Pierce (41) Puts Celtics on His Back in Game 7

Couper Moorhead
May 18, 2008
Celtics.com

The free throw that could give the Boston Celtics a two-possession lead with 7.9 seconds left in Game 7 looked good from the moment it left Paul Pierce's fingertips until it struck back iron. As thousands gasped, the ball jumped eight feet, straight up and a little south. It took it's time falling, but when it did -- with a little help from a friend -- it was good.

"The ghost of Red [Auerbach] just looking over us," Pierce said. "I think he kind of tapped it in the right direction and it went through the net and it sort of put a smile on my face. Just the way the night was going."

Ditto for Pierce's playoffs.

Tasked with guarding LeBron James over the course of the Conference Semifinals, Pierce had suffered bumps and bruises galore, with his offense suffering. Averaging a mere 15.8 points, Pierce resembled something more ordinary than to which fans have become accustomed. But when James (45 points) threatened to end Boston's season, Pierce turned in a masterpiece 41-point performance, captaining the Celtics to a 97-92 victory in Game 7.

Paul Pierce celebrates after eliminating the Cleveland Cavaliers and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for a date with the Detroit Pistons.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty

"Tonight was very simple, get the ball to Paul Pierce, get the hell out the way," Kevin Garnett said. "That's exactly what it was . . . that was the game plan, that is what we did."

The fear before Game 7 was that LeBron would evade the Celtics' trapping defense and carry the Cavaliers. He did exactly that, but so did Pierce, trading shots with LeBron and shredding every look the Cavaliers threw at him with soaring 15-foot jumpers.

"When we jumped out and showed, he was able to split our shows and the pick and roll," Cavaliers Coach Mike Brown said. "When we blitzed him, he was able to dribble around and get around our double team. We didn't do a good job containing him, and then he hit some tough shots.

"He played a hell of a game and you need to give him credit."

Pierce had scored 20 points just three times in the playoffs -- more than just 22 once. He had reached 30 points just three times in 2008 and never hit for 40. So he was due for an offensive explosion.

"I have been waiting on Paul for that. I haven't seen that Paul Pierce since I've been here," P.J. Brown said. "I told him, 'It is time to see that.' It was Game 7, the big stage, I'm sure that was one of the biggest games of his career."

Forty-one points, five assists and four rebounds -- Pierce has had better lines, yet none will be remembered like this one. But Pierce's biggest play had nothing to do with any number on the stat sheet.

With one minute to play and the Celtics up 91-88, James Posey and Zydrunas Ilgauskas got tied up on a rebound forcing the jump ball. As the ball hung in the air, so did the series. One tip to a red jersey could mean Boston's peril, to green -- a trip to Detroit. But the ball was tapped towards an empty pocket at midcourt, where Pierce dove head first before being mobbed by Cavaliers.

When the scrum cleared, it was Pierce -- like the running back at the bottom of the end-zone pile -- clutching the ball. Timeout Boston.

"That's what the playoffs are all about, making plays," Rivers said. "Getting the loose balls and doing the little things."

In shepherding the Celtics to an Eastern Conference Finals matchup with the Detroit Pistons, Pierce did things of all shapes and sizes. All of them added up to maybe a career-defining performance but definitely one to place in the annals of Garden lore.

"This will go down in history," James said.