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2 hours ago

5 Questions With Kemba Walker

I had a chance to talk with Bobcats rookie Kemba Walker prior to the Celtics game against Charlotte on Tuesday night.  Here is what the UConn star, who is averaging 12.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game had to say. 1. How much communication have you had with Michael Jordan this year? Walker: [...]

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23 hours ago

I Am Awesome!

Yes. This is a “pat myself on the back” post because a) I’m a jackass and b) I predicted something correctly. Back on January 8th, I predicted that the next ten games will tell us everything we need to know about this Celtics’ team. If they struggled, it was time to blow it up. If [...]

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1 day ago

Pierce Wins Eastern Conference Player Of Week

One day before he’s scheduled to pass Larry Bird for second on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list, Paul Pierce won the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. Pierce averaged 22 points, 6.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds in four Boston wins, playing point forward in Rajon Rondo’s absence. Pierce is only 9 points behind Bird [...]

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2 days ago

Garnett’s Wondrous 3-point Rant

Via ESPN Boston’s Chris Forsberg, who knows a great, playful rant when he hears one, here’s Kevin Garnett discussing his not-so-newfound aptitude for three-point shooting after the C’s took down the Grizzlies. “When I walk around the streets, y’all stop acting like y’all shocked that I can shoot 3’s. Everybody in Boston, everybody in the [...]

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2 days ago

5 Questions With O.J. Mayo

I talked with Memphis guard O.J. Mayo prior to the Celtics-Grizzlies, Super Bowl Sunday game at the Garden.  Here is what the 4th year man out of USC, who is averaging 12.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2 assists per game had to say. 1. You started every game your first two years in the league, [...]

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4 days ago

5 Questions With Landry Fields

I talked with New York starting guard Landry Fields prior to the Celtics-Knicks game at the TD Garden.  Here is what the 2nd year man out of Stanford, who is averaging 10 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists had to say. 1.  I’m sure you guys are frustrated with your record to this point of [...]

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Paul Pierce’s First Ever Playoff Game-Winner

 

Amid the celebrations and flagrant foul debates that followed Game 5, I forgot to acknowledge a first in Paul Pierce’s wonderful career: The jumper he hit with 3.4 seconds left in overtime to put the Celtics ahead in Game 5 was his first ever game-winning shot in the playoffs. 

A few months ago, 82games.com updated its database of game-winning (or potential game-winning) shots, defined as shots taken with less than 24 seconds remaining in regulation (or overtime) in a tie game or one in which the shooter’s team trails by one or two points.

The update prompted me to dig into game logs for all 63 playoff games Paul Pierce had played before this season in order to rank his five best clutch performances. There are some legendary games on this list, topped by his 41-point Game 7 masterpiece against the Cavs last season.

But one thing was missing: In 63 games, Paul Pierce had never made a game-winning field goal under the 82games definition. Without going through the game logs again, I’d estimate he was something like 0-of-3 or 0-of-4 from the field in game-winning situations. 

So yesterday’s jumper was another little milestone in the Truth’s Hall of Fame career. 

Hopefully the C’s won’t need the second one to win Game 6.

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