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Two lines from the SLAM 59 cover story on Paul Pierce say most of it. "Ask most people, fans or League folk why Paul Pierce is so deadly. You'll most likely get the standard 'because he can do everything.'"
The story ran in April of 2002, just after Pierce made his first All-Star Game. His fourth season turned out to be his best yet: he led the League in total points scored, and over 40 minutes a night he averaged 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. The Celtics, downtrodden for years, won plenty in '01-'02 too. Compare that to his rookie year, when Boston won just 19 games. The '02 entry in the history books shows 49 wins, the third seed in the East and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. With all due respect to Employee Number 8, The Truth had set the Celtics free.
Beantown had been through hard times. Two players tragically passed away, the Legend had retired, and the well of wins that had flowed for decades ran dry. Then in walked a slow-footed, loud-mouthed small forward with self confidence to spare. After that disastrous debut season, Pierce's squad picked up momentum. His scoring rose by three from year one to year two, then by six from year two to year three. The Cs won 35 games, then 36.
By '02 Pierce was making good on his potential. He left Kansas among the top-five all-time Jayhawks scorers, and he'd shown signs in the '99 ROY race. SLAM 59 confirmed that Paul Pierce really could do everything.
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