The Boston Celtics re-signed Paul Pierce to a four-year contract, and look to be the front-runners to re-sign Ray Allen as well. These are questionable moves for a team who might have just mortgaged its future for a couple more playoff exits. Whatever team LeBron James plays for could probably beat Boston. And with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, the Heat probably could too. And now Boston will not have flexibility to sign great players in the upcoming off-seasons. I understand that they were loyal to Pierce, but will it cost them?

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

With the Celtics up 3-0 in the NBA Eastern Conference Championship, a return to the NBA Finals after a one-year hiatus looks imminent. However, Boston needs to give it their all to win this year. Rajon Rondo has played great all season long, but how much better can he get? Clearly he will never be a primary scorer, and he already does everything else well. So to think he will get a lot better is pretty foolish. Kevin Garnett is playing better in the postseason than he did during the regular season, but clearly age has caught up with him. Paul Pierce seems to be a Celtic for life. Ray Allen will be a free agent, and considering Boston was possibly shopping him earlier in the season, who knows if he will be brought back. And Kendrick Perkins is one temper tantrum away from getting himself into trouble.

Coming into the season, I would have said that Boston’s run in 2008 would be their only one with this core. But these playoffs have proved me, and many other people wrong. But as the years go on, their window closes. That is why the Celtics need to win it all in 2010 for their sake.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

“I do whatever I gotta do to help this team win,” said Pierce. “Guarding LeBron [James] is no easy task. He’s the two-time MVP and a lot of their offense goes through him — pretty much all of it. I know I have to focus on that end, more so than the offense. I knew that coming into the series.”

Celtics coach Doc Rivers echoed everything Pierce stated, suggesting he’s healthy and doing his part defensively.

Click here to read the full article – By Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com

“I’ll get some X-rays tomorrow, but I think it’s not going to be too bad,” Pierce told reporters after the game, adding that he thought it was a sprain. “I would have known by now [if it was broken]. I think I’ll be all right.”

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said the injury was nothing serious, but he didn’t want to risk aggravating it by pushing Pierce.

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

Brook Lopez led the Nets with 21 points, and Yi Jianlin added 20 points and eight rebounds.

The teams traded the lead 10 times and combined for 26 fouls, but Boston opened a 13-point lead in the second half on strong shooting by Pierce and clutch 3-pointers by Eddie House.


Click here to read the full article – By of nashuatelegraph.com

Boston Celtics Sports Memorabilia
and other Boston Celtics Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Paul Pierce.

Given the initial stances between the league and players on the eve of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement (with the current one set to expire after next season), and preparation by teams for the ballyhooed 2010 free agent class, the 2009-10 season can’t help but suffer.

Toss in major free agent signings and trades by upper tier teams like the Celtics, Lakers and Cavaliers — with the rich getting richer — and Pierce sees the dynamic changing.

“I think it’s going to be a very different kind of year, man,” Pierce said. “You obviously have your teams at the top, your teams in the middle. But the difference this year is that the teams at the top got better, and the teams at the bottom didn’t get any better.

“I think that will be a concern — that things get lopsided for teams at the top — especially going into a new collective bargaining agreement. They’re going to have to try to see how they can balance out this league, especially with the small-(market) teams that can’t get the big time players in free agency.”


Click here to read the full article – By Mark Murphy of BotonHerald.com

Boston Celtics Sports Memorabilia
and other Boston Celtics Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Paul Pierce.