Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics will Come Back to Los Angeles

When Paul Pierce and his Boston Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic at the Amway Arena, Orlando, Florida, in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals last May 18, where they are up 2 games to none, the Celtics was in full confidence especially the Celtic’s co-captain Paul Pierce as they went home believing that they could sweep the Magic in TD Garden, Boston Massachusetts in Games 3 and 4. Pierce even posted in his Twitter account a statement - Anybody got a broom? It was a piercing taunt on Dwight Howard and the rest of the Magic who was out-muscled by the Celtics in 2 close games, losing in a close margins of 4 points in Game 1and 3 points in Game 2. 

In Game 3, on May 22, true to what they intend, the Celtics trashes the Magic 94-71 in front of 18,624 crowd mostly Celtics fans at TD Garden, that put the Celtics to a commanding edge of 3 games to none. Though it was Celtic’s Glen Davis that shines with 17 points, Paul Pierce was only a game away for reaching his dream of sweeping the Orlando Magic. But Howard and his Magic crushes Pierce’s dream as they found their magic back in their hands defeating the Celtics in 2 straight games in Game 5, on May 24 by OT 96-92 and in Game 6, on May 26, 113-92 in Orlando that shatters the sweet- sweep dream of Pierce. Though the Celtics finally defeated the Magic in Games 6 on May 28, 96-84 in Boston, Pierce know that it was a lesson not to underestimate anybody.

Before we could further go, I’m no anti-Celtics or anti-Pierce here. It is just based on what I observe, base on 2010 NBA Finals and Playoffs colorful game, I’m merely adding more colors here for the game’s excitement in my own opinion. 

As I go on, in the 2010 NBA Finals, that featured the two winningest teams in NBA history, Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers and Paul Pierce’s Boston Celtics are again going to battle for the 2010 NBA plum for the 2nd time. The Lakers and Celtics have met for a total of 12 times in the NBA Finals. The Celtics has won in 9, having won the first 8 meetings and 2 for the Lakers, it is perhaps the most storied rivalry in NBA history. As the Finals is heating up, adding the drama in the game is Paul Pierce’s taunt of Lakers after they defeated the Lakers in Game 2, on June 6, 103-94 via Ray Allen’s terrific 3-pt. shooting barrage at the star-jam-packed Staples Center, L.A. After the game, Paul Pierce stated that they will not come back in L.A., intending to finish the Lakers in Game 3, 4 and 5 at their homecourt. Have Pierce not learned? Because there is so much lesson from the past to learn and for the humility of Pierce, Kobe Bryant and the unlikely Game 3 hero Derek Fisher not just silent the Celtics fans but also Pierce by defeating the Celtics 91-84 at TD Arena.

Hope that Pierce is reminded that this ain’t the Lakers they have defeated easily in 2008 NBA Finals, at that time don’t have Andrew Bynum at its midst. They have now the defensive expert Ron Artest whose job is to slow Pierce that is somehow effective. Their bench is have grown so much. The Lakers now, are tough and an avenging defending champion. If the Celtics may win the Game 4 and 5 they will still comeback in L.A. where things are tough and different.

To put it right, Pierce should execute well first before forecasting a win or underestimate, he should look back what was his Celtics was once without Garnett and Ray Allen. Game 3 was a big lesson. Perhaps, when you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all.