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Pierce Nearly Joins Boston Infamy

Authored by Craig Settimo - May 6, 2005 - 12:34 pm

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Bill Buckner was an overtime away from having company in Boston sports-lore.

Paul Pierce displaying the second largest choke in Boston history, nearly sent the Celtics home for the Summer.

With 12.9 seconds left in regulation and the Celtics up by one. Antoine Walker in-bounded the ball to Pierce who was two free-throws from a big win in Indianapolis. Instead he took a slap to the face and retaliated. All the way with a technical foul--his second of the game--and was subsequently ejected. Displaying an even larger bout of immaturity Pierce stripped off his shirt and began waving it to the Indy crowd.

Reggie Miller stepped up and hit the free-throw to tie the game. The Pacers chose seldom used Celtic Kendrick Perkins --who hadn't played a meaningful minute in the series--to take Pierce's free throws and he missed them both.

The Pacers had a chance to win it in regulation but couldn't get a quality shot off.

The game was a see-saw affair that had neither team finding a consistent groove. The Celtics found themselves down 10-0 at the outset. Then up by 10 in the during the third quarter.

Both teams turned cold in the fourth quarter with the Pacers slowing clawing back. After the Peirce debacle the Celtics were able to compose themselves and close out the Indianapolis in overtime.

However all the talk after this game was about Pierce who had the understatement of the year when he said "I lost my cool."

Late in the fourth quarter a commercial aired that shows Pierce envisioning his retired number among Boston's greats; Cousy, Bird, McHale, and Parrish. Pierce has a long way to go if he ever thinks his name will be joining them in the rafters.

What Pierce has to remember is the best way to retaliate in sports is to walk of a winner. The Celtics might have won on Thursday but Pierce was far from being a winner.