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Paul Pierce lives at the free throw line 05.06.12 at 1:08 pm ET
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After his dreadful 5-of-19 shooting performance in the Celtics Game 1 loss to the Hawks last Sunday, Paul Pierce evaluated his play and decided that even if he was going to shoot poorly, he was still going to score. What bothered Pierce was that he only got to the foul line three times in the series opener. Since then he’s attempted 27 free throws and made 25 of them. In Game 3, he took 14 — one less than Atlanta did as a team.

“Sometimes that’s what it has to be,” Pierce said.  ”Every night is not going to be your night.”

Making an impact when things aren’t necessarily going your way is a lesson many young scorers struggle with. It’s easy to become complacent while watching your shot rim out. For natural scorers like Pierce, the solution revolves around staying aggressive and taking what the opponent gives you.

“Sometimes it’s tough to get rhythm,” Pierce said. “But you have other guys who can step up. I did my part and that’s what is most important. I don’t care about the shots or the touches, it’s about me doing my part and helping this ball club win.”

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  • 123Star

    more like a team malfunction.
    real wish the beantown media guys would not get so negative.

    • bguy

      No one who lives in Massachusetts calls Boston “beantown”. They will get “positive” press if they deserve it. They will get “negative” press if they don’t.
      These hockey players are supposed to be “professional” and are getting paid very well to play the game of hockey. Some Bruins fans just are wondering when are they going to start to play close to their potential. It looks like the fans care more than the players. The playoff play only indicates that the Bruins players only care about the season ending and starting their off season.

      • 123Star

        Beantown is widely used by thousands. We have the Beanpot hockey tournament. It’s always been a “lets go to Beantown for some fun”. So, if you liberals want to change that saying, you won’t get to far.
        Another thing, know one’s perfect, there trying hard to win, the other team is being overlooked for their determination. So lighten up…

  • bguy

    Bottom line coach is if you lose this series your OUT!
    This team needs a coach that can focus on offense as well as defense as well as someone who can MOTIVATE the players instead of WHINING all the time.

    • Ty

      If the players need motivation to play well in the playoffs, never mind Game 7, something is wrong with the players, not the coach. Simple as that.

  • bguy

    It looks like the malfunction of the team spread to the plane. If I was the Chiarelli, I would let the team ride on a bus back to Boston.

  • Mike

    Stay in Toronto because you guys suck and are a complete waste to Boston
    awful players with an awful coach and nothing but a bunch of losers who could care less win or lose so do not even bother to take the ice because its an automatic lost
    BRUINS ARE SCUM

    • chris

      Probably has never watched a hockey game in his life….Go back to eating donuts and surfing the net you low life.

  • colrainkid

    Bottom line, Tim Thomas won the Stanley Cup in 2011 it wasn’t Julien coaching. It looks like the second year in a row a grossly inferior team is beating the Bruins in the playoffs. If Chiarelli won’t fire him, can both of them. He is ruining Seguin, he allowed Lucic and Horton to underperform. Look at what Kessel’s doing not being under Claude’s thumb. Incredible. There isn’t one commentator who thought the Maple Leafs would win this series. I defy a real hockey fan to logically defend Claude. Real good after game 6 to blame the players. I’m sure they are foaming at the mouth to go out and win one for Claude. He ought to go home and kiss his Tim Thomas doll every night because that was the ONLY way he could ever sniff the Stanley Cup.

  • bench warmer

    Perhaps an American coach can get these stiffs to show up every game.
    F.C.N.

  • https://twitter.com/BostonSportFan1 ChrisinDanvers

    Sometimes it is tough to figure this team out….but it is always tricky when the coach feels the same way.

    This team tends to play a little different with its back against the wall, so it will be interesting to see how they come out tonight. With the garden crowd, they should not be so flat.

    On a side note, it is very disappointing to see a team respond the way this one did after Julien calls players out – particularly the Marchand, Bergeron, Seguin line. There is no way that this line should not have been more charged up for the game and they should have made a difference. Very telling.

    • Gray

      Well to a point – Bergy actually played a decent overall game as I recall it took some amazing saves to keep him off the board on at least 2 well done occasions so its not like he didnt show up .. I mean I have to say it was one of the best goal tended games .. the best ive seen so far being game 6 of the Rangers Capitals..

  • bench warmer

    Clod looks like a beaten seal.

  • Bill

    The simple truth…the Leafs are a better team right now…they have outplayed the B’s in 5 of the 6 tilts so far.

  • shoe bottom

    As I said after game 2 these two teams are pretty much the same. I agree with most and have ranted about Claude one dimensional style for a long time. If Hamilton was good enough to recieve the 7th player award why does Claude bench him for inferior players ? simple Hamilton is offensive minded drives Claude nuts the king of 2-1 wins and losses. I truly believe there are a lot of players on this team that would love the chance to show off there offensive skills but are held back due to the “system” Just look at our power play all season long or those critical last 2 min’s in a game when we need to score we are utterly lost. Some of our most explosive offensive rushes come when we are short handed. Last when we take a time out where is Claude? No input cause he hates offense and seems more interested in what snack he’s going to get from the vending machine. Good luck B’s defy Claude and bring this last one home!!

  • Linda Austin

    Tony Amonte made a very interesting comment on Comcast last night. He said if Tyler Seguin played on the Chicago Blackhawks he’d be a different player because of the system they play vs. the Bruins. Julien is not going to develop young offensive studs with his system.

    • Phil

      I really believe that. I think Tyler would be a 40 or 50 goal scorer in a different system.

  • bill

    The Bruins Team is a waste and they have no leader no heart and no toughtness and a bunch of players who are out of shape.
    ITS AN AUTOMATIC LOSS MONDAY
    The Bruins are a disgrace to BOSTON

  • Bruinman86

    WEll, they have 1 game to get it together or else it’s golf time. I think that regardless of them making it out of this round or not that there me some major changes in the offseason. They need to get some better leadership and scoring.

  • DJKuulA

    I just noticed that there were three days off between games 1 and 2 and ZERO days off between games 6 and 7. What lunatic put this schedule together?!?!?!

    • ILoveHockey

      Was because of Celtics scheduled home games at garden between 1 and 2- now it’s a matter of finishing these series off and getting the next round started

  • Dynamite

    Along with everything else, does anyone think that Jagr has added anything to this team? I’m sick of watching him fiddle and diddle with the puck only to lose it while his linemates are trying to figure out what he’s doing. They seem to have too much respect for him and look for him too much rather than playing their own game. The same happens on the power play. Also what’s up with Marchand? His loafing over to the bench on line changes is unconscionable.

  • geetsolboy

    Looks to me like Claude’s voice has become old and tired in that locker room. Not all his fault but a change during the off season on the bench is needed with this team. This team as comprised right now is not a grind it out winner. It simply isn’t working especially within the playoff schedule of every other night…and now they have to play back to back. If they lose a third game at home tonight things will get ugly in The Hub.

  • NE1935

    Too slow cannot pass and cannot shoot. However tonitr they turn it around 5-2 Win.

  • glenn88

    Bruins need to figure out the Seguin situation in the off season. Either the coach and his system need to go or the player needs to be sent to a system better suited to develop and utilize his talents. In return Boston gets pieces to fit their system. The status que can’t be acceptable as the results are not going to change. You could argue there has been no progression in Seguin’s offensive game and if anything he is now regressing.

  • mike

    Its over Bruins
    another Boston team chokes

  • Leaf Fan

    GO LEAFS GO!!!

  • bsox67

    Over under on Jack Edwards and “Lets go Bruins, the chant from the Td garden crowd”? Jack…..You make me wanna stick lit Marlboros in my ears.

  • 123Star

    but they did not win, so up go the legs waiting to fly back. maybe this will get them angry enough to win in 7.

  • fab4ever

    What continues to raise the hair on my back is this CONSTANT and tired excuse; “The tired Bruins”….give it a rest…I’m a fan but come on…enough already. So I guess they’ve been tired now, how long? At some point can any Bruins fan or the media just give the Leafs some credit? They were down 3-1 and playing a game 5 in Boston…and the B’s lad a big, fat egg! I’ve been watching sports long enough to recognize a stinker and this edition of the Bruins is ripe for the taking and by all accounts, it should happen tonight. Such a disappointing bunch….I keep hearing about “talent”…I don’t know enough to say it’s true or a lie but I know enough to see they are one lethargic bunch…wait, I mean “tired”…

  • Antonio

    Well, another good morning to you Mike. Usually, I would call you a sum bag for tha type of statement but you maybe onto something here. The B’s do SUCK, right now. Played two good periods last night and watched the Leafs just blow past them. Also, back to game 5 in Boston Friday, B’s standing around way too much and finally started to play hockey in the third period, but by that time they were losing 2 – 0. Wake the EF up, Bruins’

  • Mike’s Lover

    Last night was wonderful, I love you Mike……., your friend Dave….☺

  • colrainkid

    I’ll take a +20 plus/minus.

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