Greg M. Cooper/US Presswire
Celtics All-Stars Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce.Celtics All-Stars Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce took part in Friday's All-Star availability in Orlando. The league releases small samples of their chats with reporters. Here's some of the highlights from what the league distributed:
Rajon Rondo
Has this kind of been the craziest three days you've had in the league?
RR: Yeah, it's been jam-packed, really, my schedule. I've changed my schedule completely. I didn't expect to be here. I actually found out on my birthday. It was a good birthday present. I had to go back home and pack and I had to try to get a ticket situation going and a hotel room -- who was coming, who wasn't coming. But I'm glad I'm here, and this has been the quietest All‑Star I've had as far as people coming in. I've usually had about 20 people come in, but now it's about five or six.
Being a competitive guy and having been to The Finals, what do you think of tying the home‑court advantage to the result of the All‑Star Game?
RR: No, I don't think so. I think it's good the way we have it. You can't base it off the All‑Star Game.
Who's the most clutch guy out there in the league right now?
RR: I don't know. I might be biased, but Ray Allen, Paul Pierce. If you need a guy to create a shot, Paul; if you need a guy to make a shot, Ray.
What have been your impressions of Jeremy Lin?
RR: He's worked hard. A lot of people doubt him. I think he's a product of hard work, and now it's paying off. He seems like a pretty humble guy. He seems like a good guy. He's going to be here for a long time.
Paul Pierce
I don't know if you're aware, but this is the 20th anniversary of Magic Johnson returning to the NBA after announcing he was HIV positive. What does his return mean to the NBA?
PP: Well, you understand Magic at the time was one of the great faces of the NBA, a guy who you always enjoyed him going up and down the court. He motivated a lot of us young kids at the time to want to be NBA players and want to emulate him and do the things that he did out on the court.
On making it to the All-Star game for the 10th time.
PP: You know, they're all pretty special. The first time you make it, you're excited that you've arrived as an NBA player and that motivates you to keep going. To make it here my 14th year is a feat. I'm constantly motivated to want to be one of the best players in the league.
Let's say you were an All‑Star MVP. You're on publications across the country. What do you want the headlines to read? It can say absolutely whatever you want.
PP: "Pierce wins MVP." I don't know, I'm not a writer.