Paul Pierce, a key figure in the highly competitive Boston Celtics team, recently opened up about his storied rivalry with the Miami Heat. His appearance on the Dan LeBatard Show revealed his delight in being the most despised player among Heat supporters in South Florida.
Pierce, along with Kevin Garnett and others, played a crucial role in fueling the intense rivalry between the two Eastern Conference powerhouses during their ‘Big Three’ era. The Celtics and Heat faced off in three consecutive postseasons, fostering a deep-seated animosity among fans on both sides.
Reflecting on the intense rivalry, Pierce divulged that the Doc Rivers-led Celtics harbored no affection for the Heat either. He recounted a pivotal game-winning shot he made in Game 3 of the first-round series against the Florida-based team in 2010, retweeting the moment recently.
Despite the Celtics’ 1-4 first-round loss to the Heat, Pierce has a remarkable 39-18 career record against the Southeast Division franchise, averaging 21.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. This impressive statistic underscores his dominance in matchups against the Heat.
In a separate development, Pierce and Garnett expressed their dismay over Ray Allen’s decision to join the Heat in 2012. Allen’s departure from the Celtics, ostensibly due to a contractual dispute, reportedly left his former teammates feeling betrayed. Allen’s move to Miami deepened the feud between the Celtics and Heat, creating palpable tension whenever the teams met on the court.
