If Paul Pierce had dinner before Game 3 in the TD Banknorth Garden, then his dessert postgame was certainly his foot.
With 1:18 remaining in the fourth quarter and his team up seven, Pierce leaned over to help Kendrick Perkins up from the floor. In celebration he spouted off a “Yeaaahh, we aint coming back to LA” at the Los Angeles fans behind the basket.
A little taunting from the star player to the home crowd is not uncommon, but having the national television cameras pick up both the audio and video adds a little weight to the situation. Even after it could be clearly seen and heard in the broadcast, it was covered on multiple blogs and quickly became bulletin board material for the Laker faithful.
In case you missed it, here is how it went down.
Pretty aggressive to suggest that the Celtics were going to reel off three straight wins in Boston and clinch the series in five games. The Lakers were not too entertained at the notion that the Celtics thought this would be a cakewalk. Few Lakers were as unamused as veteran point guard Derek Fisher.
Which would probably explain D-Fish’s performance in Game 3. In the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant went ten minutes without scoring a bucket. With the best closer in the game held in check, Fisher went off for 11 of his 16 points on 5 for 7 shooting. From off-balance runners to silky smooth 19-foot jumpers, Fisher did what he has always done for the Lakers in the playoffs-twist the knife in their opponents.
“Truthfully, he’s done it over and over and over again,” said Bryant after the game. “So it’s almost his responsibility to our team to do these things.”
Fisher did not say anything to respond to Pierce’s cocky outburst in Game 2. He let his game do the talking.
