Paul Pierce Is Right. The Knicks Don't Mean Shit To Me

WALTHAM, Mass. -- As the hype surrounding Wednesday's showdown against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden starts to ramp up, the Boston Celtics playfully chided their Atlantic Division brethren by decrying the use of "rivalry" too soon. "It's a rivalry?" Celtics captain Paul Pierce asked with a big grin. "Man, y'all are letting me in on all the new stuff, all the talk. I didn't know we had a rivalry going." With the Knicks, winners of eight straight, playing inspired ball and sitting a mere four games back in the division -- about as close an opponent has managed to stay in the Big Three era -- the "r" word is being tossed around freely after years of lying dormant.  "Hey, if that's what y'all want it to be, if it'll sell more tickets and get more viewers, then I guess so," Pierce said. "[The media makes] up the rivalries, we don't. To be honest, New York is playing well, they're in our division, and both teams are streaking, so it's going to be an exciting game." But the Celtics cringe a bit at the suggestion of a rivalry considering it hasn't been much of one in recent years. "I don't know what it is, this rivalry thing, it hasn't been one," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

Knicks sign Amare Stoudamire and they act like they're the Miami Heat or something? As if they can actually win a playoff series this season. Not so fast my friends.  Look at the track record. Amare wins you regular season games but even when you paired him up with Steve Nash he couldn't get the job done when it really counted. So magically the Knicks become our competition because you stick Amare with Felton and some nice swing players? Don't think so.  Stoudemire is a good scorer but a shitty defender and the best team and best defense wins you championships in the NBA. There is no rivalry with the Knicks until they win a ring, maybe even get into the playoffs. Just a sad couple weeks to be a New York sports fan.