Pierce is California dreamin'
LA native would love a Hollywood ending
LOS ANGELES - An emotional Paul Pierce is standing at the middle of the Staples Center floor holding the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy over his head. While most of the disappointed Lakers fans already have left the arena, the family and friends of the boy from nearby Inglewood, and the rest of the Celtics fans in attendance, are cheering loudly to congratulate him.
If Pierce could write his own Hollywood ending to these NBA Finals, it would go something like that. Tonight, Pierce and the Celtics will play Game 3 at the Staples Center, and since they own a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series with Games 3, 4, and 5 scheduled here, Pierce's dream championship scenario could unfold.
"I probably wouldn't leave," said Pierce. "I couldn't dream of a better scenario than playing the Lakers in the Finals, not for me. It's your hometown. I can't think of a better scenario. It would be story book."
Pierce grew up a huge Lakers fan, idolizing Magic Johnson while hating the Celtics. But in 1998, the Celtics changed his frame of mind by drafting him out of Kansas with the 10th overall selection. Now, 10 years later, there hasn't been a bigger nemesis for Los Angeles on the Celtics this season than Pierce.
Pierce averaged 26.5 points per game against them in two regular-season contests, both Boston wins. In the Finals, he is averaging a team-best 25 points per game on 61.5 percent shooting. He has nailed 7 of 8 3-point attempts in the Finals and overcome a right knee strain suffered in Game 1.
"During the game, it felt good," Pierce said after Game 2. "I didn't think about it, I just went out and played."
And Pierce has a reputation for taking his game to a higher level back home.
He has averaged 27.9 points and shot 46.8 percent from the field in nine career road games against the Lakers. He scored 33 points in Boston's lone regular-season road game against the Lakers this season, a 110-91 victory back on Dec. 30.
Why does Pierce play so well at home?
"I have to," he said. "All my family and friends are there. I can't disappoint them. They only get a chance to see me twice a year when I come to LA. It's a little bit more added pressure when you go home to play well. It's even more [now].
"But I don't put that type of pressure on myself. I go out and play basketball the way I know I can play. It just so happens that I play well at home."
Said Celtics coach Doc Rivers, "He's a veteran now. If it was a young guy going back home, you'd be more concerned. He's been home before, and I think veterans pretty much have figured out how to enjoy their family and then keep them away at the same time. I think Paul has pretty much mastered that."
Pierce also has mastered his off-the-court routine when he gets back to Los Angeles.
He loves to spend as much time with family and friends as possible. He makes a point to stop by the popular Los Angeles spot Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles. Since the Celtics left Boston yesterday morning and didn't practice yesterday, Pierce had lots of time to do whatever he wanted. But considering the task at hand, he wasn't about to overextend himself.
"There are times I soak it in and might go out with my friends," Pierce said. "Then there are times when I stay in a hotel. Other times I go to Roscoe's to soak up the atmosphere on Pico and LaBrea [Streets]. It depends on how much time we got. It's all good. It's all in my mood. I don't shy away from it. There are times I go home and I'm with everybody because they don't get to see me a lot.
"I'll probably be more family-oriented this time because this is something I really want. Not to take anything from the regular season, but at this point of the season, at this level, you have to be as focused as you can. You got to keep it in the family. I'll probably hang with my mom, my aunties, brothers, and [their] kids and stuff."
Pierce planned on getting extra tickets to accommodate his long list of family and friends. And if you know him but don't get a ticket, he has advice on how to check out the games in Los Angeles.
"Man, I have tickets for my closest family and friends," he said. "Then after that, high-definition, for real."
