Baring unforseen circumstances, Pierce is going to pass Larry Bird in scoring tonight. Next up would be John Havlicek who leads him by over 4,000 points.
Green Street " Where does Paul Pierce rank among Celtics greats?
Pierce is 34 years old and has two years remaining on his existing contract. Prior to this year, he claimed he wanted to last longer than Allen, who he expects to play five more seasons. If that’s the case, The Truth could surpass Havlicek as the team’s all-time leading scorer, eclipse Russell for fourth on the team’s assist list and approach Hondo for fifth among Celtics rebounders. Another NBA championship wouldn’t hurt, either.
"I don’t really worry about records," said Pierce. "The chips are going to fall where they may. I’ve been fortunate to be a Celtic for all these years, so I’ve been put in the position to do these things. Barring my health, with a little bit of luck and a little bit of skill, I’ve been able to get to these places."
It would seem unlikely that he would be able to pass Hondo, just because it has felt like we've been worried about Pierce getting old for the last 3 or more years. All you have to do is look at the beginning of this season to see Pierce at his worst.
But when you think about it (and when you watch him right now) I suppose you can't rule anything out. He's got a game that isn't predicated on athleticism so much as timing and spacing. I could see him playing a 6th man role for a couple of years to save his legs too. Besides, I'd never count out the Captain.