Paul Pierce News & Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

February 2

Boston Herald

"For all of the hand-wringing over Rajon Rondo's sprained right wrist, the Celtics are climbing up the Eastern Conference ranks. Last night's 100-64 win over Toronto boosted the C's to 6-2 in their point guard's absence, and pushed them over .500, at 11-10, for the first time this season. Just as important, they have gone 6-2 with Avery Bradley and rookie E'Twaun Moore as their point guard rotation, and Paul Pierce in the Larry Bird role as a point forward."

Decision doesn't sit well with Paul Pierce

January 30

Boston Herald

"Many things ruined Paul Pierce's evening last night. His seven turnovers, which pushed his fumble total up to 13 over the last two games, had to top the list. He was on the floor for the last 3:42 of a 12-0 Cleveland run that wiped out an 11-point Celtics lead and replaced it with an 88-87 Cavaliers win. It wasn't a healthy way for the Celtics captain and his teammates to end a four-game win streak, or to drop back under .500. But in a rare fit of pique, Pierce chose to question coach Doc Rivers' decision that left him on the bench until that last 3:42."

Pierce, Celtics keep up pace

January 28

Boston Globe

"The Celtics did not plan to be a .500 team at this point in the season. Nor could they have foreseen having to depend on Paul Pierce to both set up teammates and carry the scoring load. But after a 94-87 win over the Indiana Pacers last night, the Celtics are feeling like their 9-9 record indicates they are a team with a glass that is more than half full. Pierce led the way with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists and Kevin Garnett, the only Celtic to play in every game this season, added inside strength as the Celtics outrebounded the Pacers, 45-42, and held them to six second-chance points. "That was the focus right there,'' Pierce said. "We understood they're the No. 1 offensive"

John Wall flirts with a triple-double but Paul Pierce, Boston are too strong in 100-94 win

January 23

Washington Post

"On one of the rare times Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce missed a shot on Sunday, Andray Blatche corralled the rebound and fired a full-length pass down the court to Nick Young for a vicious one-handed jam. Admiring his work, Blatche stopped at half court, looked over at the Washington Wizards' bench and smiled as he struck his version of the Heisman trophy pose. Blatche later joked that he's "a quarterback," showing a playful side that he hid the past few games as fans at Verizon Center expressed their displeasure by booing him."

Truth can't be silenced

January 23

Boston Herald

"Paul Pierce [stats] was walking through the tunnel after doing the star interview yesterday when a friend asked him for his jersey. "I think I might have to keep this one," Pierce said. "This is the best I done played in a long time." Indeed, on a day when Rajon Rondo remained sidelined with a sprained right wrist and Ray Allen left in the second quarter with a jammed left ankle, the Celtics needed Pierce to play better than he had all season. And the captain did so with season highs of 34 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and three steals in a 100-94 victory against the Washington Wizards. "That's the Paul we've been missing," Rondo said. "He played great. We believe in him, and we're"

Pierce tries to block out woes

January 21

Boston Globe

"It was fool's gold, a 20-6 run to begin the third quarter that gave the Celtics a 3-point lead late in the period. In the old days, the Celtics would have dismissed a lesser opponent such as the Phoenix Suns with that run and coasted to victory. The new Celtics, however, responded by going scoreless for 6 minutes and 3 seconds. And by the time Avery Bradley canned a 21-foot jumper with 8:14 left in the fourth, the Celtics were down 7 and on their way to another demoralizing loss, one which might expedite team president Danny Ainge's plan to rebuild the team dramatically. The players gave him no reason to do anything else last night, including Paul Pierce, the team's most marketable of the"

Paul Pierce not blind to Truth

January 21

Boston Herald

"Paul Pierce isn't concerned with trade rumors and talk -— wishing upon a star though it may be — that the Celtics will be able to make moves now to kick start what will be a major rebuilding process. "No, you can't pay attention to that," the Celts captain said after shooting 5-of-14 from the field for 12 points in a 79-71 loss to the Phoenix Suns last night at the Garden. "That's part of the business. You've just got to continue to do your job as a professional each and every day, and that's about it." President of basketball operations Danny Ainge has been saying for more than a week that he'll consider trying to break up the team — even though he's been trying to make a bigger deal for"

Celtics' Big Three in jeopardy?

January 19

ESPN.com

"Danny Ainge does not want to see another decline in the franchise like the one that happened after the Boston Celtics' original Big Three dried up, and he's reportedly willing to break up his current star trio to ensure that. The only problem is that he's not seeing any worthwhile deals to make. The Celtics have limped to a 5-8 start behind 34-year-old Paul Pierce, 35-year-old Kevin Garnett and 36-year-old Ray Allen. Ainge, the Celtics' president of basketball operations, told The Boston Globe that he would consider a trade if it would help the team get younger and be poised to be competitive in the next era. Ainge saw the Celtics pass up deals when Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert"

Paul Pierce gauges fitness

January 16

Boston Herald

"The recovery process has been rough for Paul Pierce. The Celtics captain is not only struggling to play himself into shape, but basketball shape. Deprived of a conventional training camp because of a bruised heel, the C's captain is using games as his gauge. And right now, he has only a sketchy idea of when his game will return to a recognizable regular-season level. "It's hard to put a number on that. I don't know," Pierce said. "I'd probably say a couple of weeks. I definitely see a difference now. I'm a step faster than I was a week ago."

Paul Pierce puts Nets to rest

January 5

Boston Herald

"This was the best kind of night for Paul Pierce. Not even a week removed from his season debut, there's no sense in grinding the captain's tender foot to dust. That's where the injury-depleted New Jersey Nets played a nice foil last night. Pierce, with 24 points by the end of the third quarter, was able to sit for the last 12 minutes of a 89-70 Celtics win at the Garden. The Celtics, with Pierce in the lineup, improved to 4-0 and 4-3 overall."

Pierce shows no ill effects

January 2

Boston Herald

"Paul Pierce was back in the lineup last night after making his season debut Friday. The bruised right heel that kept him out of the first three games held up well against the Pistons. "He said he was very sore, but it wasn't his heel," coach Doc Rivers said before tipoff versus the Wizards, a game the Celtics won 94-86. "It was just his body which is a pretty good sign, I guess." Rivers said Pierce's conditioning will determine how long he plays in the next few games. "I'm going to just look to his lungs," Rivers said. "They'll tell me. I told him that the other night. The plan was to put him on the Kevin Garnett plan of five minutes (five on, five off, etc.), and then after five minutes"

Paul Pierce provides boost as Celtics get first win

December 31

Boston Herald

"It was the perfect night for a post-Christmas ham. Who better than Bobby Valentine to pop up as the guest of honor in Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck's front-row seat? The new Red Sox manager, in a black jacket and jeans, stood and waved to all corners of the Garden. He even held the ball for one of Lucky the Leprechaun's trampoline dunks. Except that the Celtics mascot missed. Someone had to. The Celtics, fresh off an 0-3 start to the season, got their fill of the basket and finally got the requisite number of stops down the other end in last night's 96-85 win over, to be polite, a rebuilding Pistons team. Paul Pierce, the pain in his bruised right heel subsided enough for action, made his"

Paul Pierce 'very close' to return

December 30

Boston Herald

"Paul Pierce packed like Imelda Marcos for the first road trip of the season, which ended in an 0-3 heap Wednesday night in New Orleans. He had a different suit for each game, but enough with the suit talk. As much as the Celtics need their captain back from a bruised heel, Pierce is even more impatient to make his season debut, possibly tonight for the home opener against Detroit. "I'm close very very close," he tweeted last night. On Wednesday, Pierce admitted it's been difficult to watch the start of the season from the bench."

Paul Pierce (heel) doubtful vs. Heat

December 27

ESPN.com

"Boston Celtics captain Paul Pierce worked out Monday and experienced limited soreness in his bruised right heel, but coach Doc Rivers does not believe Pierce will be ready to play Tuesday at Miami. "He worked out (Monday), went pretty well," Rivers said. "He didn't get as sore, so that's a good sign. He's not going to play tonight -- I doubt it, at least." Asked if Pierce were to sit out Tuesday's game whether he'd likely also miss Wednesday's season-opening road-trip finale at New Orleans as well, Rivers was noncommittal. "We're just going to go day by day," the coach said. "I'm not sure.""

Pierce staying patient

December 26

Boston Globe

"On Opening Day, the Celtics already were dealing with injuries. Paul Pierce reported to Madison Square Garden yesterday and didn't even bother to work out. Pierce missed most of training camp with a bone bruise in his right heel, which is mending slowly. He was expected to test the foot before making a decision, but he never got into his practice gear. "Knowing that the season is so [long], with back-to-back games, it just wouldn't be worth it to go out there and have any setbacks today,'' said Pierce. "Google 'bone bruises' and you know it'll say it can be anywhere between three days, a week, three months, depending on the amount of pain in there. "I don't see it being a month or two."

Celtics point to absence of Paul Pierce in shrugging off Christmas Day loss to NY Knicks

December 26

New York Daily News

columnist Mitch Lawrence

"The first of the Knicks' Christmas presents arrived in t he Garden at 10:40 on Sunday morning, wrapped in a crisp blue pinstripe suit and a red tie: Paul Pierce declared himself out for the opener with a heel injury, a gift for Mike D'Antoni's defense, as everyone would see only a few hours later. After Pierce's absence became one of the biggest factors in the Knicks' 106-104 win to kick off the NBA season, the Knicks coach said this is the kind of game we'll get from now on between the two old Atlantic Division rivals. "It's going to be a rivalry now," D'Antoni said. "We can get to the level they are." It's possible, so long as the Knicks find someone who can make a smart decision with"

Pierce out for Celtics opener

December 25

CSN New England

"Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce arrived a few minutes ago, donning a blue suit with a red tie. It's a look that unfortunately for the C's, he'll still have when the season tips off today against the New York Knicks. The sore right heel injury that has kept him sidelined for most of training camp will keep him out for today's game as well. "If there was a slight chance I could play, I'd definitely be out there," said Pierce, who added that an MRI recently revealed he has a bone bruise and remains questionable for Tuesday's game at Miami."

Three in good company

December 23

Boston Herald

"If you go by what Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen were thinking back in the summer of 2007, the expiration date of their time together already has passed. But what did they know? They were just kids back then. Now 34, 35 and 36, respectively, they believe there is still game in their old bones. "Originally we talked about maybe a three- or four-year window," Pierce said. "Ray had three years left, so that's how we figured it. We didn't look past guys' contracts at the time because you never know what can happen. "But we also feel like as long as we're together, the window is still open. For however long we're together.""

Paul Pierce still hurting, will rest today

December 23

Boston Herald

"Paul Pierce went through a rather lengthy shooting session yesterday, but his bruised right heel again prevented him from taking part in the practice that preceded it. And the Celtics captain is not expected to work out with the team today either, leaving his availability for Sunday's season opener in New York perhaps even more in question. "We won't ask him to do anything until (tomorrow) and see what he can do," said Doc Rivers after a practice that lasted close to three hours. "And then if he can play (against the Knicks), we may play him. If he can play, we'll play him. We may not even start him. But we don't know any of that until (tomorrow).""

C's go without Paul Pierce

December 22

Boston Herald

"For all the concern regarding the effects of an abbreviated NBA season on an aging Celtics roster, the team won't even be able to get out of the blocks healthy. Already without key reserve Jeff Green (heart condition) for the season, the Celtics could be missing Paul Pierce when they unwrap the regular season on Christmas Day in New York against the Knicks. A bruised right heel sidelined Pierce for last night's 81-73 preseason finale win against the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden, and the injury has the captain's status in jeopardy for Sunday. "Whatever iffy is, he is that," coach Doc Rivers said before last night's game. "Honestly, I don't know. A bruise, and that's what it is, on the heel,"

Bruised Paul Pierce may miss opener

December 21

Boston Herald

"After trying to take a step forward Monday, Paul Pierce has moved back a few paces. The Celtics captain was expected back for tonight's exhibition game against Toronto, but a bruised right heel will keep him out and in some question for the season opener in New York on Christmas Day. "Paul's probably going to sit until (Friday), and then we'll see," coach Doc Rivers said yesterday. Is he worried about the Knicks game for Pierce? "I'm concerned now," Rivers said. "For after that, I'm not that concerned, but for the 25th, yeah, I'm concerned about it.""

Captain of consistency

December 14

Boston Herald

"Paul Pierce moved around the various stations at Celtics media day with an ease befitting his veteran status. This was, after all, his 14th such rodeo. "Is it 14?" Pierce said yesterday. "Wow .?.?. "How old was Bird when he retired?" the 34-year-old team captain asked. Larry Bird retired at the age of 35 after 13 seasons. "At least," said Pierce, "I passed Bird in one record, more media days, huh?" Even in his second lockout-shortened season, Pierce should pass Larry on the Celtics' all-time scoring list. At 21,410, he trails Bird by 381 points for second position, with John Havlicek — he of 16 Celtics seasons — atop the list at 26,395. For now, Pierce's career goals are at closer range."

Truth is caught in middle

November 20

Boston Herald

"Paul Pierce clearly is being pulled in different directions as the NBA lockout drags on into its 143rd day. He is committed to doing what he believes is the right thing for the players, but as his side takes the owners to court, he knows a lost season could mean the end of the Celtics line for his team's veteran core. "That's a great possibility, because we're not getting any younger," Pierce said after taking part in a pickup game for charity at Harvard last night. "KG (Kevin Garnett) and Ray (Allen) are on the last year of their deals, so we really don't know the future after this year, especially with those two guys. "Me and (Rajon) Rondo are locked in for a couple more years after"

Pierce denies being force behind decertification

November 20

Boston Globe

"Paul Pierce spent his Saturday morning leading exercise sessions with local kids at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, part of his program for childhood fitness, and he was expected to participate in tonight's Rajon Rondo-organized all-star game at Harvard. Pierce is ready to return to the court for the Celtics, but the four-month long NBA lockout that has now become a legal battle prevents that. Pierce was linked to a player uprising that was prepared to decertify the players' union for a better advantage against the league's owners. While the NBPA did disband this past week, Pierce said he only viewed decertification as an option and denied that he was encouraging fellow players to dissolve"

Paul Pierce: Players needed to make stand

November 20

Yahoo! Sports

"Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce spent Saturday morning leading more than 300 children in fitness exercises to kick off the "Million Hour Challenge," an initiative that asks 2,000 children from Massachusetts to complete a million hours of physical activity over the next year. "What we are trying to do with this program is to give a template for other players around the league so they can do it in their city and take it national," said Pierce, who launched the "Truth on Health" campaign through his foundation to encourage children to lead healthier lives. "We have a lot of different pro athletes, not just basketball players, who are interested." By Saturday evening, Pierce was getting his"

Sources: NBA stars plan exhibition tour

October 19

ESPN.com

"While NBA commissioner David Stern and players' union executive Billy Hunter meet with a federal mediator in hopes of saving the NBA season, the league's top players are finalizing plans for a two-week exhibition tour during what would have been the first two weeks of the regular season, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. While the final details are still being worked out, more than a dozen of the league's best players are working to join forces on what would be a two-week, six-game, four-continent blockbuster tour, sources said. In a trip that could resemble Team USA's takeover of the world stage at the 2008 Beijing Games, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Derrick"

Pierce, Beasley hack and cough through Chinese trip

September 1

San Antonio Express-News

"There might be a cautionary tale for some of the NBA players hellbent to play overseas when they learn about the Chinese trip of Paul Pierce and Michael Beasley for the recent International Basketball Cup. According to the blog NiuBBall.com, Pierce and Beasley both required treatment at a hospital for asthma attacks that were attributed to the large number of Chinese fans who smoke inside the arena. "After the game, things got even more shocking when Beasley fell to the floor in his hotel and started to roll around in obvious pain, scaring everyone around half-to-death," NiuBBall.com reports. "At that point, there was no choice but to dial 120 (the number for an ambulance in China) and"

Paul Pierce knocked out of World Series of Poker

July 12

Pro Basketball Talk

"Paul Pierce still has his championship ring, but he will not get a bracelet to go with it. Paul Pierce has been knocked out of the World Series of Poker according to CSN New England."

Big Three get food for thought

June 23

Boston Globe

"It takes a minor miracle to get all three stars together during the offseason, but Doc Rivers broke bread with Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce a couple weeks ago to go over the way last season ended and once again pass along the memo that the championship window is getting smaller. Allen and Garnett are 35, Pierce is 33. The tick-tocks are getting louder. Losing to the Heat in the second round of the playoffs after reassembling the core for one more run was tough to swallow. Perhaps more difficult, Rivers said, than losing to the Lakers in Game 7 of the 2010 Finals."

Paul Pierce feels Celtics aren't all done

May 13

Boston Herald

"By late Wednesday, a team-wide season of ache and injury hung on Paul Pierce's face. There were bags under the Celtics captain's eyes, and the tone of his voice was worn. His peak years in Green may have reached an end Wednesday night in Miami with the Celtics' Game 5 elimination by the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals. And that kind of final game is never the memory one wants to take home. "It's tough having to swallow, with the expectations at the beginning of the year," said Pierce. "You play so hard for the opportunity at a championship, and when you fall short it's very disappointing because you have such high goals. Right now I'm really upset. I wish we could have played better,"

Big Three must C's moment

May 11

Boston Herald

columnist Ron Borges

"Tonight will be Big Three Lite's truest Celtics moment. Certainly the world championship run three years ago of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett will allow them to live on in the hearts and memories of Celts fans, but, truth be told, they have achieved less than what was anticipated when they first arrived for an assortment of reasons, not all of their own making. Regardless of why they failed to hold a 13-point second-half lead last year in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Lakers, that loss, in some ways, begat what has happened to them since. Big Three Lite seemed to wither and grow old that day, a circumstance that seldom reverses itself in sports. This season its fade has"

Pierce rallied troops early

May 8

Boston Globe

"Before Rajon Rondo turned a gruesome arm injury into an inspirational event for the Celtics last night, Paul Pierce was leading his teammates. In the seconds before Rondo tumbled to the floor and dislocated his elbow, Pierce was on the floor scrapping for a loose ball. It was one of the many ways he distanced himself from a slow start in this series. Pierce poked the ball away from LeBron James and dropped to the floor to gain possession. The Celtics ended up with possession and Kevin Garnett sank a hook shot to give the Celtics a 60-50 lead with 7:25 left in the third period. Just 23 seconds later, Rondo was rolling around in pain. Rondo headed toward the locker room with an injury that"

Shaq, Paul Pierce poised to return to the court Saturday

May 7

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"For the Boston Celtics, this NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series has become as much about body parts as the 0-2 deficit they find themselves dealing with entering Saturday night's Game 3 at TD Garden. Shaquille O'Neal's calf? Apparently good enough to get the former Heat center into a game for only the second time since Feb. 1. The balky Achilles that limited Paul Pierce in Tuesday's 102-91 Game 2 loss at AmericanAirlines Arena? The veteran small forward insists it will not be an issue. Kevin Garnett's back? Actually, the back issues belong to point guard Rajon Rondo, but the question Friday at the Celtics' practice facility in Waltham, Mass., was whether Garnett is up to the 20 shots"

Rivers "expects" Shaq to play in Game 3; Pierce good to go

May 5

Boston Herald

"It's a road Doc Rivers has been down too many times over the last month, and has yet to bear fruit, but the Celtics coach said after this morning's practice that he expects Shaquille O'Neal to play in Game 3 on Saturday night. In other injury news, Paul Pierce (left Achilles tendon), Rajon Rondo (back) and Ray Allen (bruised chest) all took part in today's walk-through-speed session and have all received a green light to play Saturday as well. "The injury we were really concerned with was obviously Shaq's, and the other one was Paul," said Rivers, who later indicated that the big man's role could even be limited to just a few minutes. "(Jermaine O'Neal) has a stiff back, Rondo has a stiff"

Three key Celtics beat up but OK

May 4

ESPN.com

"Three Boston Celtics starters battled injuries in the Game 2 loss to the Miami Heat on Tuesday night, though none appear serious enough to jeopardize their availability for Saturday's Game 3. Captain Paul Pierce suffered a strained left Achilles that forced him to the locker room midway through the first quarter, Ray Allen needed to be taken to the locker room for a spell with a bruised chest after getting elbowed by LeBron James and Rajon Rondo battled through a tight back that wouldn't loosen up for much of the game. "It was a circus going on at the one point," coach Doc Rivers said after the game. "Ray needed to be taken to the locker room [in the second quarter], Paul was coming out"

Pierce and Allen need to fire it up

May 4

Boston Globe

"Offensively the Celtics are in a state of confusion, stunning for a team that prides itself on chemistry and cohesion. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce stood helpless at times last night at AmericanAirlines Arena, unable to stop their counterparts or even counter with a basket of their own. If last night's 102-91 loss to the Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals were a two-on-two game, it would have been a skunk. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combined for 63 points, Allen and Pierce 20. The veteran Celtics duo was embarrassed; to their credit neither player used injuries during the game as an excuse. It wasn't that they were inefficient, it was more that at times they actually seemed"

A good time for a break

May 4

Boston Globe

"It was hard to keep track of the bodies going back and forth from the bench to the locker room. "We had a circus going on at one point,'' said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. Paul Pierce had to leave in the first quarter of the Celtics' 102-91 loss to the Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals after being kicked in the Achilles'."

Pierce, Allen, and Rondo all dealing with injuries

May 4

Boston Herald

"With Paul Pierce and Ray Allen already banged up, the last thing the Celtics needed was a hobbled Rajon Rondo. But in the fourth quarter of last night's 102-91 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Rondo was laid out on the baseline getting stretched by trainer Bryan Doo. Rondo was hampered by a back injury that began bothering him yesterday morning. He wore a wrap around his midsection during the team's morning shootaround, which he said kept his back warm. While Rondo downplayed the use of the wrap, it reappeared during last night's game. "His back was bothering him this morning," coach Doc Rivers said. "It was bothering him through the game. One time he"

Celtics' Paul Pierce remorseful after Sunday's ejection

May 3

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce said he believed he let his teammates down after being ejected in the fourth quarter of Sunday's Game 1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Pierce, who did not speak with reporters after the game, made his first comments before Monday's practice on the University of Miami campus. He was kicked out with seven minutes remaining after being hit with a second technical foul, resulting in an automatic ejection. "I was more disappointed in letting my teammates down," Pierce said. "That's the first thing I said when I went to the locker room. When you put yourself in a situation that you can control and it hurts your team, that's what I was most upset about,"

Truth: 'It was selfish'

May 3

Boston Herald

"He didn't have to be scolded. He also didn't have to be told the officials were wrong. By the time Paul Pierce finally talked to the media before yesterday's practice at the University of Miami, he already had taken himself to task for getting ejected in the fourth quarter of the Celtics' Game 1 loss to the Heat on Sunday night. He also remained resolute in the insistence that he didn't deserve to get tossed. But most of all, Pierce regretted hurting his team. "I was more disappointed in how it affected my team. That's what I said when I went to the locker room," Pierce said. "If you put yourself in a situation you can control and it hurts your team, that's what I was upset about. I'm too"

Language foul

May 3

Boston Herald

columnist Gerry Callahan

"The Celtics were trailing Miami by 13 points in the fourth quarter when official Ed Malloy choked under the playoff pressure and hit Paul Pierce with a technical foul, essentially tossing the captain from Game 1 Sunday afternoon. There were seven minutes left in the game. The crowd was in a frenzy. Dwayne Wade was on fire. James Jones couldn't miss from 3-point range. Rajon Rondo still was playing like he'd consumed some bad stone crab Saturday night. And the Celtics were showing about as much life as bin Laden's small circle of friends. The game was all but over, so this is not on the list of top 50 reasons the Celtics lost Sunday afternoon. We'll get to those, but we still have to ask:"

No action by NBA on Celtic's ejection

May 3

Boston Globe

"After Paul Pierce had a night to sleep on it, the regret was evident as much as the still-lingering frustration. The Celtics captain had put his Game 1 ejection behind him as much as he could have, but early yesterday afternoon a part of him was bracing for a possible phone call from NBA higher-ups. "It's always a concern when things happen,'' he said, talking to reporters after skipping out on a media session following Sunday's 99-90 loss to the Heat. "It's out of my control. They're going to view it the way they view it and come to a decision. "I'm definitely worried, because if it's a situation where it affects my team then it was very selfish. It was selfish of me [Sunday], but it"

James Jones foul upgraded to flagrant; no Pierce penalty

May 3

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"The NBA has reclassified two fouls from Sunday's contentious second-round playoff series opener between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. James Jones' technical foul with 7:59 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Heat's 99-90 victory at AmericanAirlines Arena was rescinded. However, the Heat reserve forward was retroactively charged with a flagrant foul, penalty one for his foul at that juncture, when he landed hard against Celtics forward Paul Pierce. The league has a point system in place that can lead to postseason suspensions for excessive flagrant fouls or technical fouls over the course of the playoffs. In addition, Jermaine O'Neal's flagrant foul, penalty one at 2:30 of the third"

Shouldn't be trying tough stuff

May 2

Boston Globe

columnist Dan Shaughnessy

"It . . . cannot . . . happen. The Celtics are supposed to be the composed veterans. The Heat are supposed to be the young bucks, the fragile frauds who need to be schooled in how it's done in the playoffs. So how come Paul Pierce picked up two technical fouls and got himself ejected midway through the fourth quarter of yesterday's 99-90 Game 1 loss to the Hype Masters of Miami?"

Paul Pierce ejection puzzles, hurts Celtics

May 2

Boston Herald

"Paul Pierce made the lonely walk to the Celtics locker room with his jersey pulled over his head after he was ejected with seven minutes remaining in yesterday's 99-90 loss to the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. It was the last image of Pierce, as the Celtics captain was gone by the time reporters were allowed into the locker room. Pierce's teammates were surprised by his ejection for receiving two technicals in a 58-second span of the fourth quarter. "A game as big as this game, you rarely see a guy of Paul's caliber thrown out of the game, especially when both guys are having words," Jermaine O'Neal said. "One guy basically jumps into his chest. It's just a"

Next up for Pierce Pierce: LeBron James

April 29

Boston Herald

"It's the postseason, which means it's time for Paul Pierce to run through another gauntlet of the NBA's premier players. There never seems to be a respite for Pierce, whose task is to be his team's primary scorer while trying to limit some of the league's most explosive offensive threats. In the first round it was the Knicks' Carmelo Anthony. Now, Pierce will be matched up with LeBron James, as the Celtics and Heat begin the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday in Miami. "It doesn't get any easier at my position," Pierce said. "It seems like every round there's going to be somebody that's a great player at that position. Playing against Melo, and all the things he does offensively, just"

Paul Pierce digs playing at Madison Square Garden

April 24

Boston Herald

"Paul Pierce, when asked about the Celtics-Knicks dynamic, tends to downplay the so-called rivalry. But in the process of leading the Celtics to Friday night's Game 3 win with a 38-point performance, the captain clearly enjoyed shutting down the crowd a little more than in other arenas. He admitted as much after yesterday's practice at Madison Square Garden. "I like playing here, man," Pierce said. "I like the colors, orange and blue. It's a great atmosphere. Y'all know that. These people are very knowledgeable of the game. They're really into it. "They really live and die with their team, man. You can feel that energy with these fans when they have a good team like they have now. It brings"

Paul Pierce gets job done

April 18

Boston Herald

"Sometimes it seems like the easiest role for Paul Pierce to fill is the one that went to Ray Allen last night — the job of shot-maker. But the Celtics captain, who struggled for his 18 points with a 6-for-16 shooting performance in last night's 87-85 Game 1 win over New York, produced his best moments in other ways. The first was his ability, with 21 seconds left and the Knicks leading by a point (85-84), to pressure Carmelo Anthony into a possession-ending elbow. "I don't know if he drew it, but he took it," coach Doc Rivers said of Pierce's ability to pressure Anthony into the foul. "And it was the right call. Heck of a call to make, but it was the right call. It was clear, and I give"

Doc Rivers orders rest for Big 4

April 12

Boston Herald

"Doc Rivers has spent most of the season talking about the importance of seeding and the ability to have Game 7s on the Garden parquet. But last night the Celtics coach changed his tune, believing it was better to get his regulars physically and mentally prepared for the postseason. Thus, the team's "Big Four" of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo were out of the lineup against the Washington Wizards. Rivers also announced that, while he had no further news on Shaquille O'Neal's right calf strain, he was ruling the big man out of tomorrow night's regular-season finale against the New York Knicks. "He's not playing (tomorrow)," Rivers said. "I can tell you that right now.""