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The top 10 moments of Paul Pierce’s NBA career

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 5, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; LA Clippers forward Paul Pierce (34) waves to the crowd after a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; LA Clippers forward Paul Pierce (34) waves to the crowd after a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Paul Pierce
Jul 1, 2016; Akron, OH, USA; The 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers NBA championship trophy on display during the second round of the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club – South Course. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

1. The 2008 NBA Finals

Pierce’s 41-point Game 7 performance against LeBron paved the way for the best moment of his NBA career: finally breaking through to win an NBA championship for the Boston Celtics.

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After years of toiling away on losing teams that didn’t have enough help, the arrivals of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen immediately changed things. With Pierce focusing on his defense and KG anchoring the D, Boston suffocated offenses all season long in a 66-win season.

Against their long-time rival Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals, Pierce — as expected — provided the spark for Boston in the second half. When the Celtics’ leading scorer went down with an apparent knee injury midway through the third quarter, TD Garden held its collective breath.

Championship No. 17 was suddenly in serious jeopardy. Pierce was carried off the court and was seen being wheeled through the halls in a wheelchair. But in his own Willis Reed moment — whether it was completely engineered or actually authentic –his return to the court decided Game 1.

Upon making his emotional return to the floor, Pierce drilled two three-pointers to help Boston build a four-point lead heading into the fourth. The Truth had 15 points in the third and finished the game with 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting in a 10-point victory.

The TD Garden and Pierce’s teammates were inspired by his return and it set the tone for the rest of the series. Boston didn’t lose a single home game in the Finals, closing the Lakers out in six.

KG probably deserved it, but Pierce earned Finals MVP honors with averages of 21.8 points, 6.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game on 39.3 percent shooting from three-point range.

When the Celtics hung their 17th banner from the rafters at the start of the 2008-09 season, Paul Pierce’s tears were more than warranted.

After waiting for so long to get his chance to win a title, he had finally established his place in the league.

The Truth may have been the most relatable NBA star of the 2000s: He toiled away for so long with good numbers on bad teams while people said he’d be overrated until he won when it counted, he played hero ball with the best of them despite being less than efficient like modern NBA superstars, and when he finally got help, he silenced all his critics by finally winning a title.

Next: The Top 10 Moments Of Kevin Garnett's Career

For those who never watched Paul Pierce play in his prime, his season-by-season stats probably won’t leap off the page. But for those who did, the way he personified an entire era of hero ball while winning a championship may have been the greatest accomplishment of his Hall of Fame career.

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