Paul Pierce: Top Five?

[ThaPreacher]

While this has been discussed before. It is relevant based upon his finishing his career
and the recent Jalen Rose list.

Does Paul Pierce make your Top Five Celtics List?

No order.

Here is mine:

Larry Bird
Bill Russell
John Havelicek
Paul Pierce
Kevin McHale

Alas:Bob Cousy-you got bumped.

[Dino Pitino]

Paul Pierce does not bump Bob Cousy. Cousy was MVP of the league once and made the All-NBA 1st team 10 straight years. Pierce finished 7th in MVP voting one year and made the All-NBA 2nd team once.

My top five:

Russell
Bird
Havlicek
Cousy
Cowens

then McHale
then Pierce

[JohnBoy65]

While this has been discussed before. It is relevant based upon his finishing his career
and the recent Jalen Rose list.

Does Paul Pierce make your Top Five Celtics List?

No order.

Here is mine:

Larry Bird
Bill Russell
John Havelicek
Paul Pierce
Kevin McHale

Alas:Bob Cousy-you got bumped.

It depends, is this from a pure statistic and accolade stand point? I know he was here for a short time, but if we're talking impact on the franchise it's hard to come up with someone who had more of an impact on the franchise than KG in the last 20 years. Heck, his attitude and intensity are what current celtics referred to in winning games in Chicago. I know there are a TON of other Celtics great that you can put over KG, but I think he really had such a powerful impact on this franchise, and I don't think it's finished.

Edit: Sorry to hijack the thread. Didn't mean to do that.

[Jon]

Part of me wants to put Pierce up there because of his numbers. But when you consider Cousy and Cowens both won MVPs and more titles than Pierce, it's a hard case to make.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Competition was different, eras are different. Yes, some of them excelled in their respective eras, but few were the total package that was Paul Pierce.

[Surferdad]

Paul Pierce does not bump Bob Cousy. Cousy was MVP of the league once and made the All-NBA 1st team 10 straight years. Pierce finished 7th in MVP voting one year and made the All-NBA 2nd team once.

My top five:

Russell
Bird
Havlicek
Cousy
Cowens

then McHale
then Pierce

Yeah I like that.

[dysgenic]

I've got Pierce ahead of McHale all day.

I'm in my 40s so I'm not going to include anyone I didn't see play other than Russell.

1. Russell
2. Bird
3. Pierce
4. KG
5. Very very close between DJ/McHale

[Eja117]

I'm arguing with myself about KG ahead of Pierce

[Surferdad]

I've got Pierce ahead of McHale all day.

I'm in my 40s so I'm not going to include anyone I didn't see play other than Russell.

1. Russell
2. Bird
3. Pierce
4. KG
5. Very very close between DJ/McHale

If you didn't see Russell, why do you include him?  I don't see the logic. Just include all Celtics players.

[BudweiserCeltic]

So like... Isaiah Thomas climbing the ladder up in here. =P

[2short]

Love Paul but really tough to get past (no order)
Russell
Bird
Hondo
Cousy
Owens
McHale

Then you can start to argue for Paul.  I mean tommy was one heck of a ball player in his day.  Generational its tough.  I don't know how good pierce would have looked playing in the 80's.  Dave Cowens without a doubt would be a superstar in today's nba etc

[ThaPreacher]

Love Paul but really tough to get past (no order)
Russell
Bird
Hondo
Cousy
Cowens
McHale

Then you can start to argue for Paul.  I mean tommy was one heck of a ball player in his day.  Generational its tough.  I don't know how good pierce would have looked playing in the 80's.  Dave Cowens without a doubt would be a superstar in today's nba etc

I think the 15th all time scorer in the NBA, Finals MVP over Kobe's Lakers, would have been stellar in the 80's. Back then he wouldn't have had any trouble getting his shot off.

Hard to keep the Truth off any list.