Paul Pierce Ready To Pass Larry Bird

by Jeff Clark on Feb 6, 2012 6:04 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

This mark kind of snuck up on me. I didn't realize that Paul Pierce was so close to passing Larry Bird on the scoring list, but by all accounts he should get there against the Bobcats on Tuesday.

Green and blooming - BostonHerald.com

Pierce, with 21 points, six assists and six rebounds, enjoyed his 10th straight game with at least 15 points and five assists. That, according to CSNNE and Bentley University sports information director Dick Lipe, ties the longest such streak of the Celtics captain’s career. The 21-point performance leaves Pierce nine points shy of a tie with Larry Bird for second on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list. Bird scored 21,791 points. John Havlicek, the all-time leader, is a galaxy away at 26,395. But Pierce, who should move past Bird during tomorrow’s game against Charlotte, won’t need much time. The flow has returned to the Celtics, who have won seven of their last eight games and eight of their last 10.

Like a vintage Pinot Noir, Pierce seems to be getting better with age. According to Zach Lowe, he's posting his best PER since the Celtics picked up KG and Ray. So much for him being too old.

Tommy once caused a stir by saying that Pierce is actually a better offensive player than Larry Bird was. Note that he said offensive player, not player. That's an interesting slow day in the offseason debate, but I'm content knowing that I had the honor to watch both of them play for the Celtics (likely) for their whole careers.

So wherever I watch the game from, I'll be giving Pierce a standing ovation when he hits that mark. Just an amazing achievement.

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We've been privileged to see greatness with the Celtics.

Paul Pierce has always been an outstanding player, and until the teaming up with K.G. and R.A., had to pretty much carry a very bad team for a number of years.

We’ve now had the good fortune to see during the past seasons how truly great this team has been, and ’ the Truth ’ has led them, and continues to do so.

It was incredible during the Bird era, which is when I became a Cs fan, and while we had a very long wait [ owing to a combination of extraordinarily bad fortune and totally inept management and coaching, etc. ] until the current Big Three, the wait was well worth it in the end.

Let’s hope this team has at least one more title run in them before a complete makeover comes into effect. So far, so good.

Lygafe.

Lionel Gaffen / Fotomix.

Lygafe

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by lygafe on Feb 6, 2012 6:51 AM EST reply actions

+1

So happy to have seen Pierce’s entire carer in Boston. I hope that whenever he retires he stays with the organization.

by DJKAHN on Feb 6, 2012 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

Does PP step off of the gas pedal vs. CHA?

It’s probably not going to happen, but I’m wondering if It might be in the back of PP’s mind to ease up against the Bobcats so he can pass Bird at home against the Lakers on Thursday.

Of course, the last time we went thru a significant milestone stall for the sake of poetry (Ray’s all-time 3 mark), the Cs ended up losing the game.

by bagofbeef on Feb 6, 2012 8:05 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Yeah, I'd rather he just got it out of the way.

Honorifics and records are nice – and definitely well deserved – but wins are golden. We need wins.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Feb 6, 2012 9:29 AM EST up reply actions

Bobcats Game Is At Home

Just want him to do it in front of the home crowd.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Feb 6, 2012 7:19 PM EST up reply actions

O Captain! My Captain!

The faithful Celtics nation salutes you.

Here’s to my two biggest heros of all time…

by Icepick33 on Feb 6, 2012 8:28 AM EST via mobile reply actions

WIll be wearing the ole #34 jersey for the next game! ;)

…even in his slump times early this season, I never doubted the Truth!

by japsuki on Feb 6, 2012 9:03 AM EST reply actions

Another article on the PP...

http://www.csnne.com/blog/celtics-talk/post/Pierce-ten-points-away-from-Bird-?blockID=645534&feedID=3352

by japsuki on Feb 6, 2012 9:26 AM EST reply actions

er... "on PP". Well, I guess THE PP can do too.

by japsuki on Feb 6, 2012 9:27 AM EST up reply actions

He's a warrior

He gets tough defensive assignments, has an amazing offensive attack-the-basket game for a guy who isn’t THAT fast, his step back jumpber is money and he’s got terrific 3 pt range. I really don’t like the point forward role – too many TOs – but all in all he’s just a warrior. Glad he’s on our side

by Wildblu1 on Feb 6, 2012 9:39 AM EST reply actions

PP going pass Bird....

will be a huge milestone accomplishment. He will down play it, of course. But make no mistake, he will savor that amazing moment…..and so will I.

They were calculating on national TV yesterday that Havlicek’s record is not completely out of reach either. 4 more years at 18 pts per would get it, I think they said. Not likely to happen but….anyway.

Speaking strictly as a wine guy…..Kudos for the wine reference/analogy. lol

by Tom Halzack on Feb 6, 2012 9:52 AM EST reply actions