Pierce proving peerless for C’s this season

While it hasn’t always come easily, the Boston Celtics have managed to earn themselves a terrific record through the first month of the NBA season. With the additions of Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels, Celtics coach Doc Rivers has had his hands full trying to get the best out of his new reinforcements. Factor in the ongoing reinvention of Kevin Garnett and the early loss of Glen Davis, and Celtics fans should be more than happy with what they have seen from Gang Green thus far.The one constant that the Celtics have had for over a decade now is the play of their captain, Paul Pierce. While Pierce may not get the accolades that some of his contemporaries do, it is Pierce who is quietly carving out his place in the NBA Hall of Fame.Currently, “The Truth” ranks as the Celtics’ third all-time leader in points scored. He is the franchise leader in three-point field goals made, and he is second in both made free throws and steals. The fact is that without Pierce, this particular edition of the Boston Celtics would be lost.Pierce has not only been the Celtics’ best player, he has arguably been the most complete player in the entire league through the first month of play. Following the Celtics’ Sunday-night win in Miami, Rivers let the media know who his early choice for MVP was.”He’s the MVP in the league as far as I’m concerned,” Rivers said, “just all the things – leadership, preparation, his intensity on the floor, scoring, assisting. Even on nights he didn’t have big numbers, he made the timely baskets or made a timely defensive play. He’s just been very impressive.”What the Celtics fans are witnessing with Pierce is extremely rare in modern-day sports. While it may be hard to believe, #34 is the third-longest-tenured player in the NBA, with 11 years under his belt in Boston. It appears that Pierce will eventually finish his career with the team that drafted him. In the age of salary caps, free agency, and larger-than-life egos, what the Celtics have in Pierce is truly a throwback player. Celtics fans should take a moment and enjoy what the captain is giving them, for at 32 years old, Pierce is having his finest season as a pro.Winning an NBA championship is not an easy task, nor can it be won (or lost) in a single month of play. However, if the early play of Pierce is any indication of things to come, Celtics fans can certainly look forward to a long playoff run. While Rivers will continue to have to work with new players and adjust to injured ones, the one thing he will not have to worry about is the play of his captain, Pierce.