It can seem impossible to compare Paul Pierce to his contemporaries, due to a style of play that is just so different from his peers. He's a different animal than the LeBron's or the Kobe's or the Shaq's -- players who dominated the previous decade. On Tuesday night Pierce moved past Celtics Immortalis Larry Bird into second place on the Celtics' all-time scoring list. As Jeff mentioned earlier in the week, this milestone sort of snuck up on everyone, because Pierce's legacy as a basketball player is somehow understated in spite of his best efforts to create the contrary. Throughout his entire 13-year career, Pierce has consistently put up the same stellar numbers every year, usually in the 22-6-4 range. Those aren't eye-popping averages, but when a player does them for over a decade it becomes impressive. All of Pierce's impressive moments on the basketball court came over a period of time -- like the 19-point fourth quarter against the Nets in the 2002 Eastern Finals. His career highlight reel isn't riddled with tomahawk dunks or ruthless blocks. Instead it would be filled with dagger jump shots and three pointers, a play that perfectly sums up how Pierce fits in with the rest of the NBA pantheon during his professional tenure.
Pierce is not by any means a "pretty" basketball player. He lacks the fluidity of the premier stars of the past decade. He can't soar over other human beings, he can't seamlessly execute a fallaway jumper with finesse rather than will, and his jump shot is less picturesque than it is gawky. Pierce is not slow, but he's not fast. He's not unathletic, but he's not mercurial in his movements. A Pierce jump shot is slower than the average jump shot, and a Pierce free throw looks like he's shooting on a tightrope. Paul Pierce is so hard to rank against his peers because he's just not like them. He can score at will and in buckets, but for some reason it's not done the same way Iverson or McGrady did it.
What's the difference between Pierce and everyone else in the NBA? The fact that he's more cerebral than almost anyone out there, and can overpower players more athletically gifted. He's always in the right spot, he's always cutting the necessary corners, and always mapping out the best way to do things. As his legs got older, he became a better shooter from outside. He adapted his game to his own abilities, something that should be commended. He's not as good talent-wise as Kobe or LeBron, but always competes with (if not out-plays) them. He outlasted guys like McGrady and Iverson because he learned to evolve, whereas they didn't (McGrady's never been blessed with a clean bill of health, but his general disdain of coming of the bench has highlighted his half-decade long demise).
It's also difficult to compare him to the Celtics' who proceeded him. One could say that he's had a better career than Kevin McHale or Bob Cousy, but it's a stretch to compare him to Bill Russell or John Havlicek or Larry Bird. Even in the midst of those five, he doesn't seem like he belongs. Maybe that's because it's difficult to compare those of the present to those that are held nostalgically in the past, but that's my feeling. I have trouble saying he's better than Cousy, a guy who revolutionized the point guard position. But I know if Pierce played Cousy one-on-one during both of their primes, Cousy would be constantly falling to the parquet floor. Pierce doesn't yet seem like he deserves to mentioned with all those greats, but he does. If you're one of those people who are obsessed with championships, and are annoyed that Pierce only won a single title (in which he was awarded a Finals MVP for), just remember that for the majority of his career he was the single driving force in the Celtics' relevancy, and that without him the Celtics would have likely been cultivating Top-5 draft picks.
He's done this:
This:
And this:
He doesn't have the physical gifts that his other brilliant opponents do. But he fits right in with them because of what he can do with the gifts he has.
******
Paul Pierce was once stabbed eleven times in the face, neck, and back, and then had a bottle smashed over his head. This happened on September 25, 2000, and Pierce almost died because of the injuries he suffered. He was back a month later and was the only Boston Celtic to play in all 82 games. Does anyone else realize just completely insane and ridiculous that is? If that were me, I would still be hooked up to an iron lung and having a nurse give me sponge baths. Pierce was the victim of a crime that Martin Scorcese would dream of, and came back a month later. This just defines Paul Pierce as a human being. I'm not one to wax poetically about stupid things like "grit" or "heart", but my God, how can any of that not mean anything? It makes sense that Paul is always at the center of comebacks after remembering his own personal comeback. This doesn't mean that if a basketball player wants to be a great crunch-time player (however you want to define that), they need to be stabbed in the freaking face. It just proves that Paul doesn't give an inch when dealing with adversity.
That matters for something, right?
Follow the author @brendohare
0 recs | 38 comments
None other than Wyc
Said that he decided he wanted to extend Pierce to a long term deal when, while sitting courtside, Paul had several teeth knocked out, one of which landed near Wyc’s shoe. Paul had 5 hrs of dental surgery the next day and was back on the court that night. This doesn’t put him among the best C’s alone, but certainly showed his grit and heart of one of the best competitors Celtics fans have ever seen.
KJ33 - February 8, 2012 via mobile
I wonder what Wyc did with the tooth.
Brendan O'Hare - February 8, 2012
I believe he gave it back.
forever_green - February 8, 2012 via mobile
is he one of the 10 best from 00'-10' ??
Duncan
Shaq
Kobe
Nash
Garnett
Lebron
Dirk
Pierce?
D Dub - February 8, 2012
interestingly...
he isn’t in the discussion with them, but it is hard to deny that when he plays most of the guys at his position head-to-head he consistently matches them or outplays them. Night in and night out, he is not on this list, but in the big games he just might be.
MurphyHOF - February 8, 2012
do yall remember watching paul in the early 2000's? 27 points a game isnt on a list with them??
ianboyextreme - February 8, 2012
yeah, not sure what you mean
not on that list? i think he absolutely is on that list. if he’s not, who is ahead of him, other than those guys? Dwade and Iverson maybe should be included, MAYBE dwight howard, but guys like Durant, Rose are too young, guys like McGrady and vince carter just aren’t in the same ballpark..
i think if you asked most rational NBA fans whether Paul Pierce deserves top 10 consideration for that decade, they would say yes or that he’s right there.. keep in mind as good as Nash, Lebron and Iverson were (are) they don’t have titles and were never really that close even if they made the championship. Pierce was a couple of bad calls from a 2nd championship and likely a 2nd finals MVP.
JunkyardDawg - February 8, 2012
I only mean he often isn’t mentioned, or is often overlooked as being one of the best of the decade. I definitely think he belongs. After his 2008 playoff run, he should be near the top, as he outplayed the two “best” wing players of the time period.
Also, I don’t think we can forget his struggles during that time period (on and off the court, individually and with the team). Every player has them, but he had them as the star of an awful team. It may not be fair, but he was viewed as part of the problem for awhile.
Lastly, like the Celtics, Pierce has played to the level of the competition over the last few years. That looks great in big games, but not so great against the lesser teams. Even with all that, he is certainly one of the 10 best of the decade mentioned.
MurphyHOF - February 8, 2012
I mean…I wouldn’t say he outplayed either Lebron or Kobe. I don’t think you should attribute Pierce outplaying either one of those players simply because the Celtics won. Semantics, I know, but still.
muckduck - February 9, 2012
I disagree -- I think he did outplay them
In both the Cleveland series and the Lakers series, I felt Paul Pierce was the best player, overall, for either team that year. Over that 3-4 week period of the 2008 playoffs, he was functioning at an extremely high level, and I am always surprised that people seem to forget what he did. He captained that team to a championship in every sense.
Cousin It - February 9, 2012
Forgot about Wade
prov1ml - February 8, 2012
Wade
Kidd
Iverson
Allen
All belong on list discussion though order is a toss up. Pierce’s career stacks up with all these guys.
Congratulations to Pierce, quite an achievement.
kuekuatsheu - February 8, 2012 via iPhone app
According to the BB-reference.com's HOF predictor (which has a 97% successful predictive rate)
Paul Pierce is a virtual lock for the HOF. as well as the rest of those names (except for Nash) along with Iverson, Ray Allen, and Jason Kidd.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/hof_prob_active.html
The player with the highest probability score according to the model who didn’t make it is Jo-Jo White with a score of .8449. Active players with scores above Jo Jo White’s are:
1. Kobe Bryant 1.0000
2. Tim Duncan 0.9999
3. Kevin Garnett 0.9986
4. LeBron James 0.9901
5. Dwyane Wade 0.9867
6. Dirk Nowitzki 0.9798
7. Paul Pierce 0.9728
8. Jason Kidd 0.9649
9. Ray Allen 0.9421
10. Vince Carter 0.8451
Players not yet eligible with scores above Jo Jo White’s are:
1. Shaquille O’Neal 1.0000
2. Allen Iverson 0.9980
3. Gary Payton 0.8826
I think Carter’s on the bubble myself, but that Payton with the next lowest score and the rest are in. Pierce is listed with the 48th best score of all time BTW.
colincb - February 8, 2012
Thanks for the compilation.
Good stuff!
mmmmm - February 8, 2012
+1
Big_Easy - February 8, 2012 via mobile
HOF wise Pierce is a lock
Good chance of being first ballot too. Is he a true superstar like some of those other guys? I don’t think he was even in his prime (didn’t play defense back then).
kg2128 - February 8, 2012
Problem with Pierce is he is a jack of all trades type
On that list Lebron is the other jack of all trades type, but Lebron was born with freakish talent. Pierce has more skill and is stronger mentally, but doesn’t affect the game on both ends the same way. I do however think if Nash and Dirk are on there Pierce should be. I consider Duncan Shaq Kobe and KG above the rest of that list.
kg2128 - February 8, 2012
Three words
Hall Of Fame
fsu_csu - February 8, 2012
Pierce absolutely belongs with the best Celtics.
He doesn’t have the championships those guys have, but he’s got the talent, determination, competitive drive, and resolve of any of them. If we’re going to pretend there’s no more room in the pantheon of Celtic’s greats for today’s players, why be a fan? And if there is room, who belongs there compared to Pierce? He stuck with them (and us) and they stuck with him, and to see him finally start to be appreciated for more than being a good player on a so-so team and get his share of the glory he deserves warms my heart. He doesn’t have to be better than any of them, who cares if you think Bird is greater than Cousy is better than McHale? But if you think he doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath, go and check career stats in categories besides points, and you’ll see Pierce’s name right up near the top in every single category, and at the very top in a couple. If he played alongside Garnett, Duncan, Nash, etc… his whole career I’ll bet few people would have trouble putting him in that top 10, cause they would have more championships. I am not embarrassed to say Pierce is my favorite all-time Celtic, and I’ve been a fan since the early 80’s.
DT - February 8, 2012
Right on. Good points all around.
Cousin It - February 9, 2012
I agree with the overall sentiment of this article but....
I dont understand the “he doesnt do it in a pretty way” statement. He has some of the prettiest moves since earl monroe and his fade away jump shot is as graceful as anybody who has one.
ianboyextreme - February 8, 2012
I also dont understand how 22/6/4 aernt eye popping numbers. Before KG and Ray arried it was more like 26/7/4 also...
ianboyextreme - February 8, 2012
Nothing to do with the article.
But what channel is tomorrows game gonna be on?
Hammerhead7 - February 8, 2012
Nevermind, finally found it.
Hammerhead7 - February 8, 2012
Bad luck
Drafted to the Patino-era team (‘suff said), got a bum rap from Coach Karl, endured ’Thanks-Dad’ Gaston and Obie-ball, suffered DAs growing pains. Emerged into the light (2008) with a well-deserved MVP* (*the wheelchair, more bad luck but talk about playing through pain….), then to see the next 2 seasons undone by injuries to his mates.
Sometimes does himself in (his handles are come and go) but fierce, competitive, and, when he gets hot, hard to beat. Just ask Bron and Kobe.
Tenacious D - February 8, 2012
nice article
but I disagree that Pierce’s game isn’t fluid, I think fluidity defines his game. although he’s obviously not as athletic, quick to the hoop or can jump as high as some of the guys you mentioned, I still think watching him even at this age is watching basketball as well as it can humanly be played. it is just so honed, so perfected and so natural… let kobe be a chucker, let lebron awkwardly and reluctantly work on his post moves, pierce knows exactly what to do with the basketball and he always gets it in the hoop.
JunkyardDawg - February 8, 2012
yes
kuekuatsheu - February 8, 2012 via iPhone app
exactly. I dont see how anyone can say paul pierce isnt smooth as butter.
ianboyextreme - February 8, 2012
Made Men
Great read Brendan…your points, like Paul, will stand the test of time…
Fastbreak1 - February 8, 2012 via mobile
I think you are mischaracterizing Paul's game
Paul doesn’t have tomahawk dunks? He’s not athletic and doesn’t play above the rim?
Go to youtube and search on Paul Pierce mixes. Watch a few of those and tell me that Paul was not athletic and didn’t rain ridiculous dunks on people.
The reality is that Paul is 34 years old now. His game changed when the big three were formed. Most of his highlight reel dunks came during his 20s, on crappy teams. Therefore, people forget about what kind of game he had earlier in his career. He was a rim-rattling beast who would go to the rim relentlessly. He still drives to the rack as much as anyone, but at his age, he is scoring around the rim in a variety of ways, or drawing fouls. He has also learned to pick his spots and save his body in hos 30s also. Kobe doesn’t dunk as much anymore either.
bewareofdware - February 8, 2012
Agree 100%
Pierce is one of those deceptive athletes. He’s smoother, stronger and better conditioned than you might guess by his frame.
Cousin It - February 9, 2012
I went to a game at the Garden vs the Pacers in 2009-2010
where Pierce made just an amazing dunk. He started from the left side, moving along the baseline. I can’t find a video replay to check but my memory of the moment is that as he left the ground we all thought he was just going up so as to do a flip layup from a few feet out … but then, suddenly, his body seemed to just take off in the air and he slammed it home from an impossible distance!
The crowd erupted screaming and I remember turning to my nephew and he and I just stared at each other with open mouths.
It took us all by surprise because he started from so far out that you just weren’t thinking ‘dunk’ – it didn’t seem possible for anyone to reach the rim from out there – and he WAS being defended.
mmmmm - February 9, 2012
Nice story
I don’t remember that exact game or play (of course), but you definitely put an image in my mind that makes me think of other, similar plays PP has made. Celtics got so lucky that PP “fell” in the draft, especially considering Pitino was picking that day and would have screwed up the #10 otherwise.
Cousin It - February 9, 2012
Paul Pierce has been THE Celtic of this last decade.
He was the signature, marquee player on this team for a whole era of the team’s history.
Whether he was ‘better’ or ‘as dominant’ or whatever compared to great Celtics of the past is too hard to argue over – the game has changed so much.
But it is not arguable that during the last decade, Paul Pierce has been the face of this franchise.
He definitely belongs among the very elite of Celtics.
mmmmm - February 8, 2012
I am not sure I understand this line..
He’s a different animal than the LeBron’s or the Kobe’s or the Shaq’s — players who dominated the previous decade.
Lebron is dominating this decade and Shaq dominated the 90s and the 00s. Are you trying to compare Pierce to players of the same era or a different era?
jakeshuttlesworth - February 8, 2012
They all played in the 00s.
And dominated.
Brendan O'Hare - February 9, 2012
Good article, congratulations to Paul
And it’s appropriate that we celebrate his career and achievements at this special time passing such an impressive milestone and to be mentioned among names like Cousy Havlicek Bird Cowens and list list goes on, but it’s not like his career is over yet… He’s still got another title to win. This group has got another title to win.
p-peazy - February 8, 2012
the forgotten comparison
Hmmm. Let’s see. What other HOF player was known to be less fluid and athletic, but more cerebral, more skilled, and more competitive? What other HOF player could score from anywhere on the floor and made his teammates better? What other HOF player has his greatness often qualified by his slight ungainliness? What other HOF could put up triple doubles almost nightly?
Larry Bird.
Paul Pierce is more like Larry Bird than like either Kobe or LeBron.
I think PIerce is one of the all-time greats, and one of the smartest players I’ve ever seen. There are only a handful of players I’d rather have take the last shot (Bird, Reggie Miller, Kobe, MJ, Stockton).
avery_t - February 9, 2012
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