Landmarks Approaching for our HOFers

[exculpatory]

KG will pass 22K points by the end of this season - Year 15 - ~20 ppg lifetime.
Ray will pass 20K points within 10 games - Year 14 - ~20 ppg lifetime.
Truth will pass 19K points within 5 games - Year 12 - ~23 ppg lifetime.

Truth will pass 20K points by the end of this season, and will pass Bird by the end of next season. He has an outside chance to pass Hondo.

Only other active players who will pass 20K points this season are Dirk and TD.

Let's hope we can marry Banner 18 to these remarkable personal achievements.

[SonicYouth34]

Wow. That's a ton of points. What's Hondo's point record for his career? I'd like to see Pierce pass it, but as long as we win some more banners I'll be happy ad I'm sure Paul will be too.

[campybatman]

I hope Pierce can catch Bird. Ideally, Rondo will retire a Celtic and catch Cousy in assists.

Off topic, Kidd just moved into second place all-time in assists behind Stockton.

[bendyone]

I hope Pierce can catch Bird. Ideally, Rondo will retire a Celtic and catch Cousy in assists.

Off topic, Kidd just moved into second place all-time in assists behind Stockton.

Rondo may also retire with the altime loweest C's FT %.

Perk....all time Technical leader

[Al-Haqq]

Is it then fair to say that Pierce is the Celtic's greatest scorer?

[exculpatory]

Al Haqq: Tommy H has said it a thousand times, and so have I - the Truth is the greatest multidimensional Celtic "scorer" of all time.

However, Paul is arguably the third best Celtic "player" of all time. Russell and Bird are the greatest Celtic "players" of all time. Russell and Bird are amongst the greatest NBA players of all time.

[exculpatory]

Al Haqq: Tommy H has said it a thousand times, and so have I - the Truth is the greatest multidimensional Celtic "scorer" of all time.

However, Paul is arguably the third best Celtic "player" of all time. Russell and Bird are the greatest Celtic "players" of all time. Russell and Bird are amongst the greatest NBA players of all time.

[captain green]

Al Haqq: Tommy H has said it a thousand times, and so have I - the Truth is the greatest multidimensional Celtic "scorer" of all time.

However, Paul is arguably the third best Celtic "player" of all time. Russell and Bird are the greatest Celtic "players" of all time. Russell and Bird are amongst the greatest NBA players of all time.

I'd disagree with third best player of all time. Maybe 5th or 6th and 4th if he gets another ring.

Bob Cousy Honors: Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1971); NBA champion (1957, '59, '60, '61, '62, '63); NBA MVP (1957); 10-time All-NBA First Team (1952-61); All-NBA Second Team (1962, '63); 13-time All-Star; All-Star MVP (1954, '57); One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996).

John Havlicek Honors: Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1984); NBA champion (1963, '64, '65, '66, '68, '69, '74, '76); NBA Finals MVP (1974); All-NBA First Team (1971, '72, '73, '74); All-NBA Second Team (1964, '66, '68, '69, '70, '75, '76); Five-time All-Defensive First Team (1972-76); Three-time All-Defensive Second Team (1969-71); 13-time All-Star (1966-78); One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996).

Larry Bird Honors: Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1998); NBA champion (1981, '84, '86); NBA Finals MVP (1984, '86); NBA MVP (1984, '85, '86); Nine-time All-NBA First Team (1980-88); All-NBA Second Team (1990); All-Defensive Second Team (1982, '83, '84); NBA Rookie of the Year (1980); One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996); Olympic gold medalist (1992).

Bill Russell Honors: Elected to Naismith Basketball Basketball Hall of Fame (1975); NBA champion (1957, '59, '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '68, '69); NBA MVP (1958, '61, '62, '63, '65);
All-NBA First Team (1959, '63, '65); All-NBA Second Team (1958, '60, '61, '62, '64, '66, '67, '68); NBA All-Defensive Team (1969); 12-time NBA All-Star (1958-69); All-Star Game MVP (1963); One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996); Olympic gold medalist (1956).


Paul Pierce * NBA Champion: 2008
* NBA Finals MVP: 2008
* All-NBA Second Team: 2009
* 3-time All-NBA Third Team: 2002, 2003, 2008
* 7-time NBA All-Star: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009
* NBA All-Rookie First Team: 1999
* NBA regular-season leader, total points: 2002 (2144)
* NBA regular-season leader, free throws made: 2003 (604)

[Fencer reregistered]

Cowens still has Pierce beat IMO:

NBA Co-Rookie of the Year (1971)
NBA MVP (1973)
3x All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1975, 1976)
NBA All-Defensive First Team (1976)
2x NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1975, 1980)
NBA All-Star Game MVP (1973)
7x NBA All-Star (1972-78)
2x NBA Champ1on, 1973-74, 1975-76, (with Celtics)
NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996)

McHale is in the discussion too:

* 3× NBA Champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
* 7× NBA All-Star (1984, 1986–1991)
* 1× All-NBA First Team Selection (1987)
* 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team Selection (1986–1988)
* 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team Selection (1983, 1989–1990)
* 2× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1984–1985)
* 1981 NBA All-Rookie Team
* NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team

[captain green]

Cowens still has Pierce beat IMO:

NBA Co-Rookie of the Year (1971)
NBA MVP (1973)
3x All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1975, 1976)
NBA All-Defensive First Team (1976)
2x NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1975, 1980)
NBA All-Star Game MVP (1973)
7x NBA All-Star (1972-78)
2x NBA Champ1on, 1973-74, 1975-76, (with Celtics)
NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996)

McHale is in the discussion too:

* 3× NBA Champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
* 7× NBA All-Star (1984, 1986–1991)
* 1× All-NBA First Team Selection (1987)
* 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team Selection (1986–1988)
* 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team Selection (1983, 1989–1990)
* 2× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1984–1985)
* 1981 NBA All-Rookie Team
* NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team

Yep I posted 5th or 6th and Cowens was the 5th and McHale was the 6th but I was getting yelled at to go for the Thanksgiving dinner so I didn't get to post the stats thanx for that and also happy t-day to our boston fans from my family to yours and to everyone as well, nobody is off the that list even lakers fan...

[loscy]

btw John Havlicek has 26,395 points as a celtic. So Paul has a ways to go still.

[chakdaddy]

I still don't really see how Pierce is supposed to be a greater scorer than Bird. Scorer is always a way of differentiating from a 'shooter', ie Bird better shooter, Jordan better scorer; but Bird's got to be the best in both categories among Celtics.

[Fencer reregistered]

I still don't really see how Pierce is supposed to be a greater scorer than Bird. Scorer is always a way of differentiating from a 'shooter', ie Bird better shooter, Jordan better scorer; but Bird's got to be the best in both categories among Celtics.

I'm with you on that.

If they start standing at the 3-pt line, they're pretty close. And if they start close to the basket, Bird is much superior.

[Captain_Caveman]

I believe Tommy's point is essentially that Pierce is the most versatile and dynamic scorer we have had.

He can score any way that it is possible to.

Don't think Pierce is 3rd best yet, but I don't buy the resume arguments being made in this thread. The 70s were a down period for hoops, and there are way more players and teams nowadays than in eras past. Ergo, being an All-Star today a bigger deal than it was in Cowens' or Cousy's time.

[Captain_Caveman]

What's crazy to me is that by the time the playoffs start, we could have 3 of the Top 35 NBA scorers of All-Time. Add Iverson and it could be 4 of the Top 35.

Include Sheed, and we could field a 5-man lineup that are all in the Top 100.

Dang.

[exculpatory]

Leaving aside the fact that I completely agree with Tommy H (who has played on, coached, and broadcasted every Celtic team since 1958) and Bob Ryan (a pretty astute observer of the Celts for 30 years), that Paul is the only Celtic in history who can score and has scored from any where on the court (post-up Js, step back Js, 3s, drives with contact with either hand, etc, and who will pass Larry in actual points in April 2011), I said he is ARGUABLY the third best Celtic PLAYER of all time - after Russ and Larry. There is no doubt that Hondo, Cousy, McHale and Red Cowens are in the discussion as well. Let's see Paul's resume after his 4-5 final seasons before we pass final judgment. If he is not the third best Celtic of all time today, he will be damn close to it by the time he retires.

One thing we can all **** agree on today - all 7 of these guys have contributed immensely to the incredible legacy of arguably the most successful franchise in the history of SPORT!!

Oorah! Go green forever!!!!!

[the sea duck]

i'd still say bird is the greatest scorer the celtics have had. but speaking of just pure scoring ability, pierce is not a ridiculous argument at all.

as far as best players, i'd have to clearly rank pierce behind bird and russell, but right in the discussion with the next group (and probably at the top of it).

[da.vid]

wtf, how can you make a thread about HOFers and not mention the progress of rajon rondo...
he is already pretty much unstoppable, imagine what happens when he develops a great shot (which really isn't that hard to do)
you are not real celtic fans

[exculpatory]

Excuse me, David? This thread is about proven HOFers, and a comparison of the Truth with Celtic legends - not about guys with 3-4 year careers. Have a nice life.

[campybatman]

If I were asked... I would say Bird, then Pierce in terms of speaking purely from a scoring point of view.

While Nowitzki would remind some of Bird with his height and shooting range. Butler and Anthony could remind you of Pierce. I guess this could mean that you're more likely to see a scorer like Pierce than one who was like Bird.