During the early to mid-2000s, the Boston Celtics were going through years of mediocrity, losing more than they could count, missing the playoffs and genuinely embarrassing the legendary organization that was known as the home of the champions.
However, the bright spot in the midst of it all was Paul Pierce. A strong, shifty and creative small forward who scored on all three levels, he kept the franchise alive with his performances during those dark years.
In the summer of 2007, the Celtics turned the whole franchise around with groundbreaking trades for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, forming a new Big Three along with Pierce.
The very next season, the Celtics would end their 22-year championship drought, winning the Finals against their rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant. Moreover, amid all the celebration and the legacy of the franchise’s championship, Pierce’s performance throughout the entire playoff run remains underrated, with rare mentions as one of the best Finals performances in history.
Kendrick Perkins was the latest who shared his opinion on Pierce’s impact in that title run on his podcast “Road Trippin.”
“Paul don’t get enough credit. Paul had one of the greatest individual runs, Finals runs in NBA history. Who he had to go through to get that Finals MVP. Now, he had help, but when you think about matching up with a prime Joe Johnson, going toe-to-toe with him. Then a LeBron, then he had to face a Tayshaun Prince and Rip Hamilton. Now, he had help, but he was still a leading scorer, you know, going toe to toe with Bron in that Game 7, which is still an instant classic in the Second Round. Then, to top it all off, going against the rival, the Lakers. Kob. And you come out victorious with the MVP,” Perkins said.
The road to the Finals
Before the Celtics lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy, Pierce proved himself as the leader and main engine of the team, displaying huge and clutch performances in the entire journey of the 2008 postseason. In his first real opportunity at a Finals run, after all those years carrying an abysmal Celtics team, Pierce delivered when it mattered most.
The playoffs are a test of consistency and resilience and Pierce showed that he indeed is built the same. In the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Celtics beat LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in seven tough games, with Pierce dropping 41 points to secure the series. Eastern Conference finals brought the experienced champions, Detroit Pistons, forcing Pierce to adapt his game through playmaking and defensive presence to clear out the Pistons in 6 games.
Each round brought a new test to the Celtics and Pierce reaffirmed that his leadership and presence under pressure were the difference that put the C’s over the top, regardless of their talent.
The Finals performance
Facing Bryant and the Lakers, Pierce’s poise was brought to the next level, starting with Game 1, in an iconic moment where Pierce came back in the middle of the game in what seemed to be a serious knee injury, hitting a three instantly and setting the tempo for the rest of the Finals.
Across six games, Pierce averaged 22 points, six assists and four rebounds, but what set him apart the most was his ability to control the tempo of the game, hitting crucial shots, orchestrating the offense and dominating the perimeter, both on offense and defense, all while defending multiple positions. The expectations were fulfilled or even outperformed, not through flashiness or fancy scoring outbursts, but through control, domination and unity that spilled over the rest of the team.
Allen, Garnett and Rajon Rondo all brought their attributes and star power to the table, but Pierce took on the responsibility of matching Bryant’s heavy intensity, all while keeping his team grounded and properly prepared for every possession.
Despite receiving Finals MVP, Pierce rarely gets props for his performance. In the midst of all Hall of Famers on the team and under the shadow of bigger storylines: Bryant’s chase at a ring without Shaquille O’Neal and James’ arrival, Pierce’ run went under the radar. Yet, that run perfectly summarises Pierce’ career that the mainstream media ignores.
Unshakable, clutch, unfazed, and controlled.
It was a stamp on his legacy that fulfilled the impact he left on the game.