FUNNY HOW ATTITUDES CHANGE WITH A WINNING RECORD

REPRINTED FROM A STORY BY: Adrian Wojnarowski in June of 2007 - YAHOO SPORTS


Pierce's patience running out
By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports
June 25, 2007


As much as Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge wanted a bigger return for Al Jefferson and the No. 5 pick in the flat-lined, four-team blockbuster trade proposal that died on Monday, little was done for the franchise's trampled image when Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal turned out to be one more star privately disclosing disdain over the prospects of playing for the Celtics.

First, it was Phoenix's Shawn Marion insisting that he didn't want to go to Boston.

Then it was Minnesota's Kevin Garnett.

And now it's O'Neal.

Here's the problem for Ainge: According to a league executive, Paul Pierce has finally told team management that unless the Celtics come out of this week with a talented veteran co-star for him, they should expect him to make a public declaration soon after Thursday's draft that he wants a trade.

"Danny is under tremendous pressure, from inside and outside, to get a deal for someone done this week," one league executive said.

As hard as the Celtics, Pacers, Timberwolves and Lakers worked on the collapsed deal that would've sent Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles, Boston and Indiana couldn't come to terms with what they were to receive. The Pacers were uncomfortable with Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom without minimally the Lakers' pick at 19, just as the Celtics believed they had to get more back for sending Jefferson, the emerging forward, and the fifth pick to Minnesota.

There was some belief that Pierce was going to demand a trade upon his return from a wrist injury during the regular season, when the bottom fell out of Boston's season with 17 straight losses. He didn't do it.

Ainge and Doc Rivers traveled to Phoenix on Monday night for a shared workout with the Suns that included Florida's Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer and Georgetown's Jeff Green on Tuesday. If Ainge has to pick one of those players – never mind China's Yi Jianlian – it appears that Pierce will soon let him know that he's not interested in the painstaking process of watching the kid develop beside him.



112288

Nothing succeeds like success.

bob

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Every team in the NBA is a flawed team to a certain extent. True teams like Chicago, Miami, OKC, and the Clippers may have fewer evident flaws but even they are not perfect. What encourages me greatly about the Celtics now is the improvement in rebounding. Second chance points on offense and limiting the opposition to more one and dones. Bradley looks like he can spell Rondo for stretches without the C's efforts diminishing. Bass, Pietrus, and Wilcox are making significant contributions, they WANT to and are happy to be in Boston. The C's match up better with some clubs than others. However, when play-offs roll around you don't have to beat every team, just those in your bracket, then the other bracket's winner, and finally whatever team emerges from the West. JJJ, and E'Twan have shown themselves to be ready contributors, also. Doc now can, and has no excuse not to be able to manage everyone's minutes so whoever is on the court at any given time can go full tilt boogie. The ball pressure and movemnt Rondo and Bradley can generate are causing an increase in opposition turnovers. Just maybe any team that sleeps on the Celtics will have to endure a nightmare. (not a horse that runs after dark).