The 2008 Celtics are assembling like The Avengers to defend Paul Pierce.
In a feature by Jackie MacMullan and Chris Forsberg of ESPN that ran on Wednesday, New Orleans Pelicans veteran Tony Allen, who was on that title-winning team with Pierce, shaded Cleveland Cavaliers guard Isaiah Thomas. Thomas was originally supposed to have a video tribute aired by the Celtics on Feb. 11, the same night Pierce would be getting his jersey retired by the team.
“I’m with Pierce, man,” Allen was quoted as saying. “[Thomas] didn’t put in more work than Paul. Anybody disagree? OK. Paul Pierce put in big work, man. Why would they honor [Thomas] on that same day, man?
“Let my man get his jersey retired, man,” added Allen. “Let him embrace that, man. He put a lot of blood, sweat and tears in this organization, man, and capitalized and had some good results. [Pierce] struggled with the team. I remember losing 19 straight with that man. Turned around and won a championship [the next season]. Talk about Paul Pierce, man, don’t mention [Thomas’] name, the guys’ name that don’t stand in the same frame.”
Pierce himself was also quoted in the story and shared a funny shot that Kevin Garnett, another prominent teammate of his in Boston, took at Thomas.
“Everyone understood where I was coming from,” said Pierce. “KG was like, ‘Isaiah who? Hell no, you’re damn right you not sharing your night with him.'”
For what it’s worth, Thomas has since tweeted that he would like to forgo his Feb. 11 tribute video and let all the attention that night be focused on Pierce.
I'd like to thank the Celtics for their gracious offer to play a video tribute on Feb 11th celebrating my 3yrs in Boston. But since it appears this has caused some controversy w/ Paul Pierce's night I'd ask the Celtics instead to focus all of their attention on #34's career.
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) January 17, 2018
While Garnett and Allen seemed to take exception to the thought of Pierce sharing his night with Thomas, yet another former Celtics teammate of theirs questioned why Thomas even deserved a tribute from the C’s at all. Poor IT.
