Paul Pierce - I Have To Play Better - For Us To Win - Pierce

Following a new performance whereby he / she built simply 5-of-19 photographs and complete together with 12 points, Paul Pierce acknowledged his or her weak performance expense the Celtics inside an 83-74 loss on the Hawks inside Game 1 Sunday night inside Atlanta.

"I notion I had genuinely good looks tonight," Pierce said. "For people that will gain I ought to be an improved player. That's just what this is. I have to lower shots, I have to become ambitious on the offensive end. I have to shield Joe Johnson. I think I was a very big culprit of these tonight. Shots I received tonight, I'll take each of them. I have missed a bunch regarding them. I even missed a layup spacious by the end in the game. That appeared to be just indication belonging to the night time I had."

Pierce mentioned his blister big toe had no effect on his subpar night. He gave credit rating to the Atlanta defense.

"We kind of eased in to the game," Pierce said. "It's hard to be able to tell. We identify ourself defensively early, and also many of us undoubtedly don't do that. They got every loose ball, every single 3-pointer, they will got anything they wished . It's just like in a boxing match, an individual sit down there, you've your own guard way up you then take your own guard straight down and in addition they value you also , you know you're within a fight. We ought to realize we're in a very battle from the jump. That's almost all there may be to be able to it.

"Very actual physical game, equally coaches and teams scrapping and trying to play real hard. We merely lost our own composure a bit bit, but which is the way this playoffs are. You won't be able to hope everything to go your way. You have to in your head battle through it."

Pierce can be wishing such as his trainer plus teammates this Rajon Rondo defintely won't be halted for Game a couple of Tuesday after the place guard's run-in along with official Marc Davis.

"We desire so," Pierce mentioned when expected if they have hopeful Rondo might be available Tuesday. "It's outside my personal control. It's outside of his command appropriate now, therefore we all just have for you to see."

Added Pierce: "It's unsatisfying losing. I idea after the particular first quarter many of us really picked the idea up. But you need to understand, that is a much time series. You have got to acquire three games. We please take to find out from your mistakes, know out of our primary quarter, understand from might know about does superior throughout your second and also lastly groups as well as discover how to preserve your composure.

"We just won't be able to panic. It's only 1 game. It's not really the finish belonging to the world. We'll find another ability within Game a couple of that will take dwelling court docket just before many of us go home."

For much more from Paul Flannery for the field with Atlanta, visit this Celtics group web page at along with the blog.