Cleveland is Sort of Cocky

Posted by Zach Lowe on Sep 17, 2009 32587 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2009%2F09%2F17%2Fcleveland-thinks-pierce-is-delirious%2FCleveland+is+Sort+of+Cocky2009-09-17+19%3A26%3A19Zach+Lowehttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D3258

Well, now I’m ready for the season to start.

Something called “Starting Blocks” at the Cleveland Plain-Dealer finally noticed the Celtics.com Paul Pierce interview—a week after it happened—and is sort of surprised that Pierce likes the 2009-10 Celtics better than the 2008 champs. The Plain-Dealer (which employs one of the true great NBA beat writers in Brian Windhorst, by the way) thinks Pierce’s comments amount to a declaration that Boston is “the team to beat,” and thinks that notion is insane.

To wit:

Despite the Cleveland Cavaliers’ acquisition of Shaquille O’Neal, and despite Ron Artest joining the Los Angeles Lakers, Paul Pierce says the Boston Celtics are the team to beat.

Insert laugh track.

Confidence is paramount in every sport and for every athlete but Pierce, apparently, is delirious or whistling in the dark.

The blogger goes on to make the fair point that age and health will be real concerns for the Celtics this year, though the age and health of Shaquille O’Neal are not discussed.

Also not discussed: The Orlando Magic, the team that beat the Cavaliers in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

Also: Calling Pierce “delirious” for being confident about a team that won 62 games in 2009 and then signed Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels— well, that’s a little ridiculous. Call Antawn Jamison “delirious” for talking about championships, and I understand.

The season can’t start soon enough.