Nothing but the truth: The last ride of Paul Pierce

By Daniel Tran | May 18, 2015

May 15, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (34) reacts after getting hit in the face against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

The career of Paul Pierce is coming to a close, but that does not mean he has gone quietly into the night.

One of the great truths of the world is the inevitability of the end. No matter how great a force is or how long a presence has been able to sustain itself, there is no immortality or protection from the unavoidable conclusion that all of us will face. Whether it is that procrastination fest known as finals weeks in schol, your in-laws invasion of your sacred home, or a very fruitful NBA career, everything comes to an end.

When John Wall whipped the ball to Paul Pierce with 1.5 seconds left and a three-point deficit in Game 6 of the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks conference semifinal series, there was little doubt in anyone’s mind at the Verizon Center about how that game was going to end. They, like many NBA fans, have seen this movie before.

Pierce, like an aging gunslinger in an old western talkie, delivered. He dribbled hard into the corner and pulled up for an impossible fade away three-point shot and drilled it, seemingly giving new life to the Wizards season and extending Pierce’s career for another five minutes.

However, Pierce was denied the opportunity to play the hero like he has so many times in his career when this newfangled thing called “instant replay technology” revealed that the ball was still in Pierce’s finger tips when the clock hit zero. By the same fingertips in which he now stroked his face with disbelief, the Washington Wizards season was over and with it, maybe his career.

As much as Randy Whittman and the rest of the Washington Wizards beg and plead, Paul Pierce’s days as an NBA player look as if they will come to an end sooner rather than later.

“I don’t even know if I’m going to play basketball anymore,” Pierce said frankly to reporters.

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Paul Pierce knew that this day would come. It may not have been with same jersey he started with, but rarely do players get that sort of luxury. However, with Washington, he at least got a chance to bow out by playing some of the most clutch basketball he’s ever played, even by his lofty standards.

Brought into the Wizards organization to provide leadership to a young team and knock down shots from distance while being spoon-fed by John Wall and the efforts of Nene Hilario on the inside. Pierce was in the final stages of his career, relegated to being a true role player after years of being “the Man” on the Boston Celtics.

Pierce would average 26.2 minutes per game for season, scoring a career-low 11.9 points per game. However, he kept his three-point shooting sharp, converting 38.9 percent of his shots from beyond the arc, and was the veteran presence that helped the team to a 46-36 record.

Then, like all the greats before him, Paul Pierce took his game to another level during the playoffs when the team needed him the most. The Toronto Raptors and the Atlanta Hawks became well versed in his big shot capabilities.

In game one against the Raptors in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, Pierce scored five of his 20 points in the overtime period to seal the game. In game three of the same series, he knocked down a dagger three-pointer with 18 seconds left to put the game out of reach while yelling, “that’s why I’m here.”

Before his buzzer beater was wiped away in game six, Pierce drilled a corner three-pointer in game five with the series tied 2-2 to put the Wizards ahead by one point, only to foiled by an incredible put back by Al Horford to steal the game for the Hawks. Before that, Pierce hit a step back bank shot to sink the Hawks in game three at the buzzer in game three of the conference semifinal round, claiming to have called, “game” when he put up the shot.

Pierce would finish the playoffs shooting a scorching 52.4 percent from three-point range and averaging 14.6 points per game. Though he was 37, he achieved playoff career-highs in three-point shooting percentage and effective field goal percentage.

Though his overall numbers were falling, his confidence never faltered. His advanced age by NBA standards has emboldened him to be more unfiltered and truthful in letting his opinions be known. In a piece written by Jackie MacMullan of ESPN, Pierce transformed from “the Truth” to “the Truth Bomb.”

"“Before I got [to Brooklyn], I looked at Deron as an MVP candidate. But I felt once we got there, that’s not what he wanted to be. He just didn’t want that.”"

His opinions didn’t stop at former teammates. He lit into his current teammates as well.

"“Both [John Wall and Bradley Beal] have the potential to be great. I love them. But sometimes I’m not sure they realize what it takes. That was [Rajon] Rondo‘s problem, too. Some days he did, some days he didn’t. I think it’s more this generation. A lot of these players have been catered to since the sixth grade. The NBA is changing so much.”"

"“Otto [Porter Jr.] is another one who just doesn’t understand how good he is. He can shoot, he’s a slasher, he can defend, I’m just not sure how badly he wants it every day. That kid just needs to get mad. If he came to practice ticked off and to the games ticked off, he’d be fine. But it’s hard to get Otto mad. I should punch him one day just to get him riled up.”"

The truth is a powerful weapon, but just like the player that carries it as a namesake, it can fade into the background after being exposed for so long. Paul Pierce’s career may be drawing to a close, but the honesty he has shown in the twilight of his career has been enlightening in an age of political correctness and a time where the feat of being bulletin board material forces players to be drones rather than human beings.

As he enters a summer with his career potentially reach its inevitable end, in true Paul Pierce fashion gave fans all that he had, going down swinging. That is the only “Truth” that needs to be remembered.

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