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Paul Pierce has reached a point in his life where he has just stopped caring about what people think. It's kinda like when you ask your grandparents about politics: They'll probably say something most people would regret, but they're just gonna let it fly because they've got nothing to lose.
Over the past two weeks, we've seen Pierce really step up his old man talk. It started with his interview last week with ESPN's Jackie MacMullan where he criticized several people he's played with in his career. Let's review the hit list:
The Paul Pierce hit list: http://t.co/MJyxrxqZBd pic.twitter.com/GPjHfj7Gkd
— Angie Treasure (@snark_tank) April 15, 2015
Here's what he had to say specifically about John Wall:
"I talk to them a lot about mental preparation and consistency,'' Pierce said. "I keep telling Wall and Beal, 'You've got to make up your mind. Do you want to be good, or do you want to be great? Because if you want to be great, you gotta do it every single night, not just when you feel like it.'
Based on two games of evidence, including John Wall's 26 point, 17 assist performance in Game 2, it appears like Pierce is ready to fast track Wall to the great category:
Pierce on Wall: "Top to bottom, he’s the best PG. You talk abt Steph Curry, the amazing things he’s done...but I just look at overall game."
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgeccastillo) April 24, 2015
Pierce's comments are especially bold or crazy - depending on your perspective - considering Stephen Curry's magnificent 40 point performance against the Pelicans on Thursday night.
Certainly, he's going to catch some flak from Golden State fans and national media for the bold statement, but you know what? We don't have a problem with it. Not necessarily because we think Wall is better than Curry, but because he's on a roll lately. Everything he's said about the Raptors lacking "it", the Nets' contentment, how Otto Porter needed to be more aggressive, and how Wall & Beal needing to bring it every night to be great has looked pretty accurate so far. So remember, when you see John Wall lifting the NBA Finals MVP trophy while a dejected Stephen Curry walks off the floor this June, you heard it from Paul Pierce first.