Is Pierce a Top 5 All Time Celtic?

[xmuscularghandix]

1. Russel.......Antoine would be first if he won a ring here
2. Bird
3. Hondo
4. Pierce
5. Cousy
6. McHale
7. Cowens
8. JoJo White
9. Robert Parish
10. Scal. But seriously the tenth choice would be tough for me.

Btw I am only 17 and basing my list on from what I have heard from my family elders, who are die hard C fans, and stats.  

Anyone who is 17 and lists Jo Jo White in the Celtics hierarchy gets a Tommy from me. Way to go kiddo. I would have awarded two more Tommys if you added Paul Silas to the list. I wish he was on the team today.

You would have gotten WAY more Tommy Points if you put Tommy on

[Redz]

Sam Jones gets so little love on these lists.

[xmuscularghandix]

Sam Jones gets so little love on these lists.

If Sam Jones in 1964-65, at the age of 31, had an MVP caliber season, the only problem is that he wasn't the only person on The Celtics who was in the discussion. And thats why our teams were so good. 

But if Sam Jones was drafted one pick earlier to Syracuse he probably plays more minutes early and is having 2,000 pt seasons after 2 years... like Pierce.

The 60's Celtics were the equivalent of us Drafting KG in 95, Ray in 96, and Paul in 98, and then them just having an Umbuntu mentality immediately when they come into the league. 

[celticinorlando]

top 10

[Michael Anthony]

I take Parish over Pierce if I am starting a franchise. Cowens too.

But the question isn't who'd you start a franchise with, just who is in the top 5.

I understand the question, and my answer is above - that, in my opinion, is the key to determining value or position in the "Top X List".

Its why Russel is above Bird.

[Larry for 3]

I have a hard time ranking Paul Pierce ahead of Kevin Mchale. Kevin Mchale was one of if not the greatest post player in NBA history.  Paul Pierce is great but....  what I'm trying to say is Mchale played his position for the Celtics better than Pierce played his- slightly. Mchale is more likely to dominate a big game than Pierce, although it is very debatable.
Mchale was extremely hard to stop, you stop Pierce sometimes, but it's so close like Kevin is an 9.4 out of 10 and Paul is an 9.3.  ( Russell & Bird are 10 out of 10 Celtics)

[celticinorlando]

1. russell
2. bird
3. cousy
4. hondo
5. sam jones
6 pierce
7 mchale
8 cowens
9 parrish
10 jo jo

[PLamb]

There is no bigger Paul Pierce fan than I, but he is not Top 5 ... Top 10, yes, Top 5, no.

Finally got to someone I agree with in this thread

Hitting the giveth one button for that

I don't know if it's because I'm an old fart or because I lived through those 70's Celtics and had my dad and uncles wax on nostalgic about their 60's Celtics, but there are some Celtics getting NO respect from many here and I have to assume it's because of age and exposure

In no particular order these Celtics are better all-time great Celtics than Pierce, and I love Pierce

Bill Russell
Bob Cousy
Tommy Heinsohn
John Havilcek
Sam Jones
Dave Cowens
Larry Bird
Kevin McHale

And at this point it gets very close between Pierce, Parish,  Sharman and Ramsay, though I think Pierce would be next, but it is close

Pierce is definitely a Top 10 Celtic but by a lot further down that list than most younger generation Celtic fans think and Barkley's comment isn't that far off from being the truth and not some "hating", whatever that is

[cdif911]

wait, everyone's forgetting Antoine....

[BballTim]

wait, everyone's forgetting Antoine....

  Or at least trying to. Thanks for spoiling that.

[moiso]

I think Cowens should be higher than most have him.
1. Russell, 2. Bird 3. Hondo 4. Cousy 5. Cowens 6. McHale 7. Pierce.

[PLamb]

I think Cowens should be higher than most have him.
1. Russell, 2. Bird 3. Hondo 4. Cousy 5. Cowens 6. McHale 7. Pierce.

AMEN

Cowens averaged 18.9 PPG and 15.1 RPG his first 8 years in Boston

In that time he won Rookie of the Years, MVP, All-Star MVP and 2 World Championships

He was in the top 4 of MVP voting 4 times

Played in 7 All-Star games

Was All-NBA second team 3 times, All-Defensive Team once and All Defensive second team twice

All this while competing against guys like Abdul Jabbar, Walton, Thurmond, Bellamy and Lanier, guys much, much bigger than he was or guys like Thompson(for a couple years), Unseld, Hayes, and Reed who were his size but twice the athlete that Cowens was

Cowens played and amazing amount of games against guys that was an All-Star or future Hall of Famer due to the much smaller size of the NBA

[Chief]

I think my selections in Casperian's poll were

#1 - Russell
#2 - Bird
#3 - Havlicek
#4 - Cowens
#5 - McHale
#6 - Cousy
#7 - Pierce
#8 - Parish

I'm pretty happy with that. I don't think I'd change those rankings.

I 100% agree with this list. Paul has nothing to be ashamed of. All of those players are Hall of Famers.

[PLamb]

I think my selections in Casperian's poll were

#1 - Russell
#2 - Bird
#3 - Havlicek
#4 - Cowens
#5 - McHale
#6 - Cousy
#7 - Pierce
#8 - Parish

I'm pretty happy with that. I don't think I'd change those rankings.

I 100% agree with this list. Paul has nothing to be ashamed of. All of those players are Hall of Famers.

A very good list though I would include Sam Jones in there as well

[drab714]

my list would be
1. Bill Russell
2. Larry Bird
3. Bob Cousy
4. John Havlicek
5. Tommy Heinsohn
6. Kevin McHale
7. Robert Parish
8. Paul Pierce
9. JoJo White
10. Sam Jones