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Paul Pierce seems to have a completely different level of happiness now that he is with the Washington Wizards, and fans in the District are not complaining. His recent buzzer-beater over three different Atlanta Hawks changed the complexion of that series. The Wizards have a real chance to go up 3-1 before they hit the road again, and I would expect them to come out extra focused in Game 4. This is such a crucial moment for Washington as a team, because they can realistically win this series without John Wall and give the PG a little bit more time to recover from his fractured hand and wrist.
If it came down to an elimination game for the Wizards, then I would not be shocked to see Wall out there. But a recent report from ESPN’s Chris Broussard claims that the point guard will probably be out for the entire playoffs.
As for Pierce’s game-winner, he had a pretty funny response to Dennis Schroder, saying that it was a lucky shot.
“He’s a little young,” Pierce said. “He hasn’t been able to see it for 17 years. He probably missed with me, playing NBA 2K.”
That is just brilliant. You can tell that the SF is soaking up the playoff atmosphere, because he senses that his career is nearing its conclusion. He will still likely have a media or coaching gig waiting for him on the other side, but it will not be the same as playing. Pierce has given the Wizards a confidence that must feel quite foreign, and the fan base has not been this excited since the days of Gilbert Arenas. Hopefully this time, the end result will not be as depressing.
Dave Daniels is a Washington Wizards Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter: @AllDave_AllDay, like him on Facebook here or add him to your network on Google.
