Paul Pierce News: Pro Sports Daily

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May 18

Boston Globe

"The ball found its way into Paul Pierce's hands the way it always seems to when games reach their pressure point. He coolly gathered himself in the corner opposite the Magic bench and lifted a 3-pointer that arced easily through the nets. That three looked like it would be a fire-starter. But the score was 85-71 in Orlando's favor and there was just 6:07 remaining on the clock. You wondered if the Celtics' deficit was too much and the time was too little. At that point, Pierce said he still felt he had a say in the game's outcome. "[They're] up [14] with five minutes to go, I feel like we still have a chance." But Orlando wouldn't allow the Celtics to get any closer than 12. "When it gets ..."

Pierce on All-NBA 2d team

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May 14

Boston Globe

"Celtics captain Paul Pierce was named to the All-NBA second team in a vote of sportswriters and broadcasters released yesterday. The first team included center Dwight Howard (Orlando), forwards LeBron James (Cleveland) and Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas), and guards Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) and Dwyane Wade (Miami). James, the league's most valuable player, was named to the first team on all 122 ballots. Pierce, a three-time member of the third team (2002, '03, and '08), received 27 first-team votes. The Celtics' Kevin Garnett, a first-team choice last year, was 17th in the balloting. Celtics guards Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo also received votes. Only four Eastern Conference players - Howard, ..."

Paul Pierce at his best

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May 11

Boston Herald

"Yesterday morning, Paul Pierce was seated on the Celtics bench engaging Eddie House in a shooting match. And he was hitting. If only NBA rules permitted such stuff in games, the Celts might not have had to sweat out the final moments of Game 4 against the Magic last night. Beset with foul trouble, Pierce squeezed his 27 points into the first three quarters and just 32:16 overall. And when the Magic made sure not to let him beat them with a shot at the very end, Pierce beat them with a pass, finding Glen Davis for the winning 21-footer at the buzzer. "You know, the pass was just as good as the shot for me," coach Doc Rivers said after his team's 95-94 victory. "We have a saying: Trust the ..."

Pierce had good seat to see his mates shine

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May 7

Boston Globe

"Paul Pierce converted his first shot of the game in the Celtics' 112-94 victory over Orlando last night, but departed midway through the opening quarter because of foul trouble, and went scoreless for the rest of the game. "I'm hoping now Paul has the game Ray [ Allen] had after he sat the whole game with foul trouble," coach Doc Rivers said. "That would be terrific." Allen scored 51 points in a 128-127 triple-overtime loss after fouling out in Game 5 against the Bulls. "You think it would be a huge advantage with [Pierce] in foul trouble," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. "And normally you would. Still, if you give me a choice [tomorrow] or Sunday of [Pierce] not playing, I'll take it." ..."

Foul ending burns Paul Pierce

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May 1

Boston Herald

"The grind of last night's game - indeed, the grind of the entire playoff series between the Celtics and Bulls - weighed heavy on Paul Pierce's face with 35 seconds left in the third overtime. The Celtics captain had just lost the ball attempting to pass to Brian Scalabrine in the left corner, and he compounded the problem by running back to foul Joakim Noah, who responded by converting a three-point play. Pierce, on the other hand, headed to the bench as the third Celtic to foul out of an eventual 128-127 Game 6 loss. "I'm upset," Pierce said of his emotions at that point. "When you're in this type of game, well, I was upset. I fouled out, and I wanted to be out there for my team. "That ..."

Over and above

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April 29

Los Angeles Times

"The Celtics' Big Three were reduced to one last night. But it was the Bulls who ended up staggering at the end of the game, the finishing blows a result of finesse shooting from Paul Pierce and a hard foul from the most fragile-looking Celtic, Rajon Rondo. Pierce connected on three jumpers in the final 77 seconds, the clinching score with 3.4 seconds remaining, in a 106-104 overtime win as the Celtics took a 3-2 lead in their first-round playoff series going into Chicago tomorrow. "It got real physical out there, as you could see," said Pierce, who displayed a slight limp after taking a kick in the leg. "But this team has a never-die attitude. I mean, we've been down in a lot of games ..."

Pierce puts the pieces together

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April 24

Boston Globe

"Paul Pierce didn't feel like the Celtics played their "A" game in the first two playoff games against the Bulls. After two sluggish performances on offense, he played a major role in Boston getting satisfactory grades in Games 1 and 2. But with a needed A-plus offensive performance in a 107-86 victory in Game 3 last night at the United Center, the confident Pierce was the key to Boston's 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series. "He's pretty much the most confident guy in the league, for sure," guard Rajon Rondo said. "Regardless of how he played the first two games, he is going to bring it. He's going to bring up his game for us. You don't really have to worry about Paul and how ..."

Hot Paul Pierce fires strike

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April 24

Boston Herald

"It is said in baseball that momentum is the next day's starting pitcher. The same can be true in hoops. And Paul Pierce was throwing heat last night. Rajon Rondo continued his run of brilliance, but two games of that stuff had netted the Celtics just a 1-all tie in their first-round series with Chicago. Pierce evidently sensed it was time to lead - and make the Bulls bleed. His stats were nice enough, but it was the manner in which he got them - took them, demanded them - that established the beat that turned into a 107-86 Celtics rout before a town and team that was expecting greater things on the home floor. But with Pierce going for 24 points in 28 minutes, the Bulls were fit to be ..."

Usually clutch Paul Pierce bricks go-ahead FT

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April 19

Boston Herald

"Most nights, the Celtics [team stats] beg for a situation like this. Paul Pierce, 18 feet from the basket with 2.6 seconds left in a one-point game, gets fouled by Joakim Noah. But as many times as the Celtics captain has won games in this situation, he wasn't able to stop the bleeding in yesterday's playoff-opening, 105-103 overtime loss to Chicago, missing 1-of-2 to send the game into OT. "(Rajon) Rondo put us in a position to win with Paul Pierce at the free throw line," Leon Powe said. "I'll take that again." Pierce certainly didn't have any regrets. "It actually felt good," he said. "I thought it was going in, and it went right in and out. But those are the breaks of the game. Just ..."

Pierce is unruffled by Cleveland's romp

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April 13

Boston Globe

"Captain Paul Pierce attempted to add perspective to the Celtics' 107-76 loss to the Cavaliers yesterday. As several Boston coaches and players watched the Masters in an adjacent room after the game, Pierce was asked about the Cavaliers' celebrating. He reacted to his teammates' vocal accompaniment to the golf tournament by smiling, then replied: "I mean, it was good to win and that's what they did. Hopefully, we'll get a chance to see them again in the playoffs. But I don't have nothing to say about that, they're enjoying it, they're having a good time." Cleveland took a 31-9 first quarter lead, the Celtics' lowest quarter total since scoring 8 points in the final quarter against Indiana ..."

Paul Pierce again shows why he's Mr. Clutch

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April 11

Boston Herald

"Some guys play hurt. Some guys play tired. Paul Pierce is a variation on both those themes. "Paul just plays," said coach Doc Rivers, giving proper emphasis to the word plays. Though injuries to others have forced him to ignore his own hurts and play longer than Rivers would like, Pierce still has managed to answer the bell and come out swinging. The latest slice of testimony was carved out last night at the Garden against the Heat. The captain had struggled through the first half, hitting 3-of-8 shots from the field, but, though he still wasn't fresh enough to do backflips, he plodded his way to near perfection in the second. Pierce made 7-of-8 from the floor and all four of his free ..."

Pierce keeps tabs on foes

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April 8

Boston Globe

"Celtics captain Paul Pierce and coach Doc Rivers are looking ahead to the playoffs, the team's focus going beyond the final five games of the regular season. But while Rivers is concentrating on his own team, Pierce is keeping an eye on things elsewhere, just in case he might be curious about a future opponent. The Celtics (58-19), who host the Nets tonight, have a chance to post consecutive 60-win seasons for the first time since 1984-85 and 1985-86. They have long since clinched a top three Eastern Conference finish and are now out to optimize team health, regardless of their standing with first-place Cleveland and third-place Orlando. "I know we're tied or a game up but I can honestly ..."

Pierce, Celtics just too much

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March 30

Boston Globe

"Celtic opponents are scratching and clawing to get into the playoffs, for better seedings, or to improve prospects for next season. Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant took that literally last night, opening a 10-stitch gash in Celtic Glen Davis's head in a struggle for a rebound. Davis grabbed that third-quarter rebound on the way to a second consecutive double-double (19 points, 10 boards) as the Celtics took a 103-84 victory over the Thunder in the opener of a five-game homestand. This is the first extended series of home games for the Celtics since December, their schedule so far a test of the team's resiliency. But Davis exemplified the Celtics' ability to bounce back, scoring 15 points in ..."

Pierce takes charge

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March 19

Boston Globe

"It's been a while. But Paul Pierce hasn't forgotten how to fly a solo mission. Playing without Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett last night, Pierce had 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists as the Celtics outlasted the Miami Heat, 112-108, in overtime. The Big Three was down to one, and one was enough on this occasion. "It almost came down to the fact that we had Paul and they didn't have [Dwyane] Wade," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "Paul was making all the shots. I thought that last shot he took [in regulation] was in, too." That last shot came with the game tied at 100 as the clock wound down. Rivers elected to keep the ball in Pierce's hands for the final play. Miami expected Pierce to take ..."

Doc Rivers takes blame for Paul Pierce fatigue

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March 3

Boston Herald

"Doc Rivers is aware he’s left himself wide open for a malpractice suit. Keeping Paul Pierce on the floor too long hardly is exercising reasonable care. “That was a bad job by me,” Rivers said the day after exposing Pierce to all but 18.5 seconds against Detroit. “I’ve got to get him out no matter what, even if we’re losing the lead.” Were it a one-night aberration, then the medical board might show leniency, but Pierce’s 47:42 came after a month in which he averaged 41.1 minutes. In longer terms, the captain has been pushed harder in games when fatigue is more of a concern. He’s averaging 40.7 minutes on the second night of back-to-backs. “I probably played too much last game,” Pierce ..."

Big effort by Paul Pierce not enough

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March 2

Boston Herald

"Though the Detroit Pistons proved yesterday there really is addition by subtraction - witness their second straight win without Allen Iverson - the Celtics were confounded by simpler math. All they wanted was to remain equal with Kevin Garnett missing his fifth straight game to a strained knee muscle. What they got instead was the need for too many minutes (47:42) from an overworked Paul Pierce. The Celtics captain took 20 shots, scored 26 points, and found it wasn’t enough in yesterday’s 105-95 loss to Detroit. With Garnett scheduled to miss anywhere from one to two more weeks, and newcomers Stephon Marbury and Mikki Moore attempting to learn as they go, coach Doc Rivers might want to ..."

Pierce gives his thumb a break

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February 28

Boston Globe

"Celtics captain Paul Pierce is accustomed to carrying the team in the fourth quarter of tight games. But Pierce did not have to do any heavy lifting in the late going of the Celtics' 104-99 win over Indiana last night, which is fortunate since he is recovering from a right thumb dislocation sustained in a 93-91 loss to the Clippers Wednesday. "It's a little sore, tender," Pierce said. "I was really hesitant to really get any contact going, for the simple fact that it came out twice last game. I was a little hesitant and just being aggressive and putting myself in positions for anybody to slap at it, and it is probably going to take a few days or a week for me getting over the fact I've ..."

Paul Pierce returns, starts

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February 28

Boston Herald

"Paul Pierce, admittedly nauseated by the sight of his thumb in full dislocation Wednesday, didn’t let a gruesome memory get in the way of playing last night. The Celtics captain wrapped his right thumb, shot a respectable 6-of-13 for 16 points, and admitted that this is simply another injury to tolerate. “It’s a little sore, tender,” he said after the Celtics’ 104-99 win over Indiana. “I was really hesitant to get any contact going for the simple fact that it came out twice last game, but it’s something I’m going to have to get over mentally. It’s going to be like that for awhile, and I have to continue to ice and wrap it up for the games. “I was a little hesitant about being aggressive ..."

Upbeat about Stephon Marbury

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February 26

Boston Herald

"Sources confirmed yesterday that Stephon Marbury is headed to the Celtics, not that there has been any doubt. And though Doc Rivers still can’t talk about him, he did admit he’s gotten calls from coaches who think the Celts are crazy to bring the guard on board. Rivers also has received some positive messages, but that didn’t stop the media from asking him why the defending champs would want to add a player with such a troubled past. “Because,” Rivers said, “we want to be defending champs again next year.” After spending much of morning practice at a UCLA student gym trying to ready newcomer Mikki Moore for last night’s game against the Clippers, the coach let it be known that it won’t ..."

Celtics’ stars get fresh perspective

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February 17

Boston Herald

"Ray Allen is the guy who did schoolwork on weekends, who turned a trip to the beach into a hunt for starfish. He showed up for Sunday’s All-Star Game and left Phoenix with study tips. And you don’t think the Celtics, who resume action Thursday night in Utah, are anxious to get back to business? Just consider Allen’s take on the Eastern Conference’s horrid 146-119 loss to the Western Conference. The East was so strapped for size that 215-pound forward Rashard Lewis of the Magic ended up attempting to put a body on 315-pound co-MVP Shaquille O’Neal of the Suns down the stretch. Allen wanted one Celtic teammate in particular to take that mismatch personally. “I told Paul (Pierce) while we ..."

Garnett & Co. ready to play some defense

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February 17

Boston Globe

"Kevin Garnett was about as laid-back as he can get for a basketball game Sunday night in Phoenix. But Garnett is ready to switch out of All-Star mode as he joins his Celtic teammates for Thursday's game against the Utah Jazz. "I wish this was a week," Garnett said of the All-Star break. "It's really not a break. But now, the weekend is over and it's time to get ready for the second half of the season and get ready to jump back into the routine." Garnett played 18 minutes as a starter for the East in a 146-119 loss to the West Sunday. Teammates Ray Allen and Paul Pierce played slightly longer, but the three Celtics were never in the lineup together. They will be reunited for tipoff ..."

Different play for Big 3

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February 16

Boston Herald

"Watching Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in last night’s All-Star Game was like watching a foreign film without subtitles. They were strangers in a strange land. They were Celtics out of (competitive) water. This NBA showcase has become the hoop equivalent of “Dancing with the Stars.” Only they don’t try as hard to win. And considering the way the Boston Professional Basketball Club has come to define itself, it was almost humorous to see the leaders in such a laissez faire setting. It makes you appreciate every other game in which they play. As the Western Conference took the 146-119 measure of the East, it had to be a shock to the system of people who win with their defense. ..."

Pierce needs no break from this

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February 14

Boston Globe

"When Paul Pierce meets Kobe Bryant on the basketball court, one of them usually leaves scowling. But both were grinning yesterday as Pierce pointed his camcorder at Bryant and said, "Celtics vs. Lakers, right now. That's what everybody wants to see, right?" Bryant didn't take the bait, but he did laugh at the sight of Pierce the filmmaker, cutting in on Bryant's interview rather than cutting off his path to the basket, which will likely happen when they meet in tomorrow's NBA All-Star Game. Thursday night, Pierce was all business in leading the Celtics to victory in Dallas. About 12 hours later, he was in a hotel in downtown Phoenix, acting as much like a fan as a celebrity. This is ..."

‘Different’ is ‘better’ in Paul Pierce’s new world

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February 14

Boston Herald

"This ain’t Paul Pierce’s first rodeo. The Celtic captain flew in yesterday to make his seventh appearance in the NBA All-Star Game, but there is one significant difference from the others. This time he’s an NBA champion -- a Finals MVP at that. And people seem to have noticed. “You’re looked at in a kind of different way,” said Pierce. “People know what you accomplished -- what you and your team accomplished. Everybody in the NBA dreams of winning a championship, and they respect the people who win them. You can see it. You can feel it. “I sensed it last summer. People seem to look at you different. They talk to you in a different way sometimes. You were still an NBA player before, but if ..."

Pierce comes to Celtics' aid

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February 2

Boston Globe

"Paul Pierce's recent performances have been marked by defending and passing rather than scoring. In fact, Pierce had more assists than field goals over three games last week. But Pierce returned to his virtuoso, take-over-the-game, shot-making form in a 109-101 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves yesterday at TD Banknorth Garden, the Celtics' 11th successive victory. The main reason for Pierce's transformation was the absence of Kevin Garnett (flu), but he also might have been influenced by reminders of the days when many of the current Timberwolves were his Celtic teammates and he was the one and only go-to guy. "I wanted to come out a little more aggressive," Pierce said after ..."

Paul Pierce finds old glory

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February 2

Boston Herald

"The Celtics had on the same old uniforms that have been good enough for 17 championships, but they were wearing a throwback Paul Pierce yesterday. The captain put up 24 shots in 41 minutes, scoring a game-high 36 points in the 109-101 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Garden. With Kevin Garnett out because of the flu, the Celts didn’t have a Ticket to ride, so Pierce had to fire it up like he did in days of yore and days of the lottery. “In games like this when Kevin is not there, I want to be more aggressive,” Pierce said. A mischievous smile then made its way onto his face as he stood in the hallway outside the Celtic dressing room. “And I want to see if I still got it,” he ..."

Pierce put the hurt on Raptors

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January 13

Boston Globe

"It's not as if Doc Rivers wasn't going to bump into Paul Pierce in the locker room before the game. It's not as if he didn't know Pierce was getting around on a right knee that he banged up the night before in Toronto. It's not that Rivers wasn't curious about Pierce's status. It's just that, when you're a coach, you know not to ask. Mike Fratello passed down that pearl of coaching wisdom. "Never ask a player if he's hurt," he told Rivers. "Because they may say yes." It's a paranoid spin, but it works for Rivers. Some players will come to you. Say, for instance, Kendrick Perkins. "He walked right up to me and told me, 'Coach, my shoulder's hurting,' " Rivers said. "He never does that, so ..."

Kevin Garnett sings Paul Pierce’s praise

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January 13

Boston Herald

"No one was quite sure of what to make of Kevin Garnett’s vocal styling. It wasn’t hip-hop and clearly not r&b. Maybe it was a bizarre marriage of scat and movie soundtrack crooning. But when asked about Paul Pierce after the Celtics’ 115-109 overtime win over Toronto last night, the Celtics forward started humming, though it sounded more like buzzing, the theme song from “Superman” into the microphone. “Ya’ll need to start playing some of that ‘Superman’ theme music in the building when he’s going like that,” Garnett said of Pierce’s 39-point, 49-minute performance, all of it on a sore right knee that nearly kept him out. “This is Clark Kent right here, ladies and gentlemen,” Garnett said. ..."

Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett winning ticket vs. Toronto

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January 13

Boston Herald

"Much is expected at times like these. The Red Sox’ newest pitcher, John Smoltz, was introduced to a roaring crowd in the fourth quarter. And on the second annual “Tickets for Soldiers” night at the Garden, when more than 600 members of the armed forces attended courtesy of season ticket-holders, 40 veterans of service in Iraq and Afghanistan re-enlisted in the Massachusetts Army National Guard during halftime. But the Celtics, struggling to fight out of their roughest stretch of the season, might need this kind of pressure. Kevin Garnett, featured in a recorded message on the Jumbotron for the assembled troops, parlayed his words of support into a flurry of late-game defensive dominance in ..."

Paul Pierce’s knee a concern

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January 12

Boston Herald

"Celtics captain Paul Pierce isn’t sure if he’ll be able to play tonight against the Raptors at the Garden after reinjuring his right knee in yesterday’s opening end of a home-and-home set. Brian Scalabrine rolled into Pierce’s knee a few minutes into the 94-88 win. The injury originated Dec. 15, with the Utah’s Mehmet Okur catching Pierce in similar fashion. Pierce ended up playing 41 minutes at the Air Canada Centre, but coach Doc Rivers showed concern. “We’re still going to get it checked, because he clearly was moving right . . . until he had to take a shot,” Rivers said of a fourth-quarter jumper that kept the Celts’ heads above water. “It’s amazing how offensive players when they get ..."

Pierce proves nearly perfect

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January 3

Boston Globe

"Being perfect was the only thing that could have been better for Paul Pierce last night. Overall, Pierce was the definition of efficient, as he scored a game-high 26 points in 26 minutes of the 108-83 victory over the Washington Wizards at TD Banknorth Garden. Pierce converted 9 of 10 field goals, including 5 of 6 3-pointers, and 3 of 4 free throws, spending the fourth quarter on the bench with the rest of the Celtics' starters, waiting for the blowout to end. "I was just playing in the flow of the game, getting shots that were there," Pierce said. "I got a lot of open looks because of the way we moved the ball. [Rajon Rondo] got into the lane penetrating and that really opened things up. ..."

Paul Pierce says he’ll stay in Boston for good

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December 22

Boston Herald

"Paul Pierce could have been excused for California dreamin’ on such a winter’s day, but he’s different now. The kid who grew up in the shadow of The Fabulous Forum in Inglewood has become a New Englander. And he plans to stay one even after he ceases with this basketball gig. The same guy who once cowered in his Kansas dorm room at the first sight of snow has now come to embrace the whims of our weather - not to mention the Celtics. “I feel like I’m always going to keep my home here,” said Pierce, who made his way through the snow and sleet for last night’s 124-105 victory against the Knicks. “I feel like I’m always going to have something to do with the organization. I’ve put a lot of ..."

2008 Bostonian of the Year

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December 21

Boston Globe

"As the night winds down and the TV cameras and most of the A-list athletes and C-list celebrities have left, Paul Pierce makes his way out of the VIP room, its crimson walls covered with flat screens playing an endless loop of his late-night talk-show appearances. The hip-hop on this November night is still thumping at Kings, in the Back Bay, which is either supposed to be a bowling alley dressed up as a nightclub or a nightclub dressed up as a bowling alley. But for the first time during his charity bowl, Pierce has managed to break free from the coterie of female handlers and event planners who've been covering him better than Kobe or LeBron ever did, all the while furiously thumbing on ..."

Paul Pierce OK to go

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December 18

Boston Herald

"Now that Paul Pierce has a place in NBA Finals lore, Celtics coach Doc Rivers has an automatic joke whenever his captain gets hurt. “We have the wheelchair ready for him over there in the corner,” Rivers said before last night’s 88-85 victory against the Atlanta Hawks. Pierce played despite lingering swelling and tenderness in his left knee. He was injured Monday night at the Garden in a win over the Utah Jazz. Judging from his 40-minute, 18-point contribution against the Hawks, the knee didn’t outwardly appear to have much affect on Pierce’s effort. But there might have been more to a 7-for-17 performance from the field than a poor shooting night. “I didn’t have the lift I wanted,” Pierce ..."

Pierce expected to play in Atlanta

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December 16

Boston Globe

"While Celtics forward Paul Pierce is listed as day to day after suffering a right knee contusion against Utah on Monday night, he still is expected to play against the Hawks on Wednesday night. Pierce was re-examined on Tuesday and no MRI or X-ray was needed, according to team spokesperson Jeff Twiss. A solid shoot around in Atlanta tomorrow morning is expected to solidify the All-Star's expectations to play. Celtics guard Eddie House is also expected to meet the team in Atlanta in time to play in Wednesday's game. House missed the Utah game after the recent death of his aunt."

Pierce shrugs off injury

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December 16

Boston Globe

"Paul Pierce was escorted off the court by Glen Davis and Leon Powe in the final minute of the Celtics' 100-91 win over Utah last night with a left knee injury, but he is probable for tomorrow's visit to Atlanta. "It's a little tender," Pierce said of his left knee. "The knee kind of buckled. I should be all right. I iced it and I'm able to put weight on it, so it should be all right. "I saw [Kyle] Korver coming down and I tried to get out of the lane and I just landed on the knee and it just went straight back and I was able to back up a little bit to kind of take the pressure off it. It didn't go back too far, so it should be all right." Numbers keep adding up The Celtics, who are the ..."

Paul Pierce’s knee OK as run extends vs. Jazz

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December 16

Boston Herald

"The fourth-longest win streak in Celtics history hit 15 last night with a sign of the fragility that never is too far behind a championship team. With 31 seconds left in an eventual 100-91 win against Utah, Paul Pierce fell to the floor holding his left knee. Seconds before his team walked off the court, the Celtics captain was helped to the locker room as a worried Garden crowd chanted “MVP.” Pierce later showed up for his regular postgame press conference without any ice on the knee and, save for some tenderness, predicted he should be “all right.” Considering the thin margin of error in games like last night’s, the C’s hope Pierce really knows his body this well. For they, in turn, went ..."

Paul Pierce walks off latest knee scare

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December 16

Boston Herald

"This time there wasn’t a wheelchair-aided return for Paul Pierce. But the captain, who bent his left knee in the wrong direction when Utah’s Mehmet Okur fell to the ground and collided with Pierce in the last minute of the Celtics’ 100-91 win against the Jazz last night, later predicted he’ll be fine. “It’s a little tender,” he said, showing up for his postgame press conference without an ice pack on the knee. “The knee kind of buckled. I should be alright. Okur landed on the knee and it went straight back. But I iced it out back and I’m able to put weight on it, so it should be alright.” Said Doc Rivers: “(Celtics trainer) Eddie (Lacerte) thinks he’ll be OK, but I’m sure they’re going to ..."

Paul Pierce shapes up

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December 15

Boston Herald

"Paul Pierce was at the center of another photo shoot before yesterday’s practice, this time proudly posing with his shirt off as part of a promotion for an in-depth interview with ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi. That piece, and a recent story by Sports Illustrated’s S.L. Price, prove the Celtics captain is receiving the most national exposure of his career. So what better time to showcase his new fitness regimen, highlighted by his ability to lose approximately 10 pounds between the end of the NBA Finals and the start of training camp? Pierce, through his foundation P2, plans to launch a children’s health and nutrition initiative next summer. “I thought it would be a good idea because of what I’ve ..."

Huge 3rd-quarter by Paul Pierce helps Boston put away Magic

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December 2

Orlando Sentinel

"The Boston Celtics remind you even on a December night early in the season why they are the defending champions. They took a depleted Orlando Magic team very seriously and then took it apart, 107-88, on Monday night at TD Banknorth Garden. Boston won its ninth consecutive game and halted Orlando's winning streak at four in a match-up of Eastern Conference frontrunners. "We realize the Magic aren't at full strength. They're missing two starters. They played us really well last year," Celtics star forward Paul Pierce said. "It was kind of like a statement game for us." Imagine the Celtics (17-2) feeling as if they need to make a statement. Or even remembering that the Magic (13-5) captured ..."

Sizzling Pierce gave Magic the third degree

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December 2

Boston Globe

"The shape of last night's basketball game was defined by Paul Pierce. Simple as that. Pierce scored 24 points in 33 minutes and 26 seconds of play as the Celtics subdued the Orlando Magic, 107-88, at TD Banknorth Garden for their ninth straight victory. The Celtics shot 54.1 percent from the field while holding their beat-up opponents to 42 percent. But it was Pierce's entry and exit from the court that paced the offense. In the first half, Pierce got in foul trouble, picking up his second personal at 8:27 of the first quarter, and taking a seat a minute later. He played only 4:33 of the second quarter and scored no points; he had collected just 5 points before halftime, when the Celtics ..."

Tony Battie-Paul Pierce bond intact

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December 2

Boston Herald

"A night of tragedy eight years ago forged a bond between Paul Pierce and Tony Battie. They were Celtics teammates in 2000 when Pierce was stabbed 11 times inside Boston’s Buzz Club. At the scariest moment of Pierce’s life, Battie was there for him - literally. Battie was in the club at the time of the attack and raced to Pierce’s aid. With Pierce suffering from stab wounds to his face, neck and back, Battie raced his teammate to Tufts New England Medical Center. Remarkably, Pierce was back on the court in time for the C’s season opener just a month after the incident. The quick recovery didn’t surprise Battie, who now serves in a reserve role for the Orlando Magic. “Paul is a strong-willed ..."

Attack on Paul Pierce gave Tony Battie perspective on his life, strengthened their bond

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December 1

Orlando Sentinel

"Sometimes, teammates are forever teammates. No matter if a trade or a transaction separates them and sends them to different cities, some bonds are unbreakable. There are a lot of reasons why Orlando Magic center/forward Tony Battie is so happy for Boston forward Paul Pierce, who led the Celtics to a title and was named MVP of the NBA Finals in June. And the most important ones go beyond basketball. Eight years ago, in the wee hours of Sept. 25, Battie was driving at breakneck speed to a Boston hospital. Pierce, his Celtics teammate, was lying in his car, drenched in blood. Battie was imploring him to hang on. Pierce, Battie and Battie's brother, Derrick, had been at a nightclub where ..."

Pierce, Celtics wake up in time

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November 30

Boston Globe

"Paul Pierce has either failed to, or barely topped, double-figure scoring in four of the last six Celtics games. But Pierce needed only the final 3:57 to score 10 of his team-high 19 points in the Celtics' 89-84 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats last night. With Pierce's help, the Celtics (16-2) improved their winning streak to eight games and are 5-1 in the second of games played on consecutive nights. Things did not go as planned against the lowly Bobcats (5-11) until the final minutes. Coach Doc Rivers inserted the Celtic starters with 5:25 remaining. It wasn't until Gerald Wallace (game-high 23 points) drove on Kevin Garnett to tie the score at 75 that the Celtics took command. Rajon ..."

Captain Paul Pierce wants it all . . . again

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November 29

Boston Herald

"Celtics captain Paul Pierce was engaged in a routine pregame chat before last night’s rout of the Philadelphia 76ers at the Garden, when he mentioned, “I feel pretty good, for the most part. You know, the normal nicks and bruises that you get during the course of the season. Nothing more than that with me.” But then it was pointed out to Pierce that last season was pretty special for him - the Celtics won the NBA title, his beloved Kansas Jayhawks won the NCAA championship and, oh, yeah, he became a father for the first time. What could he possibly do for an encore? “Well,” he said, “Kansas could win the title again, I could become a dad again, and we win it again.” Asked if all three of ..."

Celtics say ‘Bravo’ to Paul Pierce solos

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November 14

Boston Herald

"The Celtics still will be seeking to practice the politics of inclusion as they distribute the basketball among themselves, both tonight against Denver and for the rest of the season. They want to play as a team and treat each other as equals. But when it comes to scoring, they now know Paul Pierce is a little more equal than everybody else, if you get the drift. This has become even more clear the past two games, in which the captain averaged 35 points. In fact, during his past five quarters, Pierce has burned the strings for 56. “Oh, I think that all the time,” he said with a slight grin when asked if he simply wants the ball sometimes. “But I try to play within the flow of the offense. ..."

All’s swell with Paul Pierce’s hot hand

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November 13

Boston Herald

"The question now is whether Paul Pierce is actually suffering from a sprained shooting hand and jammed fingers, or whether it’s simply overheated from scoring 70 points during the last two games. “We’re gonna keep the hand the way it is,” said Kevin Garnett, casting a worried look at the ice pack on the back of Pierce’s right hand after the Celtics captain hit the game-winner with half a second left in the Celtics’ 103-102 win over Atlanta last night at the TD Banknorth Garden. Pierce, who said he sprained the hand just more than a week ago, hasn’t had an MRI or any other test taken. “It’s getting better,” he said quietly. “The swelling is going down.” That comment seemed to alarm Garnett. ..."

Pierce rips up Raptors

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November 11

Toronto Star

"Last night's Raptors loss to the Boston Celtics will be remembered for a short list of memorable performances. Paul Pierce, the Celtics forward, scored 22 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter to give the home team a 94-87 victory. A long list of Raptors helped the visitors build a lead as big as 15 points a few minutes into the third quarter. It was gripping stuff. But it'll be unforgettable for Toronto's almost cowardly deference to Kevin Garnett, the Celtics all-star. On a night when Garnett stationed himself in the shirt of Toronto all-star Chris Bosh for the duration, Raptor coach Sam Mitchell countered by essentially ignoring Bosh on the offensive end. "As a decoy," was Bosh's kind ..."

Paul Pierce tries to deal with bad hand

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November 11

Boston Herald

"Not that last night’s crowd would have known it, but Paul Pierce is hurting. The Celtics captain had his (right) shooting hand wrapped in ice following his 36-point performance in a 94-87 win over Toronto at the Garden. “I’ve had a sprained hand for about a week and I’ve been icing it down,” said Pierce, who scored 22 points in the fourth quarter. “I try not to think about it. It’s really bothering me. Every time it starts to get better, it gets hit.” Pierce said that last night wasn’t one of those nights. Then again, he was probably too hot to notice. Despite the pain, Pierce managed to pass Bob Cousy on the team’s all-time made free throw list. After a 12-for-14 performance from the ..."