Round 1 - SCORING: Odom is a dude that can go off for 20 any night of the season, but Pierce does it with much more consistency (career average of 22.9 ppg). With a dependable three-point shot and a propensity of getting to the line (and making those charity stripe shots), Pierce has been Boston’s best scorer since Larry Legend laced them up in the old Garden. Odom plays well outside of the paint too, but Pierce is much more of an attacking scorer and can come at you in a multitude of ways. Winner: PIERCE

Round 2 - FLOOR GAME: Is there any player who better epitomizes floor game for a big man than Odom? It definitely isn’t Pierce—although he is deft at handling the ball and running the floor, Odom is the standard to which teams, players and fans compare all agile forwards. Pat Riley even said that Odom is the only player who could match the ability of Magic Johnson. His versatility sets him apart and makes him such a dangerous threat on both ends of the court. Winner: ODOM

Round 3 - DEFENSE: Given his ability to defend guards, forwards and even centers, Odom should run away with this category. But don’t doubt Pierce’s defensive prowess. The key to Boston’s resurgence has been their D and P-Double is a vital part of that mentality. But since much of his success is built around a team philosophy on D and Odom is the better on-ball and one-on-one defender, we give a slight nod to the Laker. Winner: ODOM

Round 4 - CLUTCH: Paul Pierce has always been option numero uno in the Bean and even with the arrival of KG and Ray, he still gets plenty of looks with the clock running towards zero. Throughout his career he has shown a knack for thriving in the spotlight, from leading Boston back from the dead against New Jersey in the 2002 Playoffs, to his triumphant return against L.A. in Game 1 of the 2008 Finals. Odom has been given the spotlight before—most notably with the Clippers and Heat—and while he doesn’t shy away from being “the man,” he is much more efficient as a second or third option. Plus, we all know that those last-second shots for the Lakers are reserved for #24. Winner: PIERCE

Round 5 - LEADERSHIP: From ’98-06, Pierce was the face of the franchise in Boston. He may not have always been the general Celtics fans clamored for in the vein of a McHale, Bird or Parish, but he was undoubtedly their heart and soul. When Kevin Garnett arrived in ’07, many expected him to become the new leader of the green army, but he firmly stated in the beginning that this was Truth’s team. As Boston has flourished these past few seasons, it’s become even more clear how important Pierce is to their success, as he is one of the best captains in the League. Odom has never been given a fair shake on a good team to be the outright leader—you could say he had a good opportunity to with the Clips, but he and that team were too young at the time. We’re not saying Odom doesn’t lead by example, but with Phil Jax and Kobe on your side, you don’t always have to be the rah-rah, in your face type. Odom was a huge key in the Lakers reclaiming the title last season, but when they retire #34 into the rafters of the TD Garden, one of the words that will be in everyone’s speeches that night will be “leader.” Winner: PIERCE

THE VERDICT While both players look dissimilar on paper, they are alike in many ways. The way they have adapted to each of their team’s philosophies has been critical for each guy copping one ring the last two years, as each brings a little bit of everything to the table. We loved the way Odom stepped it up in last season’s playoffs, but Pierce is the more consistent contributor in Boston’s blueprint. In a split decision, it’s Pierce 3-2.