FanPost

Where does the vastly underrated Paul Pierce rank as an all-time player?


I'm from New York City but I grow up a Celtic fan, and I have over thirty years of both pain and glory with this franchise. I love this team so much that, I use to order the NBA package just to watch a team that was sure to win no more than twenty to twenty-five games. If that isn't dedication then what is??

Anyway, enough about my love for the team. I have seen many great Celtic players in my time as a fan, but only Larry Bird has a bigger place in my heart than Paul Pierce. I have gotten the privilege of watching Paul Pierce over the years: From the pain and frustration in his eyes when he played on lottery teams in the early part of his career to his selection as finals MVP, I have seen only one greater Celtic player, and that was Larry Bird. When Celtics were lucky enough to get him with the tenth pick in the draft, I knew this guy was gonna be special, but I didn't expect what I have had the pleasure of watching over the course of his great career. There are not many players, non point guards, in this league where you can give to ball to and ask them to facilitate the offense for your team. Lebron James and Paul Pierce might be the only two. Kobe Bryant is way too selfish, Carmelo Anthony will shoot over a triple team rather than pass to an open player, and Kevin Durant, although a great scorer, is still learning the game. Time and time again, when there is a big game to be won or big shot to be taken, or when Rondo has gotten suspended or hurt, the Celtics have put the ball in Paul Pierce's hands and asked him to carry the team to victory, and more times than not, he has delivered. Whether it was the forty point game against Lebron in game seven to win the series, the twenty point third quarter on the road against Kobe's Lakers in the championship series to bring Boston back from a double digit deficit, or the countless three point daggers he has delivered over his career, Paul Pierce needs to be mentioned as an all time great. In my book, he is a top fifty all time player.

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