Paul Pierce Passes Larry Bird as 2nd All-Time Celtics Scorer

ESPN –  Boston Celtics captain Paul Pierce passed Larry Bird to move into second place on the franchise’s list of all-time leading scorers during Tuesday night’s 94-84 win over the Charlotte Bobcats at TD Garden.  Pierce buried a 3-pointer from the right wing with 10:23 to go in the third quarter to move past Bird, who scored 21,791 points during his career, spent entirely with the Celtics. Only John Havlicek has scored more in team history with 26,395 points.  “I’m not going to lie, it was hanging over my head too much,” Pierce said of his first-half struggles. “How could it not? With every deep breath that the crowd was taking, every shot that went up, it was just like, you could just feel it. And it was hard to really ignore it and really focus on the game.  “Then Coach (Doc Rivers) said, ‘Hurry up and get it out of the way.’ It was a relief once I hit that one 3, so I could really concentrate and focus on the game.”  Pierce sits 28th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He soon will leapfrog another former Celtic in Gary Payton (21,813) and is on the heels of San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (22,009) with eyes on moving into the top 25.  Big Three brethren Ray Allen (24th) and Garnett (19th) already are in that club, as are Celtics legends Robert Parish (23,334 — 18,245 of which came in Boston) and Havlicek.

Nothing like forgetting about the Super Bowl That Shall Not Be Named then basking in another Boston sports accomplishment.  Paul Pierce passing Larry Bird as an all-time Celtics scorer is a huge deal.  Larry Bird is the face of the franchise and Paul Pierce will easily go down as one of the greatest Celts ever.  He was on terrible teams, he was on great teams, but he was always the leader out there, even when he was young.  His leadership brought us a championship and he’s one of the biggest fan-favorites in Boston sports.  21,792 points, all with the same team.  That’s a hell of an accomplishment that you don’t see much any more.  The rafters in the Garden are definitely saving a space for #34, I just hope he gets a chance to prove to the world he’s one of the best.