Rowan Kavner Digital Content Coordinator
BOSTON - Wednesday night might’ve marked the last time Paul Pierce walks into TD Garden, where he’ll go down as one of the all-time Celtics greats.
It seemed every Boston fan in the arena recognized that, providing Pierce the loudest ovation of the night as his name was announced last among Clippers players during pregame introductions.
“I mean, they don’t know if this is his last time there or not,” head coach Doc Rivers said before the game, eventually getting the same treatment as Pierce with his named called immediately after. “He may play next year, he may play the next year after that, but he could hang it up. So I think every time he walks into that building, really over anybody on our (former Celtics) teams, Paul’s the guy.
“I mean, he started it all. He was there with me and even before me through some hard years, so he persevered and got a ring, and so I think he probably epitomizes the city more than any single player over the last 30 years.”
Rivers said the one thing about Boston fans is they “get it.” The “it” is always referencing the fans’ knowledge in some way. knew, after a postseason loss to Miami while Rivers was the coach, that it could’ve been the end of the Celtics’ core, so Rivers remembers them staying, standing up cheering anyway.
When Rivers recalls some of his favorite memories from his time in Boston, the 2008 championship he shared with Pierce obviously stands out most, but he also remembers the game that sent him to the Finals, and he remembers that bittersweet moment when the fans still celebrated the team even after a late postseason defeat.
“That was an extremely special moment,” Rivers said. “You have a chance to have a lot of special moments here, and some of them are created by the fans and not the game. That moment was created by the fans. It had nothing to do with the game. We got out butt kicked, and the fans created a special moment for us, because they ‘got it.’”
On Wednesday, that “it” was the fans’ knowledge they might be seeing one of their all-time favorites for the last time.
For the first time since their days together in Boston, Pierce and Rivers were inside TD Garden together. And even after Pierce and Rivers received a tremendous welcome, they still cheered Pierce as he knocked down two first-quarter 3-pointers against the Celtics, adding to the many special moments Pierce has already experienced in Boston.
Then they gave him a standing ovation as his shot past half court went through just after the buzzer at the end of the first half.
“It’s always special when you step in The Garden,” Pierce said. “The bulk of my career, I spent 15 years here, provided so many memories, won a championship here. It’s a special floor, special fans, special building.”
Even if that building’s a little different now for Pierce and Rivers.
“The weirdest part is just being on this side of the bench and this side of the locker room,” Pierce said. “The locker room’s a little weird. I’m used to walking in this building, taking the steps, making a right instead of a left. It’s fun, though, and I get to enjoy it – if this is the last time – with Doc.”