<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Celtics-ESPN-NBA-Paul-Pierce.jpg"></figure><h1>Paul Pierce tweets shot at ESPN over abrupt firing</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-05-26T14:22:20-07:00">May 26th, 2:22pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-05-26T14:23:07-07:00">May 26th, 2:23pm</time><address><a>Quinn Allen</a>Freelance Sports Journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce is clearly still salty that he was abruptly fired by ESPN. “The Truth” took to Twitter on Wednesday to land a low blow at the worldwide leader in sports. <a href="https://twitter.com/paulpierce34/status/1397628485917577217">Take a look</a>:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@espn</a> I don’t need you. I got <a href="https://twitter.com/ethereum_max?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@ethereum_max</a> I made more money with this crypto in the past month then I did with y’all in a year. TRUTH shall set u Free 🤪🤪 my own Boss<a href="https://t.co/3irnuWYve3" target="_blank">https://t.co/3irnuWYve3</a> check it out for yourself</p><p>— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) <a href="https://twitter.com/paulpierce34/status/1397628485917577217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">May 26, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>ESPN let go of Paul Pierce in April after he posted a video on Instagram of him drinking and smoking with strippers. It wasn’t a good look, so they canned him. Pierce is still bitter as it seems.</p><p>Not too sure exactly what Ethereum Max is, but it seems to be some sort of CryptoCurrency. The former Celtic, who retired in 2017, was employed by ESPN for several years, appearing as a regular on “The Jump” and also made appearances on NBA Countdown.</p><p>While it all came crashing down for Paul Pierce, it seems like he’s not having any issues still making money. He cashed in on his Calabasas mansion in late April, selling the estate for a whopping $8.7 million.</p><p>Pierce spent a total of 19 years in the Association, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sports/nba/boston-celtics/records">winning a title in 2008 with the Celtics</a> and making 10 All-Star teams throughout his career. Paul Pierce was also recently included in the 2021 class for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The 43-year-old has enjoyed a successful life, but he clearly can’t let go of the fact that ESPN parted ways with him.</p><p> </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paul Pierce tweets shot at ESPN over abrupt firing

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/nets-news-how-kevin-durant-could-have-formed-a-big-3-with-paul-pierce-and-kevin-garnett-in-brooklyn.jpg"></figure><h1>How Kevin Durant could have formed a Nets Big 3 with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in Brooklyn</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-05-24T16:48:32-07:00">May 24th, 4:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-05-24T16:51:18-07:00">May 24th, 4:51pm</time><address><a>Paolo Songco</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Right now, the Brooklyn Nets’ Big 3 of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving is the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nets-news-kyrie-irving-doesnt-care-about-the-big-3-haters-and-heres-why/" rel="noopener">most feared trio</a> in all of the NBA. As it turns out, however, KD could have actually formed a Big 3 with the Nets many years ago. Apparently, when the Nets traded for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett from the Boston Celtics back in 2013, they always had Kevin Durant in mind.</p><p>According to NBA insider <a href="https://twitter.com/sullduggery/status/1396255968200122368">Matt Sulivan</a>, it was none other than Nets former general manager Billy King who made the revelation about Brooklyn’s plans to swoop in on Durant following their blockbuster trade for KG and Pierce:</p><blockquote>“The focus was Durant,” King said (h/t <a href="https://fadeawayworld.net/nba-media/billy-king-says-that-the-brooklyn-nets-traded-for-paul-pierce-and-kevin-garnett-in-order-to-try-and-get-kevin-durant">Lee Tran of Fadeaway World</a>). “It wasn’t LeBron, it was: Do EVERYTHING we can to put ourselves in position to get Durant… I was in a position where he saw me—and knew. You just make sure that, if you do everything right, they take notice.“We had done a great job with the branding and opening, and if we can be a playoff team, we can get on national TV, and when it came time, we would be able to get in the conversation.”</blockquote><p>As King’s statement touched on above, there were also rumors circling that the Nets had their eye on LeBron James, who at that time, was coming to the end of his contract with the Miami Heat. Apparently, LeBron was never on their radar. KD was always their man.</p><p>That ploy failed sensationally, however, and the Nets ended up blowing up their roster not long after. Fast forward several years later and here we are today. The Nets may have failed to bring Durant to Brooklyn back in 2016 (he decided to sign with the Golden State Warriors as a free agent), but somehow, they still managed to follow through on their plans many years later. This just goes to show just how much the Nets organization has been dreaming to have KD as their cornerstone superstar.</p><p>The question now is this: now that he has arrived, will Kevin Durant deliver for the Nets?</p><blockquote> </blockquote><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Kevin Durant could have formed a Nets Big 3 with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in Brooklyn

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/image_2021-05-17_003147.png"></figure><h1>10 moments that defined Paul Pierce’s Hall of Fame career</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-05-16T09:55:00-07:00">May 16th, 9:55am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-05-16T09:55:00-07:00">May 16th, 9:55am</time><address><a>Tyler Ash</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chris-webber-joins-ben-wallace-paul-pierce-in-2021-hall-of-fame-class/">Class of 2021</a>. Selected as the 10 overall pick of the 1998 NBA Draft, Pierce spent the first 15 seasons of his illustrious career with the Celtics, before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2013. He played one season with the Nets, had a one-year stint with the Washington Wizards and then closed out his career with two seasons as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers before retiring in 2017.</p><p>Pierce earned Finals MVP honors in 2008. The NBA champion made 10 All-Star appearances and became known as one of the game’s all-time great <a href="https://www.theringer.com/nba/2020/2/18/21141286/nba-buzzer-beaters-leaders-history" rel="noopener">clutch shot makers</a>. A prolific scorer, Pierce ranks 16 all-time in <a href="http://www.espn.com/nba/history/leaders/_/stat/steals">points scored</a>. He ranks inside the top-20 in <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/ft_career.html">free throws</a> (9), <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/fg3_career_p.html">three-pointers</a> (12) and <a href="http://www.espn.com/nba/history/leaders/_/stat/steals">steals</a> (20).</p><p>Stacking up against other Celtics greats, Pierce is the franchise’s No. 2 all-time scorer, trailing only John Havlicek. Pierce is Boston’s franchise leader in free throws, 3-pointers and steals. He ranks third in games played, fourth in blocks and seventh in rebounds.</p><p>Shaquille O’Neal <a href="https://www.givemesport.com/1040077-shaq-explains-how-he-gave-paul-pierce-his-the-truth-nickname">famously dubbed Pierce “The Truth</a>” back in 2001 after the young Celtics star exploded for 42 points against the then-defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.</p><h2><b>Paul Pierce: 10 Best Moments of his Career</b></h2><p>In honor of The Truth, let’s look at 10 moments that defined his first-ballot Hall of Fame career.</p><h2><b>10a. Series-clinching block</b></h2><h2><b>When: When: May 4, 2014</b></h2><h2><b>Game: 2014 East. Quarterfinals: Game 7, Nets at Raptors</b></h2><p>In his lone season with the Brooklyn Nets, Pierce managed an everlasting playoff moment in a Game 7 thriller. The host Toronto Raptors trailed by 10 with six minutes to go before cutting the lead to a point. Looking to steal the series, Raptors guard Kyle Lowry drove to the hoop and put up a floater before being met by Pierce, who swatted the ball as time expired.</p><figure class="op-interactive"></figure><p>Mike Tirico, the play-by-play announcer for ABC’s coverage of Game 7, summed up the final moment perfectly: “At the moment of truth, it was ‘The Truth’.”</p><h2><b>10b. “I called game”</b></h2><h2><b>When: May 9, 2015</b></h2><h2><b>Game: 2015 East. Semifinals: Game 3, Wizards vs. Hawks</b></h2><p>With the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks knotted at 101, Pierce was given the ball with the game on the line. He delivered by banking-in a 21-foot fallaway jumper as the buzzer sounded. ESPN’s Chris Broussard got a hold of Pierce after the contest and asked whether he “called bank” on the shot. A trash-talking extraordinaire, Pierce had a clever response:</p><blockquote>“I called game.”</blockquote><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I CALLED GAME!"</p><p>🗓️ 6 years ago today… </p><p>Paul Pierce's step-back bank won it for the Wizards (+4) at the buzzer. 🏦<a href="https://t.co/gvCRbkuvzN" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/gvCRbkuvzN</a></p><p>— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/ActionNetworkHQ/status/1391420194141007873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">May 9, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><h2><b>9. Surviving the stabbing</b></h2><h2><b>When: September 25, 2000</b></h2><p>Paul Pierce was stabbed 11 times in the neck, face and back, and had a bottle smashed over his head while in the pool room of the Buzz Club— a late night dance club in the Boston Theater District—early in the morning on Sept. 25, 2000.</p><p>22-years-young, Pierce’s then-teammate Tony Battie and Battie’s brother rushed him to the Tufts New England Medical Center, where he underwent life-saving surgery. According to <a href="https://vault.si.com/vault/2008/12/08/the-truth-revealed">Sports Illustrated’s S.L. Price</a>, Pierce’s abdomen was gashed three times, one of which sliced his diaphragm, puncturing a lung and plunged to “within a half-inch of his heart.”</p><p>The surgeons took incredible care of the Celtics’ captain, who spent a mere four days in the hospital.</p><figure class="op-interactive"></figure><p>Pierce made a remarkably speedy recovery after his near-death experience and managed to suit up for all 82 games—the only Celtic to do so in the 2000–01 season.</p><h2><b>8. Playoff buzzer-beater at Miami</b></h2><h2><b>When: April 23, 2010</b></h2><h2><b>Game: 2010 East. Quarterfinals: Game 3, Celtics at Heat</b></h2><p>Pierce dropped 32 points with eight assists against the Miami Heat in Game 3. His sensational outing was capped off with his 21-foot jumper as time expired that gave the Celtics a 100–98 victory.</p><p>In Boston’s final possession, Pierce dribbled the clock down to two seconds, getting to his sweet spot on the right key and buried the jump shot over the outstretched arms of Heat forward Dorell Wright.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">April 23, 2010: Paul Pierce hits the game-winner at the buzzer in Miami to give the Celtics a 3-0 lead in round 1 of the playoffs. <a href="https://t.co/gGLJe6kbzI" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/gGLJe6kbzI</a></p><p>— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) <a href="https://twitter.com/TDISportsClips/status/1385710690732810244?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">April 23, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><h2>7. 46 second-half points</h2><h2>When: December 1, 2001</h2><h2>Game: regular season, Celtics at Nets</h2><p>Paul Pierce endured the ugliest half of his career—missing 15 of 16 shots before intermission in this tilt at New Jersey.</p><p>From the second half on, Pierce was unstoppable. He went 12-for-18 from the field (5-for-5 on 3’s) and 17-for-18 at the free-throw line over the game’s final 29 minutes in the Celtics’ overtime win. He registered 33 points combined in the third and fourth quarters, then scored 13 of Boston’s 15 overtime points.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">19 years ago today, Paul Pierce scored 46 points in just the second half against the Nets… 😳</p><p>Unguardable. <a href="https://t.co/kNXuHVI5Hn" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/kNXuHVI5Hn</a></p><p>— Guy Boston Sports (@GuyBostonSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/GuyBostonSports/status/1333754544342396930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">December 1, 2020</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>Pierce produced 48 points, his highest scoring total in a road contest of his career.</p><h2>6. The infamous Wheelchair Game</h2><h2>When: June 5, 2008</h2><h2>Game: 2008 NBA Finals: Game 1, Celtics vs. Lakers</h2><p>NBA fans often link Pierce to his wheelchair moment in the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. During the third quarter of Game 1, Kobe Bryant hit a 12-foot jumper during a a bizarre play where Celtics center Kendrick Perkins slammed into Pierce, who tumbled to the ground.</p><p>Pierce was carried off by his teammates into the locker room, where team physician Dr. Brian McKeon instructed Pierce be put on a wheelchair. Minutes later, Pierce returned from the tunnel as the Celtics faithful became delirious. Pierce checked into the game and buried back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Celtics a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. He totaled 15 in the third period, making all five of his field goals. He finished with an efficient 22 points—going 7-of-10 from the field—in the Celtics’ 98–88 win.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Paul Pierce's "Wheelchair Game" in Game 1 of the NBA Finals vs the Lakers (2008) <a href="https://t.co/00JjlgF4sv" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/00JjlgF4sv</a></p><p>— Throwback Boston (@TheCityofChamps) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheCityofChamps/status/830781007225815040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">February 12, 2017</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>While Pierce <a href="https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/26910681">joked about the infamous moment</a>, McKeon is adamant that Pierce <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/2010/6/6/1504006/about-that-wheelchair">tore part of his MCL</a>. Regardless of what people choose to believe, the inarguable fact remains that Pierce’s Game 1 showing is a mainstay in NBA Finals folklore.</p><h2><b>5. Celtics playoff-record 32 second-half points silence Al Harrington</b></h2><h2><b>When: April 27, 2003</b></h2><h2><b>Game: 2003 East. Quarterfinals: Game 4, Celtics vs. Pacers</b></h2><p>Paul Pierce led the sixth-seeded Celtics to victory over the Indiana Pacers, accumulating 37 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.</p><p>The Celtics faced a 48–36 halftime deficit and fell behind by 16 points in the third quarter before Pierce took over. He scored 21 in the third and finished with 32 second-half points—a Celtics playoff record. (Isaiah Thomas tied Pierce’s mark in 2017 during his <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400952527">unforgettable 53-point outburst</a>)</p><p>Pierce tallied the final 11 points of the third period. He concluded his scoring outburst with a dagger right between the eyes of Al Harrington. Pierce jawed back and forth with Harrington and then drilled the 26-footer as the shot clock expired.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">(2003) Paul Pierce trash talks Al Harrington and then hits the three in his grill. </p><p>Legendary. 💯 <a href="https://t.co/7QBcxO9jV7" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/7QBcxO9jV7</a></p><p>— Timeless Sports (@timelesssports_) <a href="https://twitter.com/timelesssports_/status/1071162351683059712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">December 7, 2018</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>Before nailing the 3-pointer, <a href="http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/playoffs/2003-04-27-pacers-celtics-game-4_x.htm">Pierce told Harrington</a>, “I hope you are ready, because I’m going to bring it.”</p><h2><b>4. Playoff career-high 46 points</b></h2><h2><b>When: May 3, 2002</b></h2><p><b>Game: 2002 East. Quarterfinals: Game 5, Celtics vs. 76ers</b></p><p>Squaring off against the defending Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers in a decisive Game 5, the Celtics won in convincing fashion to grab their first playoff series win since 1992—Larry Bird’s final season in the NBA.</p><p>Pierce delivered a playoff career-best 46 points with six assists, four rebounds, a steal and a block without committing a single turnover.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">(2002) Paul Pierce pours in 46 points to lead the Celtics over the Sixers in Game 5 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/aeWYtKxqo5" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/aeWYtKxqo5</a></p><p>— Timeless Sports (@timelesssports_) <a href="https://twitter.com/timelesssports_/status/994380834760257536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">May 10, 2018</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><h2><b>3. Greatest fourth-quarter comeback in NBA playoff history</b></h2><h2><b>When: May 25, 2002</b></h2><h2><b>Game: 2002 East. Finals: Game 3, Celtics vs. Nets</b></h2><p>The Celtics faced a 74-53 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter in Game 3. At the time, 171 teams in NBA postseason history had taken leads of more than 18 points into the fourth quarter and none had lost. That all changed when the Celtics rallied from 21 points down to complete the greatest comeback in NBA playoff history. (The Los Angeles Clippers <a href="https://www.sportscasting.com/the-greatest-4th-quarter-comebacks-in-nba-playoff-history-2/">tied this mark in 2012</a> in a Game 1 road victory over the Memphis Grizzlies)</p><p>Boston scored 41 fourth-quarter points to New Jersey’s 16. Pierce alone outscored the Nets in the fourth with 19. He ended with a game-best 28 points in the 94-90 victory.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">On this day in 2002, the <a href="https://twitter.com/celtics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@celtics</a>’ Paul Pierce scored 19 points in the 4th Q for the biggest comeback win in NBA playoff history. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BovadaSportsHistory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#BovadaSportsHistory</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#NBA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Celtics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#Celtics</a> </p><p> <a href="https://t.co/cAo6x8MAuu" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/cAo6x8MAuu</a></p><p>— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/BovadaOfficial/status/1264613637009833985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">May 24, 2020</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><h2><b>2. Outduels LeBron in Game 7</b></h2><h2><b>When: May 18, 2008</b></h2><p><b>Game: 2008 East. Semifinals: Game 7 , Celtics vs. Cavaliers</b></p><p>When looking back at the Paul Pierce versus LeBron James rivalry, Game 7 of the 2008 East semifinals is the contest ingrained in the minds of many NBA fans. Both players carried their respective teams for the duration of the series-deciding duel.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#TB</a> Game 7 of the 2008 ECSF </p><p>LeBron James: <br>45 pts, 5reb, 6ast, 2stl, FG 14/29</p><p>Paul Pierce: <br>41pts, 4reb, 5ast, 2stl, FG 13/23<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Celtics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#Celtics</a> defeat Cavs 97-92. <a href="https://t.co/u694TSMLoQ" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/u694TSMLoQ</a></p><p>— Celtics Direct (@CelticsDirect) <a href="https://twitter.com/CelticsDirect/status/1242808864690638848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">March 25, 2020</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>Pierce dropped 41 points on 13-of-23 shooting from the floor with four rebounds and five assists. James countered with a game-best 45 points on 14-of-29 shooting with five rebounds and six assists. The Celtics won 97-92 to advance to the East Finals.</p><h2><b>1. Paul Pierce wins Finals MVP</b></h2><h2>When: June 17, 2008</h2><h2>Game: 2008 NBA Finals: Game 6, Celtics vs. Lakers</h2><p>The Celtics throttled the Lakers in Game 6 of their championship-clinching triumph. Pierce had 17 points and a game-high 10 assists in the 131–92 rout.</p><p>Pierce earned Finals MVP award after averaging 21.8 points, 6.3 assists and 4.5 rebounds in the series.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">12 years ago, the <a href="https://twitter.com/celtics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@celtics</a> proved that anything is possible. </p><p>Finals MVP <a href="https://twitter.com/paulpierce34?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">@paulpierce34</a> and co. finished the job in Game 6 with a record-setting rout of the Los Angeles Lakers, 131-92. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAVault?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">#NBAVault</a> <a href="https://t.co/NRvoYkeYxo" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/NRvoYkeYxo</a></p><p>— NBA Philippines (@NBA_Philippines) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA_Philippines/status/1273495064275124225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">June 18, 2020</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>Though Kevin Garnett was unquestionably the major driving force behind the Celtics’ regular-season success —winning a league-best 66 games—Pierce was Boston’s best player during the playoffs.</p><p>During the first nine years of Paul Pierce’s career, the only All-Star teammate he played alongside was Antoine Walker, who was traded by Boston on two separate occasions. Pierce implored the Celtics management to put better players around him. His message was clear: get me star help and a championship will come. At long last, the front office rewarded him with the acquisitions of Ray Allen and Garnett. In Pierce’s first season playing alongside co-stars, he delivered the franchise a long-awaited title.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

10 moments that defined Paul Pierce’s Hall of Fame career

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/nba-news-paul-pierce-chris-bosh-bill-russell-headline-2021-hall-of-fame-class.jpg"></figure><h1>Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, Bill Russell headline 2021 Hall of Fame class</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-05-16T08:50:16-07:00">May 16th, 8:50am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-05-16T09:13:51-07:00">May 16th, 9:13am</time><address><a>Jason Patt</a></address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It had already been reported that NBA legends Paul Pierce, Ben Wallace and Chris Webber were going to be a part of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chris-webber-joins-ben-wallace-paul-pierce-in-2021-hall-of-fame-class/" rel="noopener">2021 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class</a>, and now it has been <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1393952640707477510" rel="noopener">officially announced</a> that Chris Bosh is a member of this group as well.</p><p>Bill Russell is going in as a coach after he was already inducted as a player in 1975. Rick Adelman and Jay Wright are also going in as coaches, with Lauren Jackson and Yolanda Griffith inducted for their WNBA dominance. Toni Kukoc is in thanks to the International Committee.</p><p>Here’s the rest of the class:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">2021 Basketball Hall of Fame Class: <br>Contributors: Val Ackerman, Cotton Fitzsimmons, Howard Garfinkel; Veteran’s Committee: Bob Dandridge; Women’s Veteran Committee: Pearl Moore; Early African-American Pioneers: Clarence Jenkins. <a href="https://t.co/w5izDnJpJa" target="_blank">https://t.co/w5izDnJpJa</a></p><p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1393957914516283392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">May 16, 2021</a></p></blockquote><p></p></figure><p>Bosh came into the NBA as the No. 4 pick in the loaded 2003 NBA Draft. He played the first seven seasons of his career with the Toronto Raptors before teaming up with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade on the Miami Heat in 2010.</p><p>The Heat’s Big Three went to four straight NBA Finals and won two of them before they broke up in 2014. Bosh had to sacrifice in a big way and often took a lot of criticism for not putting up big numbers like he used to in Toronto.</p><p>However, Bosh’s services were invaluable as the defensive anchor and third wheel on offense. Miami needed him in order to win those championships, and he should be appreciated for how good he was.</p><p>Bosh stayed with the Heat with Wade after LeBron left, but his NBA career was cut short by blood clots. The big man finished his career after the 2015-16 season with 11 straight All-Star appearances.</p><p>As for Russell going in as a coach, he became a player-coach for the Boston Celtics in 1966 after Red Auerbach retired. Russell coached the Celtics until 1969, which is when he retired as an NBA player, and then he also later coached the Seattle SuperSonics and Sacramento Kings.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, Bill Russell headline 2021 Hall of Fame class

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 18px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px;    font-size: 16px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: #0000FF;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 16px;    text-decoration: none;}ul {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 16px;}ol {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px;    font-size: 16px;    border-left: 2px solid black;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: #333333;    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 12px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;    background-color: #EFEFEF;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article><header><figure><img src="https://clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/image_2021-05-16_202651.png"></figure><h1>Chris Webber joins Ben Wallace, Paul Pierce in 2021 Hall of Fame class</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2021-05-16T05:29:59-07:00">May 16th, 5:29am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2021-05-16T05:29:59-07:00">May 16th, 5:29am</time><address><a href="https://medium.com/@rpsalao">R.P. Salao</a>Check out my best stuff on Medium - medium.com/@rpsalao.I also post quality NBA YouTube content - tinyurl.com/SalaoYouTube.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Chris Webber, 15-year NBA veteran and celebrated collegiate basketball hooper, is set to be inducted into the 2021 class of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.</p><p>Chris Webber is certainly having a roller coaster month of May. The Sacramento Kings icon was just recently let go by TNT as a color commentator after serving there for over a decade, via <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/05/13/chris-webber-out-at-tnt-on-eve-of-2021-nba-playoffs/" rel="noopener">Andrew Marchand of the New York Post</a>:</p><blockquote>Chris Webber and TNT have agreed to part ways Thursday on the eve of the NBA playoffs, The Post has learned.</blockquote><p>But not even a week has passed since that news broke, Webber gets invited into the most prestigious group the sport has to offer. Life really hits you hard sometimes, only to help you right back up.</p><p>Webber first made headlines as arguably the biggest face of the Michigan Wolverines’ famed “Fab Five” in the early nineties. He then propelled himself into a successful NBA career, making his mark as the 1993-94 rookie of the year. Five All-Star appearances, five All-NBA team selections, and several memorable playoff series battles summed up what became a stellar decade and a half for C-Webb.</p><p>Webber joins Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce and Detroit Pistons’ beloved center Ben Wallace <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/celtics-legend-paul-pierce-set-immortality-gets-named-2021-hall-fame-class/">as fellow inductees</a> for the 2021 Hall of Fame class.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Chris Webber joins Ben Wallace, Paul Pierce in 2021 Hall of Fame class

2007-08 Finals MVP

1998-99 All-Rookie

4x All-NBA

2008 NBA Champ

10x All Star

Boston Celtics

Brooklyn Nets

Washington Wizards

Los Angeles Clippers

1 seasons

1 season

2 seasons

10 seasons

https://twitter.com/paulpierce34/status/1403179390209454087/

I’m telling u  @SHAQ lit a fire under @spidadmitchell I see it

https://twitter.com/paulpierce34/status/1402425649453694985/

Stay tuned tomorrow crypto update what to watch for 💰

https://twitter.com/paulpierce34/status/1402103931933659137/

https://twitter.com/paulpierce34/status/1402045587319492619/

It’s time to bomb @BitcoinMagazine  and @ethereum_max

https://twitter.com/paulpierce34/status/1401597479431413760/

Brooklyn vs Atlanta eastern conference finals done deal

https://twitter.com/paulpierce34/status/1401413763140665346/

https://twitter.com/paulpierce34/status/1401413650691280899/

https://twitter.com/paulpierce34/status/1401326379229233154/

2016-17 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
3.2	1.9	0.4	0.2	0.2

2016-17 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
3.2	1.9	0.4	0.2	0.2