MVP. I just think the point of this article is to appreciate that Pierce has had a great year as well and at least deserves some props for his play. I don't think Pierce is the MVP, but he is in the Top 10 for this year
Don't tell me about Kobe. All he did during the off-season was moan about the team and demand to be traded because he thought his teammates stunk: great attitude for an MVP. Plus, the Lakers didn't become a serious contender till they got Pau.
As for Lebron, he's great; his attitude is great (as opposed to Kobe) and his team would be absolute garbage without him, but the only reason he's taking them to the playoffs is: his team is in the East. If the Cavs were in the West, they'd be going home after the season.
Players like Garnett and Russell cannot be measured by numbers.
Chris Paul: top candidate for MVP, but Garnett has made this team the defensive ggernaut it has become. As Pierce said, he has changed the attitude of the entire team. As much as I love what Pierce is doing, I would pick Garnett ahead of him.
I love this team; their defensive mind-set reminds me of the early 60's teams with Russell, Satch Sanders, K.C. Jones and Havlichek. Russell created that mind-set as Garnett creates this one.
jamal needs to take a pill... i can see if chris paul wins it, he is the most deserving next to kg. pierce is grossly ignored now that kg is in the house but he is still the best at getting to the line late in the game. i hope kg wins the award but i would prefer the award that translates into banner # 17!
Jamal, really? We only know your name is Jamal... he's putting it out there, and he is dead on. Pierce has been incredible, and once again, no one notices. Don't forget, Paul is the TRUE Celtic. He will be remembered for a great career, and great patience. He is the reason we have this chance. He could have run off years ago, and left us to flounder for years.
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