Paul Pierce Unhappy With Playing Time in the Fourth Quarter

The Celtics lost a tight game against Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Boston last night, and Paul Pierce was not pleased with his lack of playing time in the final stanza. From the Boston Herald: “Many things ruined Paul Pierce’s evening last night. His seven turnovers, which pushed his fumble total up to 13 over the last two games, had to top the list. He was on the floor for the last 3:42 of a 12-0 Cleveland run that wiped out an 11-point Celtics lead and replaced it with an 88-87 Cavaliers win. It wasn’t a healthy way for the Celtics captain and his teammates to end a four-game win streak, or to drop back under .500. But in a rare fit of pique, Pierce chose to question coach Doc Rivers’ decision that left him on the bench until that last 3:42. Asked if the result would have been different if he’d checked back in sooner, Pierce said, ‘I wish I was a fortune teller. I don’t think this would have been the outcome, though.’ Asked if he was disappointed by Rivers’ decision, he said, ‘No comment,’ but also said, ‘Maybe I should play a little more.’ Pierce later said, ‘It’s not his job to explain that. The coaches make their decisions. But at the time we had a pretty good lead, so I could understand it.'”