Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
“He’s the original Celtic and we go how he goes,” Garnett said. “And nights when he’s not going, we try to obviously support him and help him. But this is Truth’s house, and there’s never been a misunderstanding since I’ve been here. We have all the trust in the world in him.”
Which is why, despite Pierce’s lack of end-of-game heroics this season, most folks inside TD Garden were left shaking their heads as the Clippers decided to let the game clock wind down with the ball in Pierce’s hands.
Sure, Pierce and the Celtics have struggled to produce game-winning shots recently, but the captain always has had a penchant for the big-game dagger. With Boston clinging to a two-point lead after a feverish Los Angeles rally from a 19-point hole, Pierce hit a step-back 3-pointer over Matt Barnes with 2.5 seconds remaining to secure a 106-104 triumph.
ESPN Boston: Paul Pierce holding things together
Once upon a time, people around here wanted to bury Paul Pierce, declaring his career dead amidst a disappointing season.
But as he has every other time Rajon Rondo has gone down, Pierce has elevated his game and is now doing everything he needs to do to help this team win. All he’s done in the past four games is average just over 17 points, almost 10 rebounds, and just over 6 assists… including one triple double and one game where he fell 3 assists short.
If I may be so bold as to quote myself regarding Pierce’s “demise”
He wants you to buy into that premise; he needs you to. He is begging you to start reminiscing about his younger days, how he grew into a man with the Celtics. He wants you to remember how wild those years with Antoine Walker were. He wants you to remember that ridiculous head wrap he put on to highlight the lack of calls he was getting against the Indiana Pacers during the 2005 Playoffs.
And as you sit there, head tilted up, remembering those 14-and-counting years of improbable, inexplicable grace, Pierce is by you. Again. You bit, because you always bite.
No, Paul Pierce isn’t the same guy he used to be. Time is an unrelenting bitch, and it will end Paul Pierce’s career just like it ended Larry Bird’s, Bill Russell’s, Michael Jordan’s, and everyone else’s.
But never write him off. Because that’s when something like this happens.
(photo from @KWAPT’s Instagram)
The rest of the links:
ESPN Boston: Good things happening with Collins | Terry seems to be finding his spots | C’s come through in the clutch | Lee, Green, visit recovering Sullinger | WEEI: Lee: “We’re playing hard for Rondo” | Pierce, Celtics sink Clippers ship | Pierce, Green, lead C’s over Clippers | Globe: Nearly Clipped | Bench production is a major plus | Without Paul, Clippers missed the point | Sullinger’s agent: Surgery now the right move | Herald: Celtics guarded on moves | Just enough | Green play at a new Clip | Plenty in reserve late | CSNNE: Celtics proving they can win close ones | Three of hearts: Turiaf, Green, Wilcox share survival story | Bradley earning bragging rights over Washington NBA pals | Terry taking off in new offensive system | Garnett-Griffin matchup gets heated | Rivers “reminisced” with Oden during meeting | MWDN: Truth sinks Clippers | Celtics earning some good will
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