Tag: Paul Pierce

Lamar Odom: Celtics being on verge of NBA championship makes him sick

Former Laker Lamar Odom, a two-time NBA champion, really dislikes the fact that the Celtics are one win away from the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

The Boston Celtics are one win away from winning their 18th NBA championship, an accomplishment that would break the tie they currently hold with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most titles in league history.

This current group of Celtics is comprised of people who are relatively easy to like. Jayson Tatum considers late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant to be his mentor, while point guard Jrue Holiday, a key addition last summer, grew up in the Southland and went to the University of California, Los Angeles.

But a number of Lakers alumni are still seething at the mere thought of the men of green being on the verge of basketball’s grand prize.

Lamar Odom won two world championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010, the latter of which came against Boston. While he praised the growth of Tatum and co-star Jaylen Brown over the last few years, he will never forget the embarrassment that was Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals.

Via ESPN:

“[Jayson] Tatum and [Jaylen] Brown, as a professional, as an ex-NBA player, to see them kind of go through the process and make it to the Finals and get better every year as players, I’m happy for them as individuals,” Odom told ESPN. “But I’m a Laker at heart and in Game 6 they beat us pretty bad.

“And that’s when their fans surrounded our bus and wouldn’t let us leave. Shook our bus. That’s when I kind of was on a ‘F— Boston’ vengeance.”

The Celtics demolished the Lakers in Game 6 that year by 39 points, and Paul Pierce was the MVP of that championship series. Odom dislikes the fact that the Hall of Fame forward is delighted about his former team closing in on the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

“I know Paul Pierce is happy and it kind of makes me sick to see him gloat and be that happy because that team is about to win,” Odom said. “They were the best team that year [in 2008]. I tip my hat to ’em, even this year, but it kind of makes me sick.”

The Dallas Mavericks, Boston’s opponent in this year’s finals, did win Game 4 on Friday to stay alive. However, Game 5 will be in Beantown, and the crowd there is sure to be juiced up with the anticipation of its team winning it all right then and there.

Paul Pierce says Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama NBA’s most gifted player

“Who’s the most gifted today? It’s Victor Wembanyama,” said the Truth.

The player with the case of being the most clutch NBA player n the history of the game thinks that San Antonio Spurs star forward Victor Wembanyama is the most gifted player in the league of today. We are of course talking about Boston Celtics Hall of Fame small forward and contemporary broadcaster Paul Pierce, who said as much on a recent episode of Fox’s “Undisputed.”

“Who’s the most gifted today? It’s Victor Wembanyama,” said the Truth via KENS Jeff Garcia. “We’ve never seen anything like that. When I say the physical traits with the skills, there’s nothing we’ve ever seen like this, right?”

“Nobody has these physical attributes like Wembanyama,” added the Englewood native. “We have just never seen anything like this.”

And Pierce isn’t wrong, quite literally. Wemby is the first player to make an All-Defensive First Team as a rookie in the same season he won Rookie of the Year — and came in second in Defensive Player of the Year!

And when his offense catches up with his D, well — it might be curtains for everyone else.

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Paul Pierce doesn’t think the Lakers are serious about winning the NBA championship

Former Celtics star Paul Pierce feels the Lakers are focused on “putting on a show” because they want to hire JJ Redick as head coach.

It is starting to look like JJ Redick will be hired by the Los Angeles Lakers to be their next head coach and that it is only a matter of time before his hiring is officially announced.

Multiple prominent insiders, including Anthony Irwin, Dan Woike and Shams Charania, have reported that Redick is indeed, at the very least, a strong frontrunner to win the job.

In addition, there seems to be a real chance the Lakers will end up drafting Bronny James, LeBron James’ son.

The critics say the elder James is behind both rumored moves, and that perhaps he and his camp are even demanding the Lakers make both moves to be able to re-sign him as a free agent this summer.

Former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce feels the Lakers are more concerned about “putting on a good show” than winning the NBA championship because it seems poised to add Redick and the younger James.

“I gotta be honest with you I really don’t think this is really about a championship no more,” Pierce said. “This is about putting on a good show. This sounds like a script to me. This really sounds like a script to me. Think about this, they hire JJ Redick, draft Bronny or sign Bronny. Does this sound like something that’s like ‘we’re trying to move in a direction to win a championship?’ Or does it sound like ‘we’re trying to put on a show?'”

Redick has virtually no coaching experience of any kind, so he may not be the best head coach for a Lakers team that will still be in win-now mode assuming the elder James remains on board. However, the elder James and his agency Klutch Sports seem to hold tremendous pull with the Lakers, so perhaps logic won’t prevail here.

On the other hand, there is always the chance that Redick turns out to be a good coach right away and will be able and willing to hold his friend James accountable.

The two currently host the “Mind the Game” podcast, which has made plenty of people skeptical about why Redick is even a head coaching candidate to begin with.

Do the Dallas Mavericks have a secret weapon?

Should the Boston Celtics be concerned about the Dallas Mavericks secret weapons?

The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks will face off in the NBA Finals. Dallas booked their spot after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in a five-game series. Now, they face the difficult task of trying to overcome a Celtics team that currently boasts a 12-2 record in the playoffs and that’s undefeated on the road.

In the latest episode of the “KG Certified” podcast, former Celtics champions Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce discuss the Mavericks’ path to the NBA Finals before sharing what they believe to be Dallas’ secret weapon. The championship winning duo discuss Kyrie Irving’s recent play before diving into some of the Mavericks role players and the impact they’ve made during the playoffs.

As an NBA Finals team, the Mavericks should be taken seriously. They have some elite talent on their roster. However, the Celtics are considered to be the most talented team in the NBA this season and should have enough depth to overcome whatever Dallas throws their way.

You can watch the full podcast episode by clicking on the embedded link above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3UAVYRg

Spotify:  https://spoti.fi/3y0H4Lh

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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How did Europeans take over the NBA?

Boston Celtics legends Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce discuss how European talent has taken over the NBA.

Currently, the best three players in the NBA are European. Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo are unquestionably the three most talented players in the league. The Boston Celtics have two of the top-20 talents in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. However, Boston may face Doncic in the NBA Finals.

In a recent episode of the “KG Certified” podcast, former Celtics champions Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce discuss how European talent has begun to dominate the NBA and why the three best players are from overseas. Garnett draws inspiration from Adam Sandler’s movie “Hustle” and points to it as proof that European talent is on an elite level.

If the Celtics are to face the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, Garnett will likely be watching closely to see how Joe Mazzulla’s team attempts to contain Doncic and whether they can overcome facing such an elite offensive weapon.

You can watch the full discussion by clicking on the embedded link above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3UAVYRg

Spotify:  https://spoti.fi/3y0H4Lh

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Are NBA stars more injury prone than ever before?

Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce discuss whether NBA players are suffering more injuries now than in previous era’s.

With the advancements in sports science and technology, professional athletes are more explosive than ever before. They can run faster, jump higher, change directions at pace, and slow down on a dime. However, in return for the increase in physical production, players suffer more injuries than their predecessors.

In the latest episode of ‘KG Certified,’ Boston Celtics legends Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce discuss the mounting injuries in the NBA and whether modern players are more susceptible to injury than players from other eras. Celtics fans will be able to relate to this discussion after Kristaps Porzingis suffered a right soleus injury when facing the Miami Heat in the opening round of the playoffs.

Despite the perceived rise in injuries, it’s also worth asking if it’s worth the tradeoff. The same advancements in science and technology also mean players are getting better treatment, recovering faster and recovering from injuries previously considered career-ending injuries.

You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded link above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3UAVYRg

Spotify:  https://spoti.fi/3y0H4Lh

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Champion Boston Celtics alum Paul Pierce on his confidence in his former team to win it all

Pierce has been keeping an extra close eye on the team he forged a Hall of Fame career with.

Former Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce has been keeping an extra close eye on the team he forged a Hall of Fame career with as they look like a team that can hang a banner for the first time since he helped do so in 2008.

The growth of fellow Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum, the offseason additions of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, and the development of players up and down the roster — there’s been plenty to get our attention. The Truth recently joined NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Giles, former teammate Brian Scalabrine and Eddie House on Game 1’s “Celtics Pregame Live” to talk about this year’s ball club in the postseason, and what he likes that he has seen from them.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what he had to say about the Celtics’ playoffs prospects for yourself.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Who is the best Boston Celtics scorer of all time?

Could it be the star of today’s Celtics, All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum?

Who is the best Boston Celtics scorer of all time? Could it be the star of today’s Celtics, All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum? Or might it be Hall of Fame forward Larry Bird even as he watches Tatum break his records with surprising frequency? Or could it instead be 2008 titlist Paul Pierce, who has a clutch gene like perhaps no other fellow Boston alum on the court?

To try to get an answer for themselves to this age-old question among Celtics fans, the folks behind NESN’s “Hold My Banner” podcast recently weighed in, with Pierce teammate and cohost Antoine Walker offering up his own unique perspective.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Is the NBA’s new generation staking its claim?

Is the NBA seeing a changing of the guard during the 2024 postseason?

The NBA Playoffs are well underway. The Phoenix Suns are the first team to be officially eliminated after being swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, and New Orleans Pelicans will all follow suit in the coming days.

The most interesting part of the postseason has been how many of the league’s younger stars have stood up to be counted. The latest episode of ‘The Ticket and the Truth’ podcast, which features Boston Celtics legends Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, discusses whether this year’s postseason is the passing of the torch from the old stars to the new.

Of course, there’s still plenty of time for the league’s elder statesmen to re-assert themselves as the dominant stars of the NBA. However, with most of them on the wrong side of 30, it’s unlikely that happens.

You can get Garnett and Pierce’s full take on the subject by clicking on the embedded link above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3UAVYRg

Spotify:  https://spoti.fi/3y0H4Lh

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

What does it take for a team to flip the switch in the playoffs

Can the Boston Celtics flip a switch against the Miami Heat?

The Boston Celtics suffered a shock defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat on Wednesday (April 24). Their defense has come under intense scrutiny, as has their perceived lack of effort on both sides of the court. As a contending team, the Celtics are expected to be playing with a significantly higher level of intensity.

In the latest episode of Kevin Garnett’s ‘KG Certified’ podcast, he and Paul Pierce discuss the difficulties of ‘flipping the switch’ when going from regular season to postseason basketball. As two former champions, their discussion provides key insights into the approach they took throughout their careers.

Can the Celtics flip the switch in their first round Eastern Conference playoff series with the Miami Heat after coasting into the 2024 postseason?

You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded link above.

Listen to the “Green With Envy” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3DoLhYK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Oj4dhD

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3K8Mbv

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