Paul Pierce won player of the week honors for the second time last week. He has taken his game to a new level since the Christmas holiday, reminding one of the last superstar to roam the parquet in Beantown.
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``Larry Bird is like a time bomb. He might not do anything for 3 1/2 quarters, but you know at any moment he might explode,`` said Philadelphia 76ers` coach Matt Guokas.
Sunday, Bird was set to go off in the third quarter, when the Celtics trailed Philly by 13. At halftime, Bird had only six points on 3-for-11 shooting. He finished with 28 points, 22 in the second half, to lead Boston to a 105-103 victory.
``Bird really got it going for them,`` Guokas said. ``He just didn`t make 3-pointers. He makes plays for other people, he rebounds. You just know he`s going to be there down the stretch. Once he gets it flowing, he`s tough to stop.``
Since Dec. 25 Bird has shot 115 for 212 from the floor (54 percent). Last week, in games against Atlanta, Denver and Indiana, Bird averaged 28.7 points, 10 rebounds and 7.7 assists. Against the Hawks, he scored 41 points, had seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocked shots.
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I similarly expect Paul Pierce to continue elevating his game as we head down the stretch.
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