THE PAUL PIERCE MF TRUTH HOF INDUCTION THREAD - Sat 9/11/2021 - NBATV
Posted: Wed Sep 8, 2021 4:39 pm
https://www.nba.com/news/paul-pierce-hall-of-fame-profile
16th leading scorer in NBA history w 26,397 points (2 points more than Hondo).
One of the most clutch players of his generation - & arguably of all time.
One of 15 players with >25,000 points, >7,500 rebounds and >4,500 assists in his career.
And his D was top flight as well when he let it all out.
He was only selfish when he had to be.
The durability of his multifaceted excellence was extraordinary.
And he was tougher than nails.
Arguably the most versatile scorer in Celtic History:
Tommy thought so.
Bob Ryan thinks so:
There even is one category in which Pierce vaults above the rest.
They’ve never had a guy in this town who was such a consummate all-around scorer,” Ryan said in a 2013 interview. “They say, ‘What about Havlicek? What about Bird?’ Well, John was a run-around-without-the-ball guy, he wasn’t a 1-on-1 guy. And Larry, there were circumstances when he could be guarded or instances when he wasn’t able to get his own shot and needed help. The great thing about Pierce is, he could always get his own shot. And ‘his own shot’ meant that he could pull up and take a three, he had that great mid-range jumper, had that beautiful step-back when he cleared space. He could post up. Tremendous driver, ambidextrous driver, great finisher. And he got to the line and he was pretty good free throw shooter. We’ve never had a more consummate all-around scorer.”
However, Larry Legend was Larry Legend & I therefore am not touching that debate.
Top 3-4-5 Celtic Legend.
#34 lifted to the rafters in 2/2018 - I was lucky enough to be there (I was also there for about 5 of his very many last second mega-clutch gamewinners).
NBA Champion & Finals MVP 2008 - and, if not for KG’s injury in 2/2009 & the forever accursed Game 7 in 6/2010, should have been at the least a 3 time NBA champion (and maybe even more times if he had been blessed w KG earlier in his career like Kobe was given Shaq - as opposed to having to carry garbage teams for his first 9 seasons).
10 time All Star & 4 time All Pro - and should have been selected MANY more times if he was not the most underrated Super Star of his generation.
Outplayed or played even Bron, Kobe, Vince & TMac during the majority of their head to head matchups.
From the linked article:
“Pierce was one of 15 players with >25,000 points, >7,500 rebounds and >4,500 assists in his career.
He reached four conference finals, two Finals and won one title (as the Finals MVP).
The list of players who can match that résumé includes only Garnett, Havlicek, James, O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Tim Duncan, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon and Oscar Robertson.”
“His legacy is unlike any other player not considered among the 50 greatest players in history.”
And I personally would very comfortably rate him at least Top ~40 NBA All Time & easily Top 20 NBA All Time amongst wings (excluding bigs at the 4/5 & pure point guards) & easily Top 10 NBA All Time amongst SFs
My most favorite professional athlete in any sport by light years during my lifetime.
Thank you, Paul!
I love you, Truth!
(Much more to come as I gather up my Truth links!)
16th leading scorer in NBA history w 26,397 points (2 points more than Hondo).
One of the most clutch players of his generation - & arguably of all time.
One of 15 players with >25,000 points, >7,500 rebounds and >4,500 assists in his career.
And his D was top flight as well when he let it all out.
He was only selfish when he had to be.
The durability of his multifaceted excellence was extraordinary.
And he was tougher than nails.
Arguably the most versatile scorer in Celtic History:
Tommy thought so.
Bob Ryan thinks so:
There even is one category in which Pierce vaults above the rest.
They’ve never had a guy in this town who was such a consummate all-around scorer,” Ryan said in a 2013 interview. “They say, ‘What about Havlicek? What about Bird?’ Well, John was a run-around-without-the-ball guy, he wasn’t a 1-on-1 guy. And Larry, there were circumstances when he could be guarded or instances when he wasn’t able to get his own shot and needed help. The great thing about Pierce is, he could always get his own shot. And ‘his own shot’ meant that he could pull up and take a three, he had that great mid-range jumper, had that beautiful step-back when he cleared space. He could post up. Tremendous driver, ambidextrous driver, great finisher. And he got to the line and he was pretty good free throw shooter. We’ve never had a more consummate all-around scorer.”
However, Larry Legend was Larry Legend & I therefore am not touching that debate.
Top 3-4-5 Celtic Legend.
#34 lifted to the rafters in 2/2018 - I was lucky enough to be there (I was also there for about 5 of his very many last second mega-clutch gamewinners).
NBA Champion & Finals MVP 2008 - and, if not for KG’s injury in 2/2009 & the forever accursed Game 7 in 6/2010, should have been at the least a 3 time NBA champion (and maybe even more times if he had been blessed w KG earlier in his career like Kobe was given Shaq - as opposed to having to carry garbage teams for his first 9 seasons).
10 time All Star & 4 time All Pro - and should have been selected MANY more times if he was not the most underrated Super Star of his generation.
Outplayed or played even Bron, Kobe, Vince & TMac during the majority of their head to head matchups.
From the linked article:
“Pierce was one of 15 players with >25,000 points, >7,500 rebounds and >4,500 assists in his career.
He reached four conference finals, two Finals and won one title (as the Finals MVP).
The list of players who can match that résumé includes only Garnett, Havlicek, James, O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Tim Duncan, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon and Oscar Robertson.”
“His legacy is unlike any other player not considered among the 50 greatest players in history.”
And I personally would very comfortably rate him at least Top ~40 NBA All Time & easily Top 20 NBA All Time amongst wings (excluding bigs at the 4/5 & pure point guards) & easily Top 10 NBA All Time amongst SFs
My most favorite professional athlete in any sport by light years during my lifetime.
Thank you, Paul!
I love you, Truth!
(Much more to come as I gather up my Truth links!)
