Pierce to Doc: I Want to Guard Kobe

June 2008

Pierce to Doc: I Want to Guard Kobe

LOS ANGELES - With his team down 18 points, Paul Pierce had a message for his coach at halftime

"He said, 'I'm going to guard Kobe [Bryant],' " said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. " 'Let me guard him.' "
Rivers obliged, and Pierce's defense helped the Celtics pull off one of the more remarkable comebacks in NBA playoff history, a 97-91 victory over the Lakers at Staples Center



Bryant didn't pop off the stat sheet in the first half, but he had six assists before halftime, helping to orchestrate a Lakers offense the Celtics had no answer for. Los Angeles shot 50 percent in the half and got far too many open looks.

Enter Pierce. In the third quarter, Bryant finally connected for his first two field goals, but he had just one assist. By the end of the third, the Celtics had cut an 18-point deficit to 2, and Bryant had just 7 points on 2-of-11 shooting. He wound up 6 for 19

"It's hard to stop a player like Kobe Bryant," Pierce said. "He's the MVP. If you can go out there and make him work for everything, you give yourselves a chance."
Pierce didn't completely shut down Bryant (17 points), but he made him work. And Pierce did most of his defensive work without fouling. Bryant got to the line only six times in Game 4, compared to 18 trips in Game 3

Pierce finished with four fouls

"I felt I could be a little more physical on him, not let him drive," said Pierce. "I'm a little bit taller than Ray [Allen]."
Pierce was also efficient on offense, scoring a game-high 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting. He went 8 of 9 from the line, including two clutch free throws with 46.8 seconds left to put the Celtics up by 5, and added seven assists and four rebounds

Mostly while guarding Bryant

"I think people will look at his offense, but I think we won the game because Paul was a better defensive player tonight," said Rivers.

The performance had to be particularly sweet for Pierce after a not so impressive homecoming in Los Angeles. The Inglewood native had just 6 points on 2-of-14 shooting in Game 3. He was also roundly booed by the Staples Center crowd throughout the game, with Lakers fans seemingly taking exception to Pierce's rapid comeback from a knee injury in Game 1.

"You could just see he went up another level in competition tonight," said Allen. "He was guarding the Lakers' best player, and he was taking it to the basket on offense."
Allen was perfectly happy to give Pierce that plum assignment

"I knew what he was trying to do, but it took Paul to say, 'Let me guard him,' " said Allen. "I said, 'Let's do it' . . . it just woke him up."
Pierce is wide awake now. After 10 years in the league, he's one win from his first NBA championship

"It's a dream if I can come out and win it on Sunday," said Pierce. "I'll be able to enjoy it even more once it's all over."