Paul Pierce recently did an interview with Jackie MacMullan of ESPN. The biggest highlights from the interview are Pierce saying he hated playing in Brooklyn, and speaking about his relationship with Ray Allen. One part of the interview that was overshadowed were his views on the Hawks and the Raptors in the playoffs.
Last season, Paul starred on the Brooklyn Nets as he lead the Nets over the Raptors in an intense first round seven games. His team hasn’t fared well against them this season, but he isn’t worried about them. Paul said,
“We haven’t done particularly well against Toronto, but I don’t feel they have the ‘It’ that makes you worried,”
Paul clearly thinks his Wizards can defeat the Raptors if they meet in the playoffs despite the fact that the Raptors swept the Wizards this season.
The Raptors were not the only team that Pierce had words for in the interview. Pierce also said of the Eastern Conference leading Atlanta Hawks,
“There isn’t a team I look at in the Eastern Conference that makes me say, ‘they are intimidating, we don’t have a chance.’ As good as Atlanta is, they just don’t give off that aura where we’re afraid of them,”
Some bold words from the veteran swing man. Pierce clearly respects Atlanta and what they have done, but he feels that they don’t give off the aura of a team that will completely overpower you. Apparently, he feels that the Wizards can stand a chance against any team and he isn’t afraid to admit it. The Wizards went 1-3 against the Hawks this season, and their one win was in a game where the Hawks rested all of their starters.
One team Pierce did show respect for is the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland is 33-9 since January, has good veteran players, and most importantly, LeBron James. Pierce said of Cleveland,
“You definitely have to worry about Cleveland because they have LeBron and some vets now,” Pierce told MacMullan. “But if we get to the conference finals, anything can happen.”
Right now, the Wizards path to the Conference Finals will have them playing Toronto then the Hawks in the first two rounds. The Wizards may get a chance to prove just what Pierce has been saying is true, and these will be fun series.
Paul Pierce clearly does not fear most teams, which he shouldn’t. It’s funny how he basically laid out every potentially tough matchup for the Wizards in their possible path to the NBA finals. Pierce believes his team can beat anyone and the confidence he has in his team is great going forward into the playoffs. His words will add a lot of fire to some of these series that many people might overlook in favor of some other high-profile matchups. Paul’s confidence going into the playoffs will help motivate his team during their playoff run.
