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Paul Pierce was clearly stung after the Washington Wizards lost Game 6 to the Atlanta Hawks in devastating fashion, and his words afterwards spoke to a potential basketball depression.
“I don’t even know if I’m going to play basketball anymore,” he said after the game. That sounds like the comment of someone living in a particularly emotional moment, and he would likely not have said anything like that after reflecting on the season for a couple months. I think once the veteran has time to think it over, then Pierce will realize what a unique position he is in.
He could solidify his Hall of Fame credentials with another NBA title run with this young crew, and it would definitely prove that he could win it all without Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.
Washington’s 94-91 loss was particularly jarring because the 3-pointer Pierce hit at the horn initially looked like it got off in time and the crowd reacted like it did, but then the referees reviewed the tape and saw that his fingertips were still on the ball as time expired.
Pierce must now decide whether or not to exercise the $5.5 million player option he has next season with the Wizards.
There are some positive signs about that according to the Washington Post. The SF showed up at the Verizon Center on Monday for Washington’s last team meeting of the season with a red Nationals baseball cap on, and although he declined to speak with the media, there was a clear reason for him to wear that particular hat. One man who is not going to rush the veteran’s decision is head coach Randy Wittman.
“We’re not playing tomorrow so he’s got to do what’s right in his mind,” Wittman said to the Post when asked if he wanted a “swift” decision from Pierce. “Swift doesn’t matter to me.”
That is a wise stance from the coach, because Pierce did a lot of the legwork for this team last season. The Wizards would be one lucky team to milk one more year out of the cagy veteran.
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.
