DeMarre Carroll declined chance to defend Paul Pierce on game-winner

Lost in the celebration of Paul Pierce’s game-winning shot Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks is that DeMarre Carroll says he declined the opportunity to defend Pierce on the final play.

The Hawks were down by 20 with just under eight minutes in the game when their bench players took them on a huge run and tied the game. With the game tied 101-101 and 14 seconds left, Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer wanted to put Carroll back into the game to defend Pierce. As everyone who saw the play can tell you, Carroll was on the bench while Pierce made the shot over Dennis Schroder.

Carroll told the media after the game that he did not feel right physically and that’s why he declined to go into the game.

Video: #Hawks post locker room – DeMarre Carroll on why we wasn't on floor for game winning shot by Pierce pic.twitter.com/4Mepu6kpoW

— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) May 10, 2015

“Coach did put me in, but I didn’t feel comfortable at the time,” Carroll said Saturday. “So I’ll take that one. I should’ve been in the game. I didn’t feel comfortable … physically.”

Carroll only played 30 minutes Saturday after playing 38 minutes in Games 1 and 2.

On Sunday, Carroll changed his explanation of what happened.

“To clarify what went on last night, me and Coach discussed the situation and we discussed the sub, and we felt like that was the best group at the time,” Carroll said via ESPN. “I hadn’t played for a quarter and a half. That’s what we felt.”

So now Carroll says he was cold and that’s why he didn’t want to go in. The good news for Atlanta is at least Carroll is not hurt. The bad news is that he displayed the opposite of a champion’s mentality.