Paul Pierce: ‘Greatest Pure Scoring Machine in Celtics History’?
After forgetting how to play basketball for six gawd-awful games against the Cavs, Paul Pierce finally reminded people why his nickname is The Truth in Game Seven yesterday.
Pierce and LeBron James engaged in a memorable shootout, and Paul emerged victorious, leading his team back to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2002.
Following the big win, Pierce was predictably fawned over by the Boston media this morning, and it was longtime Boston Globe basketball scribe Bob Ryan who took the cake.
Every once in a while Pierce reminds us that he is the greatest pure scoring machine in Celtics history. Many old-timers bristle when you say that, citing John Havlicek, Sam Jones, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, or whomever. But it just happens to be the truth.
That is such an absurdly incorrect statement, that I don’t even know where to begin tearing it apart.
Yes, it was a tremendous performance on a large stage, and Pierce showed the world again that he’s capable of filling it up, but let’s not get carried away here.
92 Responses to “Paul Pierce: ‘Greatest Pure Scoring Machine in Celtics History’?”
May.19 at 1:02 pm
Myles Brown says:
So then who is?
May.19 at 1:03 pm
Marcel Mutoni says:
myles, if that is a serious question, please backhand yourself. love, marcel.
May.19 at 1:03 pm
Jackie Moon says:
Gotta be Bob Cousy.
May.19 at 1:04 pm
TADOne says:
The ‘Greatest Pure Scoring Machine in Celtics History’ would score more than 4 pts in game 1.
May.19 at 1:05 pm
TADOne says:
It’s obviously Len Bias.
May.19 at 1:06 pm
Myles Brown says:
Im just saying that between his game off the bounce, in the post and from the perimeter in addition to his athleticism, he’s in the conversation. And it’s a short list. Bird, Hondo and um…who else? Toine?
May.19 at 1:08 pm
Marcel Mutoni says:
that’s just it. there is no conversation. it’s bird. end of story.
May.19 at 1:14 pm
maio says:
PP can score in more ways than Bird could, but Bird would still score more.
May.19 at 1:16 pm
Myles Brown says:
Bird was extremely talented and clearly a better player than Pierce. But… “He can get his own shot, which is a major plus. He is an extremely proficient, highly ambidextrous, driver. He takes a lot of free throws. He is a constant 3-point threat. And he is the best fast break finisher the team has ever had. No argument.” Can Bird take you off the bounce like Pierce? Can he finish at the cup like Pierce? Can he post up like Pierce? Is he as athletic? While Larry is the better shooter and will probably score more points, these are the intangibles that are involved with being a ‘pure’ scorer that don’t make Ryans claim as ridiculous as they sound out of context.
May.19 at 1:20 pm
Marcel Mutoni says:
pierce can score in more ways than bird, but ultimately, can’t score as much. which, if i’m not mistaken, is the name of the game. (ryan’s claim is almost like saying someone is a ‘pure writing machine’ just because he knows a lot of fancy words.)
May.19 at 1:22 pm
King David says:
ya’ll have completely lost your mind
he’s not even the best scorer on his team
ray ray is.,,
May.19 at 1:23 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Another way to look at this: Calling Pierce the GPSMICH is a way of complimenting his sick offensive game while also calling out his limitations — he’s not as clutch as Bird, not the ballhandler or passer Cousy was, not the defender Russell was, etc and so forth. It’s focusing on his greatest strength to subtly highlight his weaknesses. Damning with great praise, perhaps. You would never really call Bird the greatest scorer in Celtics history because it would implicitly overlook what a great all-around player he is.
It’s sort of the same logic we used when we argued for Vince as the greatest dunker of all time, if that helps confuse you.
May.19 at 1:23 pm
j rich says:
i’m serious i could guard pierce
May.19 at 1:23 pm
Allenp says:
Bird was a better post player Myles. Remember, he worked cats in the post until the Celtics put McHale in the starting lineup. Pierce is better of the bounce and he’s more athletic, but only slightly more athletic. Bird is the better shooter from any distance. I think Bird is a better scorer. Adding the word “pure” seems to be making a false argument.
May.19 at 1:26 pm
Myles Brown says:
I’ve heard Pierce referred to as such before this and I had no problem with it then either. The multitude of ways with which he can score the rock make him the purest scorer. Its not as though he said Pierce was the “most clutch scorer” or the “best scorer” or even the “best shooter”. He called him the purest and after considering what that means, he might be right.
May.19 at 1:33 pm
Co Co says:
Antoine Walker and I aren’t even going to dignify this with a response
May.19 at 1:33 pm
riggs says:
i love how marcel doesnt back up any of his posts, he just says that youre wrong and hes right and thats it. stephen A of slam? i think so.
May.19 at 1:36 pm
matt the jazz fan says:
pj brown was the purest in terms of shooting percentage yesterday incredible game - too bad west missed that big three or it wudda gone to overtime, methinks… go hornets tonight (hate dem spurrrrrs)
May.19 at 1:37 pm
DDB says:
Bird is easily the better scorer. He could post better, shoot better from the field and the FT. In today’s with the softer rules, he would score more points not only from the field but his FT would increase and we all know how high of a % he shot from the stripe.
May.19 at 1:41 pm
Marcel Mutoni says:
riggs, be a doll and pass the cheeze doodles will ya?
May.19 at 1:46 pm
Squirrel7 says:
I find it amusing that apparently Bird’s lack of athleticism is counting against him, when I’ve always thought P-squared looks like he should spend a bit more time in the gym, and a little less time at the buffet.
May.19 at 1:52 pm
Captain America says:
Pierce is the best of current roster. Comparing
him to NBA legends requires him to earn a few
rings.
May.19 at 1:59 pm
Jackie Moon says:
Sasha Vujacic: Greatest Scoring Machine in Lakers history
May.19 at 2:00 pm
Boston Baller says:
Bird gets this title b/c he could score in just as many ways as Pierce does with a better grade of Defense against him. Bird was pretty good off the dribble and his handle wasn’t as suspect as Pierce’s. I Love Pierce but he may not even be # 2 in this category. Ever heard of Terry Durod??? LOL
May.19 at 2:08 pm
mat smith says:
bird
May.19 at 2:16 pm
Eboy says:
Rifu*kingdiculous.
May.19 at 2:21 pm
Jukai says:
So… even though Bird averaged more points, averaged a better field goal percentage from behind the arc and inside, has a better free throw percentage, had a better “most points scored in a game,” has more fourty point games, has more fifty point games, and has actually won a championship, Paul Pierce is the best pure shooter in Celtics history??
May.19 at 2:22 pm
Jukai says:
I mean, maybe we’re reading this wrong guys. Maybe this is like, a JJ Reddick type compliment. Paul Pierce is the BEST CELTIC OF ALL TIME WHO -ONLY- CAN SCORE. Bird was a better scorer but he could also rebound/pass the friggin’ ball/hit a clutch shot so he’s out of the debate. So is like, every other legendary Celtic of all time.
May.19 at 2:23 pm
Mendel says:
F**K those old pre historic honky’s, THE TRUTH is the greatest CELTIC
May.19 at 2:23 pm
Mendel says:
F**K those old pre historic honky’s, THE TRUTH is the greatest CELTIC
May.19 at 2:23 pm
Mendel says:
F**K those old pre historic honky’s, THE TRUTH is the greatest CELTIC
May.19 at 2:24 pm
Jukai says:
Also, CAN Paul Pierce realy score in more ways than Larry Legend? How many behind-the-backboard shots has PP made??
May.19 at 2:27 pm
Silky Slim says:
Bob Ryan has fallen and bumped his damn head on the floor!
May.19 at 2:28 pm
Mo Charlo says:
Inspectah Deck- best pure rapper in Wu Tang history.
May.19 at 2:30 pm
Eboy says:
“Pre historic honky”, while used incorrectly, is a great, great way to remember Kevin Mchale, Larry Bird, etc.
May.19 at 2:32 pm
underdog says:
What happened to Ray Allen? Shooting with 16% from the 3 point line in seven games against the Cavs? Sounds weird. Shuttlesworth needs to wake up, if he wants to play in the finals.
May.19 at 2:34 pm
tealish says:
Pure scorer just means a guy who can get buckets and buckets. It doesn’t matter the array of different methods one chooses or is limited to employing. PP is a great scorer, but as someone else mentioned above… 4 points in Game 1. That’s not the main reason double P isn’t the greatest pure scoring machine in C’s history, but it’s enough to halt this blasphemy in its tracks for common sense to prevail.
May.19 at 2:34 pm
Jukai says:
Still, it was the best coaching decision Doc Rivers ever made to bench him for the majority fo the game, underdog
May.19 at 2:40 pm
Captain America says:
“Great” scorer means when it counts…i.e., championships. Pierce? Never been.
May.19 at 2:41 pm
vannshy says:
that statement is kinda direspectful for Larry
May.19 at 2:47 pm
underdog says:
As you say Jukai. When Doc brought him back around the 3rd quarter, I started to be worried. But I have to admit, Ray Ray was ice cold at the free throw line, when it was important.
May.19 at 2:49 pm
AC says:
The Truth? Better “scoring machine,” than The Legend? Whatever. Everyone gets hyped after a big win… We’ll have this conversation in about a couple of weeks and see how many wanna pony up PP against the bionic farmhand… because Larry could definately handle the truth.
May.19 at 2:49 pm
Sarah says:
WHAT?!? Dear God..
May.19 at 2:53 pm
underdog says:
I think the expression ‘pure scorer’ is fits better on P-Double than Bird. Larry Legend was rather ‘all-around’.
May.19 at 3:08 pm
peteb80 says:
Hyperbole. Greatest American Pastime?
May.19 at 3:10 pm
RayAllensJ says:
Lot of predictable over-enthusiastic defense of Larry Legend here…I wonder how many people who post here watched full Bird games and Pierce games and can actually make an informed comparison. I don’t think that many people are arguing that Pierce is a better all-around player, however, he’s not as far off as people assume. As a passer, Bird is significantly better. But even as a shooter, Pierce is right behind him considering the difficulty of shots attempted (a factor that is hugely affected by one’s teammates and offensive style). In regard to Bird’s ppg and high-scoring games; we should also consider that in Bird’s time scoring was significantly higher - perhaps a better measure of a scorer is percentage of a team’s points. Here Pierce and Bird are harder to separate considering the work Pierce has put in with Celtics teams of past years that were mediocre at best.
May.19 at 3:17 pm
tealish says:
@RayAllensJ: Ah, so you’ve been hiding HERE.
May.19 at 3:19 pm
Co Co says:
LeBron James is the purest scorer in Cavalier history.
May.19 at 3:19 pm
RayAllensJ says:
lol…its true (but seriously can we give some small credit to cleveland’s hyper-aggressive pick n roll D with allen - they refused to let him get into any kind of offensive rythm)
May.19 at 3:21 pm
Baljit says:
So overhyped it was’nt even that nuts Lebron would havve one that game if his crapy team made two more shots early on and this 41 would’nt have mattered
May.19 at 3:40 pm
PolowthaJon says:
Pervis Ellison?
May.19 at 3:40 pm
PolowthaJon says:
Or maybe Employee #8?
May.19 at 3:43 pm
Jukai says:
@RayAllensJ: Most of us can, man… I mean, have you watched a Pierce game? He had six subpar, Van Horn-level games and one AMAZING game, and suddenly there are comparisons to Larry Bird? What?
May.19 at 3:50 pm
ALLRIGHTS says:
Here’s what Ryan could have said- “P.P is the only closer on this team. If The Celtics have any hope of beating the Pistons they are going to have to ride P.P like a donkey because KG and Ray can’t close nothing.”
May.19 at 3:54 pm
Lz - Cphfinest3 says:
This is just absurd.. He’s the Legend for crying out loud. If you are in doubt go back and watch the 4th quarter of the Nique-Legend game, 20 stonecold points from Larry. PP is nice but not even close.
May.19 at 3:55 pm
RayAllensJ says:
@Jukai: Yes, I have ‘witnessed’ Pierce play many times…obviously, I wouldn’t be making elitist statements insinuating that others haven’t if I myself was not confident in my own experience. But if you have been paying attention, the Bird comparisons did not start after Game 7 - Pierce has been widely acknowledged as one of the elite ’scorers’ in Celtics history - well before the KG trade. I see that you are very passionate in you r opinion that Bird is by far a greater scorer than Pierce - that’s fine, theres a lot of evidence to support your idea. I happen to believe that its a worthy debate and that Pierce doesn’t often get the respect he deserves.
May.19 at 3:56 pm
lane says:
what in the world is this blasphemy ?
PP is better in the Post than Bird ? What ? I guess Tony Parker is better in the post than Chauncey Billups too ?
Bird was better in the post - off the Bounce and from long distance. The only thing Pierce has on Bird is hops. That is it. Bird was a better rebounder - better shooter - better passer - better scorer - BETTER PLAYER period.
May.19 at 3:56 pm
B. Long says:
This is almost as ridiculous as Ryan saying Ray Allen belongs in the HOF. Sorry Ryan, Im still not letting it go. I have bad dreams about him getting inducted before Rasheed and then my eyes start bleeding.
May.19 at 3:57 pm
RayAllensJ says:
@ALLRIGHTS: definitely a much less controversial statement, and a good point. I think Doc should consider the matchup problems that Pierce creates when opposing teams switch the screen and the Celts should be forcing more offense through Pierce (esp on the road!!)
May.19 at 4:01 pm
ALLRIGHTS says:
If I was Doc I would force the Pistons to double Pierce (Tay can’t guard him alone) and pray to God that RayallensJ falls.
May.19 at 4:06 pm
mat smith says:
yeah its wierd seeing ray miss, im so used to seeing it go in, its like watching damon jones in a celts uni….
May.19 at 4:06 pm
RayAllensJ says:
or Eddie!
May.19 at 4:31 pm
speedy says:
He is good but he still has to prove himself on bigger stages than the semis of the eastern conference and more consistently.
May.19 at 4:32 pm
speedy says:
Bob Ryan in the TNT studio together with Charles and Kenny, think about the situation.
May.19 at 4:37 pm
youngmuggsy says:
its about as absurd as kevin garnett being considered an mvp candidate this season.
May.19 at 4:43 pm
Young Chris MP3 says:
I’m with Myles on this one…
May.19 at 4:59 pm
Nick says:
Kevin Mchale:
–Could beat you any which way in the post.
–Shot well over 50% for his career while averaging 20 odd points.
–Wasn’t so much into passing.
May.19 at 5:12 pm
Brandon Hoffman says:
Larry Bird, his 3 rings, and 3 consecutive 3-point shootout titles would beg to differ…
May.19 at 5:55 pm
Mark Z says:
As much as I like Pierce’s game, Bird’s legacy speaks for itself. From the Classic games I’ve seen, Bird was able to score at a ridiculously high level, seemingly at will. He also did it throughout the regular season & the Playoffs for years and years on end. Pierce has been a good to great player on bad to decent teams. It’s impossible to compare them. If Pierce & crew somehow gather up three rings, well then the comparisons can begin…
May.19 at 5:57 pm
Diogo says:
Obviously, Dana Barros.
May.19 at 6:36 pm
ciolkstar says:
P Double’s hops aren’t even that great anymore. I used to really like dude’s game but I feel like he just sort of shuffle’s around looking for contact nowadays. Bob Ryan is an idiot. Ray Allen is extremely overrated.
May.19 at 7:23 pm
Orlando says:
For me it was between Larry Bird, Vin Baker and Bruce Bowen….it was a tight race…but Larry Legend edged them out for the victory. After watching a celtics game a few days ago on ESPN classics, I have come to one conclusion: Robert Parish is dirty!(in every sense of the word)
May.19 at 7:35 pm
The Promise says:
larry bird
May.19 at 9:17 pm
Dacre says:
I LOVE HOW MILES JUSTIFIES ALL OF LARRY BIRDS ABILITY BY SAYING HE’LL EVEN SCORE MORE THAN PP…BUT PIERCE IS THE MOST PROFISCIENT SCORER?????
.
BIRD NEVER HAD AS AN UP AND DOWN SERIES AS PP HAD THIS SERIES….
.
Larry Bird END OF STORY.
May.19 at 10:10 pm
youngmuggsy says:
now that i think about it, it’s not really that absurd, pierce is a ridiculously good scorer and has been for many years. absurd would be saying mark blount is the greatest rebounder ever.
May.20 at 1:42 am
Hursty says:
i thought this woulda been a reggie Miller quote, however it is Bird, then Cousy, then PP then Joe Johnson (right now).
May.20 at 6:01 am
Babykobe24 says:
Last time i checked John Havlechek is the franchises all time leader in points
May.20 at 6:01 am
Babykobe24 says:
Last time i checked John Havlechek is the franchises all time leader in points
May.20 at 9:06 am
whitewater says:
You cant rlly compare Larry Ledgend to P-Double b/c they play(ed) in different eras. But overall Larry produced more.Its kinda hard to say b/e P-Double still has some time. Celtics/Lakers Anyone???
May.20 at 9:59 am
jahmai says:
Paul Pierce is a wonderful player. I hope that his team makes it to the playoffs!
May.20 at 10:20 am
Chay says:
umm haha i gotta say paul peirce good scoring machine. better then Larry Bird. lol doubtful
May.20 at 11:41 am
Blake. says:
Larry any day.
May.20 at 2:07 pm
Allenp says:
hursty, Cousy was a sub 40 percent shooter for his whole career. he was not a scorer and is widely overrated.
May.20 at 4:06 pm
KA says:
I love Paul pierce as much as the next guy who watched out for him while people were fawning over vince and Jason, but that game 7 sure got into a lotta peoples head. would this been hyped as much if it werent for the fact the opposing player was lebron?
May.20 at 9:24 pm
tealish says:
KA: Bron is a hype-magnet. Everything and everyone around him and from him is blown up. How else is DeShawn Stevenson’s name known among even the casual NBA fans? How else is he projected, by a considerable amount of otherwise level-headed people, to go down as one of the greatest, if not THE greatest player of all-time?
May.20 at 9:25 pm
tealish says:
In that second rhetorical question, “he” refers to LeBron — not DeShawn, if anyone is confused.
May.20 at 9:28 pm
Dacre says:
I wasn’t confused about that…but Mark Blount is the greatest Rebounder ever???….Sweet.
May.21 at 9:17 am
whitewater says:
Dacre: no way. try some one bigger. like….say kareem??
May.22 at 6:36 pm
pablo (from Argentina) says:
man, that dude is crazy. Pierce ain´t even in the top 5 of that Celtics list
May.25 at 7:26 am
Ohpityme says:
PP is a very good player and hopefully one day a HOF candidate but to say hes the best Celtic pure scorer is daft…Bird is…end of!
PP is a top 10 Celtic player though…easy!
Jun.9 at 6:08 pm
Drebbin says:
I love Paul Pierce, I have come to realize that he deserves to mentioned in the same breathe as Lebron and Kobe. He plays just as well as they do, when he plays against him. Bird however, averages more ppg, with a higher shooting percentage. The answer is Larry Bird. However Pierce is the third best Celtic of all time behind Russell and Bird. Cousy is fourth and Hondo fifth. If he wins the Celtics win this series, and Pierce wins MVP, the media will have to stop forcing their idea Kobe being the best player in the NBA, and acknowledge that considering they have equal teams, and Pierce has scored essentially the same amount on far less shots; making him more efficient. That yes Pierce is better than Kobe. Lebron doesn’t have help, Kobe does and Pierce thus far is the better and more clutch player in the series. Both James and Pierce have a history of playing unbelieveable against Kobe Bryant teams.
Jun.10 at 8:43 pm
Darnell says:
Pierce is easily the greatest Boston Celtic scorer. If Larry Bird was black, he’d only be considered an average player.