Paul Pierce: Shades of Larry Bird

Well, man, could it be that the girls and boys are trying to be heard above your noise?  And the lonely voice of youth cries “What is truth?”  -Johnny Cash

Public Service Announcement:  Ok, here we go!  That’s right.  All Celtics.  All the time.  All Paul Pierce.  All the time.  At least in this time.  World Championship time.  Growed folks time.  Win or go home!   

You all know by know by now I love Paul Pierce.  I love the Truth.  Like my main Galileo always says:  “All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.”  I understand the Truth.  I understand Paul Pierce.  I understand he wants this thing.  Wants it real bad.  Wanted it real bad last night. 

Last night, Kendrick Perkins stepped on Pierce’s right ankle.  Last night, Pierce’s knee twisted and popped.  Last night, Pierce contorted on the floor clutching his right leg.  Last night, Boston gasped a collective gasp as Pierce’s teammates had to carry him off of the court.  Everybody’s been comparing it to Willis Reed. Everybody’s been hot airing it to Willis Reed.  I disagree.  Mike Wilpon alluded to it.  I was there.  I was there where the real similarity took place.  

I was there when Larry Bird’s head bounced off the Parquet with a thump.  A deafening thump.  A thunderous thump.  A thunderous thump that reverberated throughout the hallowed halls of the old Boston Garden.  I was there in 1991 against the Indiana Pacers in the playoffs. 

Boston led by ten after the first quarter, but the Pacers tied it at 58-all by halftime.  Late in the second quarter, Bird crashed to the floor in pursuit of a loose ball.  His head bounced hard off the parquet.  He stayed down.  Stayed down.  Stayed down for what seemed like an eternity.   Then he headed to the locker room.  And just like last night, Boston gasped a collective gasp.  

Bird did not return with his teammates for the start of the third quarter.  When he finally came through the tunnel later during the period, the Garden crowd erupted.  It was electric.  Boogie oogie oogie.  Just like last night.  Last night the garden crowd erupted as Paul Pierce buried back-to-back threes.  Erupted as Pierce went for fifteen points in the third.  Erupted as he went five-for-five from the field.  Three-for-three from beyond the arc.  Sticking dagger after dagger into the hearts of the Los Angeles Lakers.  Just as Bird stuck dagger after dagger into the hearts of the Pacers.  So you can Willis Reed me all you want.  All I saw were shades of Bird.

Public Spectacle: 

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!

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