I notice a lot of hatred for Paul Pierce outside of New England..but why?

[KungPoweChicken]

That's part of being underrated, though. It's hard to believe every year Pierce was in the league he was never worthy of a first team all NBA selection.

[pearljammer10]

I mean he was annually going up against Duncan, Lebron, KG, Nowitzki  year after year. Thats good company to be around.

[Donoghus]

When your best season you finish 11th in MVP voting (he did finish 7th in 08-09 but his numbers were much weaker then and that seemed to be more voting for a Celtic then voting for Pierce), I have hard time saying you had a truly great season.  That is why Pierce isn't underrated.  He is going to make the HOF on the 1st ballot without ever being on the 1st Team All NBA.  That is impressive.

If you make the HOF 1st ballot without ever being on 1st Team All NBA, isn't that basically the definition of having been "underrated"?

[Moranis]

When your best season you finish 11th in MVP voting (he did finish 7th in 08-09 but his numbers were much weaker then and that seemed to be more voting for a Celtic then voting for Pierce), I have hard time saying you had a truly great season.  That is why Pierce isn't underrated.  He is going to make the HOF on the 1st ballot without ever being on the 1st Team All NBA.  That is impressive.

If you make the HOF 1st ballot without ever being on 1st Team All NBA, isn't that basically the definition of having been "underrated"?

Nope.  Lots of players have had that happen, including Ray Allen this past season.  It doesn't mean they are underrated at all.  It means, they are properly rated as having great long careers, but never being persons of that truly special caliber.  Pierce was a great player.  No one ever claims he isn't.  But claiming he is underrated because people don't recognize him with the all time greats, is just silly nonsense, because Pierce was not one of those guys.  His career accolades, or lack thereof, pretty clearly show that. 

[Donoghus]

When your best season you finish 11th in MVP voting (he did finish 7th in 08-09 but his numbers were much weaker then and that seemed to be more voting for a Celtic then voting for Pierce), I have hard time saying you had a truly great season.  That is why Pierce isn't underrated.  He is going to make the HOF on the 1st ballot without ever being on the 1st Team All NBA.  That is impressive.

If you make the HOF 1st ballot without ever being on 1st Team All NBA, isn't that basically the definition of having been "underrated"?

Nope.  Lots of players have had that happen, including Ray Allen this past season.  It doesn't mean they are underrated at all.  It means, they are properly rated as having great long careers, but never being persons of that truly special caliber.  Pierce was a great player.  No one ever claims he isn't.  But claiming he is underrated because people don't recognize him with the all time greats, is just silly nonsense, because Pierce was not one of those guys.  His career accolades, or lack thereof, pretty clearly show that.

Whatever you say, chief.