C’s can handle Truth farewell
The object of greatest affection at the Garden this afternoon will likely not be a large factor in the Celtics-Clippers outcome. The object of greatest affection hasn’t gotten into a game since Dec. 31.
But the Celts are very much looking forward to the scene as Paul Pierce makes his last appearance as a player in Boston. The franchise legend has announced this will be his last season, and no question his 15 years here will always stand out more than his single campaigns with the Nets and Wizards and two with the Clippers.
“That’s obviously big,” said Isaiah Thomas. “It’s going to be probably emotional for him. It’s going to be nice.
“I’m excited I get to be a part of it. I mean, I got to be a part of Kobe (Bryant)’s last All-Star Game, and to get to be a part of Paul Pierce’s last game in the Garden, that’s a lot.”
Said Jae Crowder: “I’m sure the organization will send him out the right way. Fans will be cheering for him, and I’m pleased to be able to be in the building when that happens.
“To be able to be a part of history is always special. Every player in the locker room will never forget moments like after you win or what it will be like (today). Just being a part of it is special, so I’m going to tell all our young guys to take it in. I know I will.”
The young guys appear to already have the message.
“It’s going to be a special moment for Boston,” said second-year guard Terry Rozier. “I’m just excited that I’m going to be here to witness it.
“I remember the year they won the championship. I remember I was at home watching the game. It was my dream to be in the NBA, and now I’m about to witness something like this. It’s exciting.”
Thomas has shared just a brief word in passing on the court with Pierce, but he’s looking for more.
“One day hopefully I can pick his ear about some things,” Thomas said. “I definitely want to. He’s seen it all, the ups and downs of this organization. I would definitely like to pick his brain if I can.”
Crowder hasn’t yet had a deep conversation either with Pierce, but the few words he did get have stuck.
“He just told me about how it is to play here and the fans and how they embrace hard work,” Crowder said. “He told me that my first year here.”
At Thomas’ present rate, his and Pierce’s names are likely to find themselves in some of the same neighborhoods in the Celtics’ record book. While Thomas has been challenging for the best overall season scoring average and on streaks of 20-plus point games, Pierce is the second-leading scorer in franchise history.
Thomas has made no secret of his delight in being mentioned in the same sentence with some of his great Celtic forefathers.
“I know the history, but, like, I don’t know the numbers until people tell me after the game or I see it on social media or something,” he said. “I mean, when I’m at home, I sit back and think about how I’ve come a long way, and for my name to be mentioned with such great legends is … it doesn’t seem real. But I’m going to just try to keep going. Records are meant to be broken, and hopefully I can break a few.
“I’m just taking advantage of the moment.”
The Celtics have done a better job of that as a team since getting whacked in Washington on Jan. 24. They have won their six games since, passing Toronto in the standings and getting within reach (at least mathematically) of Cleveland in the Eastern Conference.
“We’re playing a lot better than we were when we were on that three-game losing streak,” said Thomas. “Offensively we’re trusting each other, and things are just clicking for us. We’ve just got to keep it going. We’ve got to keep this momentum going into All-Star (break). This is when probably the teams — the really good teams — start to separate themselves.”
‘Just being a part of it is special, so I’m going to tell all our young guys to take it in. I know I will.’ — JAE CROWDER, on being at the Garden for Paul Pierce’s last game in Boston