4.09.2008

Being Paul Pierce in 06-07


Every time I see the above picture I recall a story told by John Havlicek during the first season of the post-Russell era.

The were only four games left on the schedule, and the Celtics were playing the Lakers. Twenty-five games out of first place, Coach Tommy Heinsohn had made it clear that he still wanted to beat the purple.

As was so often the case that year, the Celtics looked confused on offense.

Heinsohn called a time out.

Heinsohn: What happened out there?

Richie Johnson: I forgot to set the screen.

Havlicek, interrupting Heinsohn: What the hell? We have seven plays in the playbook. You’ve been here two years. You miss an assignment and your excuse is you forgot the play?

After this, Havlicek said he quit talking to his teammates for the rest of the season. Instead, every time someone spoke to him, he would just whisper profanity under his breath.

It gives you some idea the kind of Hell Paul Pierce lived through last year and beyond.

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