5 greatest moments of Paul Pierce’s NBA career

4. Pierce’s game winning jumper versus Miami (2010 playoffs)

Pierce and the Celtics were trying to reach the finals for the second time in three seasons. Boston had cruised through the first two games by an average of 19 points. Game 3 was the first real test of the series, as the Celtics were tied with Miami over the course of the game. Tied at 98, the Celtics were holding for the final possession of the game. Pierce dribbled to to the top of the key then released with just under a second. Pierce put Boston up a commanding 3-0 in the series. Two games later, the Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Pierce finished with 16 points but the final two are what counted the most. Boston clawed its way back into the game. The Celtics were down 31-18 at the conclusion of the first quarter. A 34-point third propelled Boston back into the game. Although the Celtics would eventually lose to the Lakers in the NBA Finals, Pierce’s jumper went down as one of the greatest shots in Celtics’ playoff history.

Although Allen and Garnett were proven all-stars, Pierce was the leader of the franchise, both verbally and statistically. Pierce had gone through the good, bad and the ugly of the Celtics’ franchise in the earlier part of his career. His pull-up jumper always appeared to be on point during the Celtics’ deep playoff runs between 2008-10.