Pierce Eyes Bird On Celtics All-Time Scoring List
BOSTON (CBS) - Paul Pierce will likely take another step in cementing his legacy in Boston Celtics history on Tuesday night.
The C's forward is just 10 points away from passing Larry Bird on the franchise's all-time scoring list, and will likely do so as the Celtics host the lowly Charlotte Bobcats at the TD Garden.
Pierce, fresh off being named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, is averaging 18.5 points per game this season, to go with 5.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds. He helped the Celtics to four wins last week, averaging 22 points in those contests.
Once Pierce got going after a slow start to the season, the Celtics followed suit.
The C's are currently riding a four-game win streak, and are winners of eight of their last nine. Pierce is one of the main reasons for that.
Preview: Celtics Host Bobcats
When Pierce passes Bird, he will have only John Havlicek's 26,395 career points ahead of him.
It has been a long road for Pierce, who has spent all 14 seasons of his NBA career with the Celtics after being drafted 10th overall in 1998. Despite some poor teams, and some juvenile moments on those bad teams, he has always been the best all-around player on the C's. Along with his scoring prowess, Pierce is one of the more underrated defenders. He proved that during the Celtics 2007 championship run, locking down the likes of Lebron James and Kobe Bryant en route to the Celtics 17th title in franchise history.
There is no doubt he will one day have his number-34 hanging in the Garden rafters, among all the other greats to wear green.
