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Column: The Truth Hurts

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Jun 13, 2008 12:48 pm US/Eastern

Column: The Truth Hurts

Reporting
Dan Roche
LOS ANGELES (WBZ) ― Doc Rivers quote after Boston's mind-boggling comebacking 97-91 Game 4 win over the Lakers here in L.A. said it all.

"Paul came to me at halftime and said, "I want to guard Kobe. Let me guard him." I think people will look at his (Paul's) defense, but I thought we won the game because Paul was a tremendous defensive player tonight."

That's it. The Celtics captain has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest to play the game in a Boston uniform.

His duel with Lebron James in Game 7 of the Eastern semifinals was special, but this was different.

Paul pulled a Cedric Maxwell and said "climb on my back" defensively.

I have always thought Paul Pierce was a good defensive player, but seeing him through this playoff run has made me label him a "brilliant defensive player." He is unbelievable.

His block on Kobe with 4:58 to go in the 3rd quarter was "the play of the game" in my eyes. Kobe got mad. Kobe tried to do it all by himself. And then, when Kobe realized he couldn't because of Paul's defense - Kobe's teammates had been standing around an watching for so long - that they were toast.

Paul Pierce finished with 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 blocked shot. But to me it was all about his defense.

Defense wins championships. Paul Pierce is one game away from that long-awaited title because of that defense.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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