Ian Thomsen wrote an article for SI.com today about Paul Pierce's return from the locker room. He makes some excellent points about The Truth's evolution as a player and rightly notes how big Pierce's 8 points right out of the half and two transition 3-pointers were. However, as great as Pierce's night was he has passed the point of no return. Larry Bird was right. Pierce needs to win it all. That would be his defining moment. Granted that does put some pressure on Pierce and company. But it's the right kind of pressure.

Hopefully Pierce will live in the training room over the next three days and be ready to go again Sunday night. They need him.