Paul Pierce admits he is a little bitter over Ray Allen’s departure to the Miami Heat – NBA Update
When Ray Allen decided to take his talents to the South Beach, it was not just the Boston Celtics fans he angered, but also his teammates – one of the most prominent of whom was Paul Pierce.
Pierce was one part of the Celtics Big Three which was formed by Danny Ainge back in 2007, and the C’s went on to win the championship in the very first year of Pierce, Allen and Kevin Garnett playing together.
However, after that win, despite some deep runs into the playoffs, the silverware never came to the Beantown. The Big Three of Boston however still had a strong bond and in a recent interview with the official website of the Celtics,
Pierce admitted that Allen’s departure hurt him.
He however backed Ray for making the best decision on a personal level
"Ray made the best decision for him," Pierce said in his first public offseason comments. "That's what it's all about: You get in these situations, you become a free agent and you make a decision based on what's best for you and
your family. Ray will always be a brother for me. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be wearing a championship ring. So the things he was able to do for this organization will never be forgotten."
When asked whether he tried to convince Allen in staying, Pierce said that he did;
“Couple texts. You know, I’m a little bitter that he went to Miami, but he’s still a brother of mine.”
It was not only Allen departure, but his choice of destination – Miami Heat - which has really been the hot issue for the Celtics faithful.
Ever since LeBron James joined the Heat, an intense rivalry has developed between the two franchises, one which Miami has been winning for the last two seasons. In the 2010-11 season, it was Miami which knocked the C’s out of the
playoffs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and last season, James and company ousted the Celtics in the Conference Finals after a marathon 7 game series.
Allen’s addition adds a whole new offensive dimension to Heat and it hurts all the more, considering that Boston has a better financial offer on the table for their man.
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