Paul Pierce Says Lakers Raised In-Season Tournament Banner Out Of Spite For The Boston Celtics

When the Los Angeles Lakers hoisted the in-season tournament banner in their rafters earlier this month,

it caused a great deal of controversy.

Many fans are still bitter over the choice to this day,

and some are left wondering why the Lakers bothered to fly the banner in the first place.

The legendary Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics speculated on KG Certified that the Lakers hung

the banner merely to irritate their fiercest rivals.

“Bro, they did that to get even with the Celtics. I am informing you.

They want more because we have 17,” Pierce remarked. “A plaque would have been more appropriate than a banner.

It was on a big screen TV that they ought to have installed. like only getting an image from the video.

No way could it be a banner. I wonder if they’ll post that if Boston wins the title the following year.”

Naturally, the Lakers and Celtics are fierce rivals and the only two teams in history to have won 17 titles apiece.

The NBA’s first-ever in-season tournament title was just added to the Lakers’ trophy case,

making history, but there’s still debate over how significant this achievement is in comparison to others.

Winning the IST is still a noteworthy accomplishment,

even though it’s no Larry O’Brien—especially considering how much it has affected the Lakers’ play this season.

Lakers Got Burned for Lifting the IST Banner

The Lakers, one of the league’s most successful teams,

had enough to show even without hoisting the postseason banner.

Many Lakers supporters believe that treating this mid-season award like

some of the best playoff runs in NBA history is borderline unfair,

given the team’s 17-time championship history and impressive roster of superstar players.

Fans at the time ridiculed the Lakers for their choice, and even a few former players—such as George Karl,

the head coach of the Nuggets—joined in on the fun of making fun of the highly regarded team.

The Lakers haven’t changed the aesthetic of their arena as of yet,

therefore they’ve chosen to ignore all the commotion.

But they will have to prove it in April,

May, and June if they are to build on their in-season victory and demonstrate

that they remain the top team in the West.

Lakers Are Recovering After Winning the Tournament

The Lakers had a perfect tournament record, winning 7-0 in a commanding performance.

However, since winning the mid-season title, the Lakers have had trouble settling into a routine.

During that time, the Lakers have a 2-6 record, with several disappointing losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves,

Knicks, and Spurs. LeBron James, who only scored 16 points against Boston on Christmas Day,

has been compromised by the pressure to win in Las Vegas, even at the age of nearly 39.

The Lakers’ victory in the in-season tournament obviously came at a cost,

and they will now need to play catch-up to keep themselves from getting farther behind.

As worries about LeBron’s workload,

Anthony Davis’ health, and the dependability of the supporting group mount,

the Lake Show’s work is just getting started,

and this may be their last opportunity to win a championship before this administration ends.

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