[Highlights] Prime Paul Pierce highlights with the Celtics.
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First couple of clips he goes hard on a young Bron, prime Kobe, Young Dwight Howard, prime DWade…
He was The Truth. That move on Bron at 1:38 was sick.
I kinda hated him as a Raps fan but he was undeniably great. It sucks how he’s been clowned on in recent years and a lot of the younger generation judge him from his years in Brooklyn/Washington.
Videos like this make me miss when having excellent footwork was a key skill for all the top players. The pivots, spins, up and unders here are gorgeous. We miss a lot of that in today’s game.
My thoughts exactly. Think guys back then couldnt expect to just go to the FT line as easily or as much as they do nowadays.. I dont have the stats to back this up but early 00s seems kind of an apex moment for earning their buckets
Even in Washington he had the “called game” game winner
He always moved like he was playing underwater. I always thought it was so unique.
Dude such a perfect description!
I agree that’s a great description. His movements and play style is seriously so unique. Combine that with his giant frame, bull strength, and soft touch and you’ve got a hall of fame hooper
lol I just said “slow motion” in another comment but this is more accurate.
Lol nailed it
That’s a great description
Don’t let the fact he’s a clown in retirement distract from the truth that Pierce was coldblooded on the court.
Dude had some of the best, most unique footwork you’ll see.
I always believed we could beat anyone because on any given night Pierce could go toe to toe with the absolute best. Like game 7 of the ECF (edit: ECSF) 2008 vs LeBron
That was the ECS but point still stands, he was The Truth for a reason
Ah good call my bad
Watching these now he kinda looks like a Kobe/Melo mix.
He was going toe to toe in ISOs vs Kobe during 2010 Finals. Kobe was undeniably better, but only by a little. Very similar style-wise
Or in 2008 when he put up 41, winning a game 7 ECF duel with LeBron (which then sent him to Miami so you’re welcome)
Pierce is a little bigger and heavier than Kobe is and he used that to his advantage very well. He was very strong with a very fast first step. Was also tough like the rest of that team. Kobe always had a lot of praise for his game.
Better than Kobe at one point am I right
Lmao this obvious fucking bait got upvoted because reddit things
No, youre not right.
Ya similar to Melo in that he had that heft to his frame and he knew how to use it
Carmelo Anthony or Ball?
Nephew please
the real Melo
Lol
Never heard this comparison and it’s really good
Him being a clown only elevates him imo. He’s funny as hell and used to be a demon on the court
This is what I’m saying. I used to hate this guy when he played but ever since he’s retired, I find him hilarious and likeable.
And relatable. Him and KG do not fit the ESPN-like talk points and I much rather have them be natural while talking about the sport they love.
That in and out to cross on the Wizards towards the beginning was FILTH. Truth wasn’t the fastest, or most athletic, but goddamn…man was a walking bucket.
Truth is one of the best game-raisers in NBA history. He was consistently an all-world scorer but could flip a switch, whether it was the Finals or in-season versus the Kobes and LeBrons of the world, to play like an all-time great on those stages. My favorite player of all time.
I’m a Celtics fan and pierce is my all time favorite Celtic.
Being a clown in retirement is generous. Mans rapidly approaching creepy grandpa status
Can’t believe somebody had to spread that rumor that he shat himself.
Exactly, he was my favorite player until he opened his mouth in retirement.
I always liked him because he looked like he was playing in slow motion sometimes lol.
He was athletic but very deliberate in the way that he move to create space. And a true tough shot maker.
Knew a comment like this would be posted lol
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2000-01 through 2006-07 was Pierce’s real prime. He was on pretty mediocre teams, but averaged 24.8⁄6.7⁄4.1 in 38.4mpg, 8.8 FTA per game, on .558 TS%, 22.0 PER, and .161 WS/48 over that 7 season period. He was a top 10-15 player in the league during the early 2000s. He also survived being stabbed during the 2000 off-season, then went on to play all 82 games in the 2000-01 season, and peel off that prime run thereafter. The Truth, indeed.
Fuck benzino
Thanks for copying and pasting basketball reference for us. Real illuminating.
He’s a meme now but the Truth was legitimately a problem during his Celtics tenure. On any given night he could be the best player on the court and he LOVED going toe to toe with other superstars. One of the 10 best players in the league for almost a decade, massively clutch, stuck around for some bad years, personal favorite player ever.
That boy was the truth
Paul Pierce was a problem, man!
Has to be on the Mt. Rushmore of players whose end/post playing career comments and actions affected the way people remembered his career. This dude was a total, absolute bucket
He was nasty AF especially in crunch time. I just didn’t like him when he played cuz he was on Boston and I’m a NYer / Knicks fan. But ever since he’s retired, I found him hilarious and very likeable. Massive ego and even bigger shit talker, but I actually like that.
That game winner on Amare… sheehs
Nate Robinson falling down trying to jump on him, Ray Allen looking bewildered, Kevin Garnett bowing to the crowd… legendary video
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Speak for yourself, personally I think that outlook is soft and ridiculous. I will remember his career for you know, how he played during his career lol.
People are all different, and how he acts after his career is a different topic
Bill Walton.
Pierce made basketball look so effortless. It was like he found it so easy and was operating at 50%.
So shifty yet in control
So measured but fast as funk
Not many comparable I can come up with
Legend
Tom Heinsohn said he’s the best offensive Celtic ever. And he covered Bird’s entire career
Tommy was knowing for exaggerating. Objectively untrue but Tommy cant help himself sometimes.
He was my favorite player to watch during those big 3 years. Dude was a natural scorer.
He was better than your favorite player
But what if he’s my favorite player
Pierce is somehow still better
I’ll tell you this: Paul Pierce, who is an upper echelon player in the league, has been treated like a rookie!
I miss Tommy.
Edit: and btw, I’m like 99% sure I haven’t heard that quote since I heard it live, and yet I knew right away what it was, and even read it in Tommy’s voice lol
Relive the experience.
I always felt like Paul did that to himself. Either after his first or second year he said something about how he could always get a call when he needed one and then dried up for years after that.
He was not better than Kobe! Loved their finals battles though
Tf he is. He’s good but not better than Kobe, Jordan, AI, or Dwayne Wade
Yeah he definitely is. Don’t be a troll just for the sake of it.
No way am I being a troll. Paul is good but not better than them
Dude I’m trying to have a serious conversation so if you don’t want to be involved just go start shit somewhere else.
Pierce is who Melo thought he was
Melo never got 2 hall of famers to save his legacy
Two hall of famers couldn’t save Melo’s legacy
Because they were 2 playoff chokers
Just like Melo?
Lmao the shit you read on reddit… Melo was a good deal better.
At scoring, yes. But at everything else, no, and he certainly didn’t put in the dirty work to be a winning player. Melo’s two best years he played with Chauncey Billups and Jason Kidd, who made their teams better and were winning players.
Pierce was more of a winning player in the ways that matter. Strong defensively, good secondary playmaking, willing to sacrifice individual role to win, and all while still scoring at good volume and efficiency.
Not even close dude… lmao Melo is a mid range spammer and nothing else
Olympic Melo is the only glimpse of a legitimate winning player that we ever saw out of him
Hated this dude. You knew this guy was going to cook your entire team once the 4th quarter came along. Almost every time.
Warms my heart to see all the love here.
Pierce earned that nickname. He was clutch, and could go up against anyone on any given night.
Nephews didn’t experience prime truth and mainly know him from the pooped his pants memes, but he was an absolute fucking killer. One of the most clutch players ever.
Still blows my mind when one of the new gens calls Anthony Edwards “The Truth” because he tried self-anointing himself.
Not knowing Paul got the nickname from one the greatest players ever, by dropping a 40 burger on one of the most dominant dynasties ever.
I always found the pierce vince carter debates laughable pierce was an actual threat
Pierce is very rarely mentioned among players who would be amazing today - but he absolutely would be. Dude was one of the best three point shooters of his era on high volume, and he had a ridiculous mid range and post game. The only thing he wasn’t great at was getting to the rim, but I think the better spacing today would get him a lot of easier looks.
But when he decided to drive, he dunked on a lot of heads over his career.
I always tell young hoopers that if they want to be better, study Paul Pierce. He’s not that fast or athletic but he knows how to use his strength and footwork
He was also clutch as hell. But thing I respect most is he plays up to his competition. So even if he is playing against “better” players, he can elevate his game to go toe to toe with anyone.
Ahh I remember how much of a killer Pierce was. Of course he still had the tendencies when the big 3 came along (less pressure on him when they came along) but dude was just smooth to watch before. Him and Antoine Walker haha
Every time I see Pierce highlights, I laugh a bit. When he came out, the scouting report was that he was an athletic slasher who had limited ability to create off the dribble. They were right, at the time. He’s a rare example of a guy turning a weakness into a strength. I didn’t see him becoming an iso specialist. At Kansas, he looked like a guy who was going to be most effective catching the ball in motion to make a decisive attack against a close out.
The baseline hesi stepback on wade was nasty. I think it was the 3rd clip
Eta: 5th clip*
Most of these clips are from the later prime of his. He was even more explosive when younger, although he had questionable shot selection. He was for years THE “what if he was on an actually good team” player.
Interesting seeing people make comments about his post career hurting his legacy lol. Everyone I know is pretty much like “yeah I didn’t know Paul Pierce was cool as fuck” dude seems like a great hang, is friends with KG, smokes weed and pays for escorts. You get points for that not lose em!
I love this because I always remember the midrange jumpers but he could still drive to the lane and dunk on your ass
The lil pump fake into contact he would always do. As a Celtics fan I loved it. If I was a fan of any other team I’d hate it.
Like how SGA does it now
His elbow work is all time the way he would create space with them or draw a foul
Such an odd player because he looks somewhat slow and unathletic but yet he can get up for some pretty nasty dunks. He just has an unorthodox way of moving.
I will always die on the hill of midrange game in the half court with elite footwork iso is the most entertaining form of basketball to watch as viewer. It’s especially entertaining when the player is really capable of both penetrating to get to the basket for easy buckets or just cook in the midrange with fadeaway and whatnot so all possessions are different.
I hate the 3 point revolution, it’s not conducive to an entertaining viewership product. It’s only truly entertaining when the shooter is so elite that it’s other worldly like Steph or when Klay/Dame catch a heater. Watching 3s, fast breaks, and free throws is awful as a spectator when virtually the whole league is doing the same thing every night for 90% of their possessions.
I really wish for some sort of heavy re-introduction of the midrange game into the league. I don’t know what it would take, but I hope some changes happen to the NBA defensive/offensive rules, I dislike watching the current product outside the playoffs.
They don’t call him the Truth for nothing
Holy shit I was at the game in very first clip, memory unlocked lol
Watching this just reminds me how much better the game was before they started allowing the double step-back jumper and offensive push-offs.
Agree
He was the first player I revered growing up. I still have a Paul Pierce Celtics jersey I got when I was 11 years old in my closet.
He has some of the dumbest takes but as a player theres no question Paul Pierce was one of the most versatile scorers ever. Besides Harden, probably the most lethal step back jumper ive ever seen.
It seemed like he never wasted a single movement.
This lanky mofo with very little muscle and the biggest mouth in the NBA knew how to get buckets effortlessly in the NBA. He doesn’t get enough credit if you ask me.
Trust a 2000’s clip to look like this was filmed 50 years ago
He was so deceptive with his quickness cause he wasn’t going the fastest at all but he played at his on pace. Very similar to Luka in a way. PP was a problem frfr.
Just amazing body positioning and finishing.he had the whole bag
I’m sure James Harden watched a lot of Paul Pierce.
Back when they would pump fake to get an open/easier look instead of the foul baiting today
Boy was spamming the spin move. Unstoppable.
I think he gets short shrift because people sorta expected Boston to have won more than one championship. He was amazing, though. People focus on Ray Allen and KG, who are legends, but Pierce was a huge portion of those wins and had a ton of responsibility on both sides of the ball.
I aways thought he was the perfect guy to mold gkjr offensive game after. Kobe Vince and Mac were just uber athletic. Paul showed a young 6 5 6 6 guy that you didnt need to be chiseled. Use your body and footwork and maximize the above avedage nba athleticism you had. He was sneaky.
He’s not that wrong when he says he wishes his prime had lined up with Lebron’s more, he could guard bron better than bron could guard him, esp since bron didn’t get a jumper until ‘14.
He was so nice
I use to call him the slow assassin. To me, his moves were so slow but it almost lulled you to sleep.
My all time favorite player. I miss watching this man play.
Curious who the comparison to him in the modern day and all time is.
loved his game. although not really fast he always got to his spot and shot high percentage over anybody. little bit like Luka.
Made 13 shots for the lead in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime in his career, placing him in the top 7 all-time
Travelled to Mars on that 4th play…