The Day After

RELISHING PIERCE'S DOMINANCE AND KOBE'S FAILED REACHAROUND

After watching a sweet victory by the Celtics last night against the Lakers, I realized that this was one of the only opportunities of the season to bash Kobe and praise the Truth at the same time. When I get an opening, I fake it, I take it, and I make it.

My main man Nic hit the nail on the redhead last night. When Pierce burned Kobe and then grabbed the Mile High Molester to prevent a response bucket- that spoke to me on a spiritual level. That sequence summed up the difference between the two players.

I remarked to my dad, "Pierce plays for pride, Kobe plays for stats". I have to say I agree with myself. That sequence showed which player grew up scrapping and which one grew up feeling entitled to success. Pierce knows that he is the head of the team, and he feels the need to earn the respect of his teammates every night. Kobe just expects it, but he doesn't get it.

In the end, Kobe had the marginally better statistical night- 40 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists to Pierce's 39, 7, and 4. It was weird, though- Pierce's baskets meant more to the Celtics than Kobe's did for the Lakers. For most of Kobe's points, it could have been Smush Parker getting them.

I have never seen a team treat their star with such disinterest as the Lakers this season. On the flip side, watching the Celtics warm up you see in two seconds that Pierce is the heart of his team. Gerald Green is asking him for pointers. Wally is asking where he should be on the floor. Scal is asking him if he has a buck to get a Mr. Pibb from the vending machines.

The other difference between Pierce and Kobe is that in the final minute, Kobe gives almost as many "WTF?!?" moments as he gives game-winners. Last night, for those of you who didn't watch the game, Pierce was about to shoot a fadeaway 20-footer with 3 seconds left, and Kobe bear hugs him like they were at a high school reunion. The Sportscenter dude just called it a "reacharound". Gross. Anyway, Kobe intentionally fouled the Truth, but they didn't have a foul to give... and then KOBE COMPLAINED TO THE OFFICIALS ABOUT CALLING THE FOUL!!! Kobe- you did it on purpose!

I shared Kobe's shock, because I fully expected the whistle to be an offensive foul against Pierce. I mean, this is KOBE we're talking about. When he dribbles the ball of his face they are likely to call a technical on the opposing equipment manager.

So, Pierce hits one out of two free throws, and Kobe goes for the 25-foot BANK SHOT? I don't get it. But, that's ok, because he plays for the Lakers and I don't have to get it. I just have to make fun of it. So, Kobe, I don't hate you for your fadeaway- it sealed the victory for the Celtics last night.

I have some other things that I wanted to comment on:

-ESPN sucks. Greg Anthony is the only man on the whole network who will acknowledge that Pierce is an elite player. Anthony is great, their play-by-play guy is fine, but Tim Legler... WOOF! The influence of Steven A. is destroying formerly solid broadcasters like Legler and Steve Kerr, who have begun making outrageous statements just to be controversial.

Steven A. as a sideline reporter, is, quite frankly, and embarrassment to broadcasting, basketball, and humanity. He talked about the Ricky Price trade for two minutes. Watching him arrogantly opine about people that only exist in Steven A. fantasyland was hilarious.

The thing that I hate most about Steven A. is his delivery. When he said, "Raef LaFretz is getting stitches on his forehead and will return to the game", his delivery was like he was saying, "Raef LaFretz is snorting cocaine and slaughtering a litter of puppies instead of returning to the game". Lighten the F up, Steven, and you can bet your ass that I always say your name with a lisp to spite you.

-Ryan Gomes... my goodness. The man is a stud. I never thought my love could grow so deep, so quickly. 19 points and 12 rebounds? If he wasn't in there, the Celtics would have been outrebounded by 30.

This is how you know he's a great rebounder- when he doesn't get the rebound, his man doesn't either. He was all over the glass last night. He was hitting the open jumper and was finishing inside. He knows how to cut to the basket when the guard is driving so that he can catch the dish in stride and finish.

I am thinking that when we have everyone healthy, Gomes should get minutes at the 4 and the 3. He has enough range to play the small forward, and he would be the best rebounding small forward in the league. He could spell both Jefferson and Wally. We need to get this guy on the floor as much as possible- we're 5-2 in games he starts.

-Scal had a good game! His three wasn't dropping, which is no shocker, but he was setting great screens. He was drawing the charge. He was playing good defense. But best of all- Scal was the enforcer! He shoved Smush Parker after a bucket, and then clotheslined him on a screen. Smush will never steal Scal's between-quarter Double Whopper with cheese again! Scal may be realizing that the emergence of Gomes may mean fewer minutes for the Big Red Machine- so going the "Enforcer" route is definitely a good idea.

-I loved watching Delonte after he fouled out. He was so pissed. The man is a winner- and at the rate he is improving he will be averaging 20 and 8 before we know it. The most exciting thing about the game last night was the chemistry that you could see between Pierce and Delonte, but also between Delonte and Gomes.

-Tony Allen is a smarter player this year. I hope that he gets his old explosiveness back, and I think he will, but it's nice to see that he is learning to protect the ball and finish wisely (if not spectacularly). This road trip has been good for him.