BOSTON -- Paul Pierce has been around the league long enough to know you cant get too low about a loss. Learn from your mistakes and improve upon them for the next one.
After shooting 3-for-17 in the Boston Celtics' 87-74 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, Pierce didnt hang his head over his performance. Hes looking to do better the next time on the court.
I felt good, he said. I thought I took a lot of good shots, they just didnt fall tonight. I can live with that.
Pierce scored 10 points in a season-high 37 minutes, a drop from 24 points on Wednesday against the New Jersey Nets and 21 points against the Washington Wizards on Monday.
He was human, said Doc Rivers. I thought he tried to do too much off the bounce, especially early, and then I thought he got frustrated a little bit. Thats going to happen. But thats where somebody else we needed to pick up, and nobody could. Without Ray (Allen) shooting today, we wouldve shot 20 percent.
The Celtics shot 39.4 percent from the field (26-for-66 FG), with Allen scoring a team-high 23 points. Kevin Garnett finished second to Allen with 12 points.
I think both teams really struggled offensively. said Pierce. It was one of those defensive, grind-it-out games, but I think they really beat us on what we like to call the 50-50 plays, where theres loose balls, offensive rebounds, and they made timely baskets.
With a veteran outlook, Pierce is looking ahead to performing better in their next contest. After playing four games since Sunday, the Celtics will not play again until Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks.
This will give the Celtics much-welcomed time for practice, especially for Pierce who missed the first three games of the season with a foot injury.
It will give us a chance to get some good practice time in, he said. I havent had any practice this year, so itll be good for me to get back in and refreshed with some of the things were doing. Add to our playbook, which we havent been able to do because of our lack of practice, plus itll be a good rest for us. Were playing every other day, so get our feet back up under us and regroup and get back on next week.