I meant to post this yesterday, but figured I still had time before Game 3 of the Celtics and Hawks tips off tomorrow night. Anyways, I just wanted to say that Paul Pierce's performance in Game 2 on Tuesday night was one of the best games he has had as a pro. I still contend his best game was Game 7 against the Cavs in the 2008 Eastern Conference Quarter finals, but this game comes in a close second. Yes, Pierce has scored more points in games, but not many games come to the importance of a playoff game and very rarely has he had more pressure to perform than Tuesday night with Rondo and Allen, two members of the Big 4, having to sit out.
Right from the beginning there was a feeling that Pierce was going to have a special night, since he scored the first 9 points of the game for the Celtics, but what made the night memorable was the way he played in the fourth quarter. Like any sport, athletes are judged on how they perform during the clutch periods of games, and Pierce has shown throughout his career and he did again on Tuesday night.
Since the Larry Bird era the Celtics have been looking for a star to build their franchise around. It was supposed to be Len Bias, but unfortunately we all know how that story ended abruptly, but since then the only constant who has performed at a consistent high level has been Pierce. What makes Pierce even more likable as a Celtics fan, has been his loyalty to the organization. The majority of his career, with the exception of a couple of years in the early 2000's, when he and Antoine Walker helped the Celtics overachieve in a couple playoff runs, and until now with the inception of the Big 3 now 4, Pierce has played on some pretty bad basketball teams. It may have taken the coming together of the Big 3 for Pierce to get his title in 2008, but games like Tuesday night show why he is still special as an individual player.
Pierce may not have the prettiest game, or the endorsements of some of the other superstars in the NBA, yet he proves year in and year out why he is still one of the top players in the game. The chances of the Celtics hanging banner 18 don't seem too likely this year, but there is a good chance with the injury to Derrick Rose that the Celtics could at least make it to the Eastern Conference finals. It is my hope that during these playoffs that not only can Celtics fans continue to appreciate Paul Pierce, but that fans across the NBA can as well. With the implosion of the Big 3 looming after this year, this could be one of the last times we as Celtics fans can see Pierce continue to perform clutch during the playoffs.
