Debby Wong-USA Today Sports
Paul Pierce would like to see a tweak within New York’s basketball hierarchy.
“I think the hate [for the New York Knicks] has grown a little,” said the new member of the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. “Everybody knows how much I disliked the Knicks when I was with the [Boston] Celtics, but I think it’s grown to another level. I think it’s time for the Nets to start running this city.”
If the Nets want to live up to all the offseason hype when it matters most, everyone in their locker room from top to bottom will have to embrace Pierce’s mentality. They don’t have to be as outspoken as Pierce, but it’s imperative that they all play with that sort of confidence and swagger every day.
Everyone in Brooklyn must at least privately acknowledge that becoming the head honcho in New York City will only be the first stepping stone in this organization’s ascent given the fact that the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers have clearly established themselves as the class of the Eastern Conference.
Pierce also went on to discuss the bigger picture and how special his team could turn out to be.
“What team in the NBA can say they can put a starting five out there with all the guys having been All Stars?” continued Pierce. “That’s tough. It’s definitely the most talented team, but come the end of the year – June, July – when I’m out there on the beach, I want to say this is the best team I’ve ever played on, and the only way we can do that is to win a championship.”
Can the season please start right now?
Mike B. Ruiz is a Brooklyn Nets writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @mikebruiz and “Like” him on Facebook.
