The Biennial Paul Pierce Question

Shank writes a column about Paul Pierce's rightful place amongst the all-time Celtic greats:

Red Auerbach didn’t live to see Paul Pierce win an NBA championship with the Celtics, but Red knew what kind of a player he had a few years after the Celtics selected Pierce out of Kansas in 1998.

“He would absolutely fit in with the Celtic teams I coached,’’ an 84-year-old Red told me in 2004. “He’s the whole package, offensively and defensively. He’s respectful, and he doesn’t bitch. Old-fashioned. I really like him.’’

Red died a couple of years later, two years too soon to see Pierce named MVP of the NBA Finals when the Celtics destroyed the Lakers, 131-92, in the sixth and deciding game of the championship series.

If you get the feeling that you've read this column before, it's because you have read this column before!