Pierce

Paul Pierce's got game. In real life and in videoland. He even takes a system on road trips so he can play video games from the Celtics' hotel. So after we ask him to check out Sega's NBA 2K2, Pierce grabs the controller like the old pro that he is and goes to work. His team is an easy choice – the Celtics. The opponent takes some thought. He starts off against the Wizards. "I wanna see some of MJ," he says, but then he changes his mind. "This is going to be the Eastern Conference Finals preview," Pierce announces and clicks on the logo for the Philadelphia 76ers. Game on.

Game 1:

Pierce doesn't go straight to the tipoff, rather he takes in the spectacle of the team introductions. "The faces look so real," he observes. "Just watch the faces." Pierce grins as Allen Iverson is announced. "They've got the tatts!" he cries, seeing the artwork running up and down Iverson's arms. Pierce falls silent, but his smile widens as the introductions switch over to his teammates – Kenny Anderson … Antoine Walker … Paul PIERCE! He chuckles softly as the cyber Pierce pounds his chest and jumps into the pile of daps and hugs. Then real Pierce has seen enough and clicks over to the tipoff.

The game begins with a position observation – "They've got 'Toine at the three," Pierce says, but has larger issues at hand as he launches a wayward shot. "They play better defense on this one!" Walker sinks the game's first shot 1:09 into the first quarter and Pierce keeps firing reviews as well. "I like the commentating." Cyber Pierce hits a trey with 3:07 to go and follows with two more in the next minute and a half. "You know what to do," real Pierce commands his screen version, who promptly nails another one from behind the arc. The Celtics have run off 12 unanswered points to hold a commanding 16-3 lead.

Cyber Iverson works on Pierce's Celtics in NBA 2K2: 1,047k avi

"The Sixers can't score. They're having problems scoring," Pierce gloats and runs his Celts back up for another offensive possession. Walker's trey slides easily through the net, extending the score to 19-3 as Pierce nods his approval. "That's the money ball," he says. Iverson hits a jumper, but it's measly compared to Boston's offensive prowess. Pierce is all confidence. "The computer's not ready for me!" 1st Q: BOS 19, PHI 5

Pierce makes some adjustments before the second quarter. "Me at the four, 'Toine at the five and all the rest rookies. Give us some energy rooks!" Joe Johnson responds with a foul for reaching in and Pierce has to laugh. "They'd give an All-Star that call. Not a rookie." Pierce had heard that rookie forward Kedrick Brown had "mad hops" in this game, so he immediately puts his cyber teammate to work. Brown hits the next three shots. "Just rise up and shoot your J," Pierce coaches. "Kedrick's sweet on here!"

But the ball doesn't stay out of cyber Pierce's hands for long. "If he hits this, he'll have four three-pointers on the night," the video game's color analyst announces. "Oh we're going for it then," real Pierce answers. The shot clanks off the rim, but cyber Pierce follows it for a rebound slam.

The Celtics' next shot falls short and Pierce gets on his players. "You're forcing the issue. You've got to pass." He turns to the room. "We live and die by the three." Pierce is still enamored by his rookie teammate. "That looks just like Kedrick," he says as Brown inbounds the ball. Cyber Pierce hits a three with :39 seconds left in the half and while the Sixers made some headway in this quarter, the Celtics still have a big lead – thanks to 66 percent field goal shooting. Half: BOS 30, PHI 17

The Sixers score six points in the first minute of the second half, but the Celtics answer with an 8-0 run over the next two minutes. Walker and Pierce take turns with the scoring duties – a J from Pierce, a slam from Walker. "Oh don't fade," real Pierce cries as his alter ego misses a jumper.

The camera goes to the Sixers sideline. "Alright Larry Brown, I've got something for you," Pierce serves up some smack and a stat graphic only eggs him on. "Iverson has been limited to four points today, ladies and gentlemen," he announces to the room. Meanwhile cyber Pierce takes what his human form terms "another bad shot" and before you know it, the Sixers have rattled off eight unanswered points. Two Iverson free throws make it 10. Anderson has four fouls and at the end of the quarter, Philadelphia is catching up. 3rd: BOS 40, PHI 33

Pierce goes back to the passing game to start the fourth quarter, but the Sixers have picked up their defense. "Oh good ball movement," he nods his approval. "Everything's covered though" and the Celtics pick up a shot clock violation. A Milt Palacio dunk breaks the impasse with 4:20 to go, but he gets called for a charging foul. Iverson makes it a five-point game with a 15-footer and Pierce has gotten quiet.

Palacio hits another shot, but this time the foul is called on Aaron McKie, giving Palatio a three-point play. "We needed that one," Pierce says as the Celtics' lead extends to 43-35. Cyber Pierce misses again and real Pierce shows his frustration. "Let's go! Push the lead!" He comments to the room, "They're making me look nasty on the floor." The Sixers stay with their tight D. "Man, we can't buy a bucket. I don't know if I've scored this quarter."

His alter ego misses short and real Pierce has had enough. "Get me out of the game," he commands. "I'm tired or something." A look at the vitals show that cyber Pierce's energy level is only at 60, so Johnson checks back in. "We're going to let the rookies finish this one," Pierce announces. "Go to Kedrick late and see what he can do."

Pierce gets a helping hand from teammate Antoine Walker in 2K2: 848k avi Quicktime

With 1:06 to play, Dikembe Mutombo fouls Brown and two free throws give the Celtics the 45-39 lead. A baseline jumper by Robert Traylor closes the gap to four. At 32 seconds remaining, Johnson hits a three and Pierce couldn't be prouder. "That's a big shot. Rook took it over. Way to show poise," he commends. Celtics lead 48-41.

But George Lynch gets the dunk and the foul to make it a four-point game again, with just 18 ticks left. The Sixers then start trying to stop the clock. Anderson makes one free throw after he is intentionally fouled. Celtics lead 49-44, but can't keep their hands to themselves. Iverson goes to the free throw line, makes the first one and misses the second, but Lynch is there for the tip-in. 49-46 Celtics, 4.4 seconds left.

Pierce has gotten very quiet, both hands on the controller, both eyes on the screen.

Another intentional foul begets another free throw from Anderson, taking the game out of reach by a three-pointer. Which turns out to be huge. Lynch nails a trey at the buzzer, making the Celtics' win a squeaker. Final: BOS 50, PHI 49

Cyber Pierce is named the player of the game, with 20 points and just like in the introductions, pounds his chest. The Sixers wound up outshooting the Celtics -- 55 percent to 43 percent -- but committed twice as many turnovers.

Parting Shots:

Pierce is positive in his reviews. "I like the overall graphics on the game. I think they move well," he says. "I like this. I think it's the best NBA game out. I think it's more realistic." As for cyber Pierce, real Pierce wasn't too happy about the second-half meltdown. "They could have given me some more love. I missed too many shots. They need to make me a little sweeter on part three." He says his alter ego has "similar" looks to the real life version and "a lot of the same moves." Still, the final score was a little too close for comfort to this veteran gamesman and Pierce is already itching to show the computer – and the Sixers – who's boss in another go-round.