Fansided

Nets respond to Paul Pierce’s comments

By Evan F. Moore

Dec 5, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins talks to guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) and guard Deron Williams (8) and center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins talks to guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) and guard Deron Williams (8) and center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Ripping former teammates after the fact continues to be fashionable in the NBA as in other sports

Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce is known for being nicknamed the “Truth.”

Sometimes, the “Truth” hurts.

Pierce didn’t hold back when he recently told ESPN.COM about his time with the Brooklyn Nets.

Initially, the former Celtics great discussed how he keeps himself in shape to prolong his career, and then ventured into early playoff battles with Allen Iverson and LeBron James. Next, Pierce was asked about his time with the Nets.

Pierce threw shade at the team along with individual players such as Deron Williams and Joe Johnson.

Here’s what he said about the Nets as a whole:

More from Brooklyn Nets

"“It was a tough situation (in Brooklyn) last year. Horrible, really. It was just the guys’ attitudes there. It wasn’t like we were surrounded by a bunch of young guys. They were vets who didn’t want to play and didn’t want to practice. I was looking around saying, ‘What’s this?’ Kevin (Garnett) and I had to pick them up every day in practice.If me and Kevin weren’t there, that team would have folded up. That team would have packed it in. We kept them going each and every day.”"

Here’s what he said about Deron Williams:

"“Before I got there, I looked at Deron as an MVP candidate,” Pierce said. “But I felt once we got there, that’s not what he wanted to be. He just didn’t want that. I think a lot of the pressure got to him sometimes. This was his first time in the national spotlight. The media in Utah is not the same as the media in New York, so that can wear on some people. I think it really affected him.”"

And Joe Johnson:

"“Joe is quiet. He doesn’t want much attention. He doesn’t say much.”"

Per usual, along with standard journalism practice, the Nets got wind of Pierce’s comments. Johnson and Williams took the high road.

“Being here, I got pretty thick skin,” Williams told reporter. “He has his opinions, and that’s fine. It’s what it is. I can’t change his opinions. So just leave it at that.”

Joe Johnson echoed Williams’ sentiments.

"“He’s right about me,” Johnson told reporters. “He’s right; he and KG were the leaders. They led us through the good and the bad. So I don’t have nothing negative to say.”"

I get why Pierce would say a thing. After all, early in his Celtics career, he was looked as an underachiever because of Boston’s championship pedigree. He shed that image to become one of the best players in the game. Along with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, they mad the Celtics relevant. Legendary playoff series with the Cavaliers, Bulls, Heat and Lakers cements his legacy.

Paul Pierce found out that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Players who don’t have a championship pedigree, tend to not mesh well with guys that do.

The best example to explain this has to do with law enforcement. You have two types of cops in most cases. One cop is career driven and wants to move up the ladder by obtaining one promotion after another. Another type of police officer wants to draw as little attention to themselves as possible. Punch in and punch out is all they want to do. They have no time for office politics.

Guess who’s who?

More from FanSided

Home/Brooklyn Nets