Maybe a few years ago. I love Pierce but he doesn't play at that high of a level anymore. Look at how he got completely manhandled by Artest in Game 7. The Pierce of old would not have gone down like that, regardless of how good of a defender Artest is (Wade, LeBron, Kobe certainly would not).
Maybe a few years ago Shaq.
I'm not even going to argue that Paul Pierce is at a level of the three guys mentioned, but I take exception to the claim that Wade, James and Bryant "would not have gone down like that."
As a matter of fact, they did go down like that last season.
In each player's final game of the season:
FG-FGAS 3P-3PA ASTS TOS OREBS REBS STLS BLKS PTS
Wade: 10-24 2-7 10 7 2 8 1 2 31
James: 8-21 2-4 10 9 3 19 3 1 27
Bryant: 6-24 0-6 2 4 4 15 1 0 23
Pierce: 5-15 2-3 2 3 1 10 1 1 18
Based on those numbers, as well as watching the games, one can say that James and Wade went out with very subpar efforts. The Celtics D obviously had alot to do with that. Ditto for Pierce, and, as much as it absolutely pains me to write, credit to Ron Artest and the Lakers D in that game 7.
Now, unfortunately, very, very, very, unfortunately, Bryant walked away from his last game of the season a winner. So, it won't really be remembered what an absolute stinker it was. Man, a couple of more rebounds, some made 3s, a few plays here or there, and Kobe Bryant goes down as a huge goat.
[dang], this post hurts. The memories are painful, but the truth must be told. Those guys are not invincible, and we may be the only team that has the potion to defeat them.
Bring on'10-'11!!