One of the NBA's best

Last night was another classic example of what I’ve been talking about for the last 3 or 4 years. Paul Pierce is ridiculously under rated. I used to battle with buddies and Celtic haters alike that Pierce was a top 10 player in the NBA. I admit though I was wrong about that. He’s top 5. That’s right I said it! Paul Pierce is a top 5 NBA player and I dare you to prove me wrong. You can’t! You just can’t! The guy can do it all. He can take it to the hoop, shoot the 3, shoot the mid range jumper, play lock down defense, and step up his game on the biggest stages to slay the likes of King James and Kobe Bryant. The kicker is Pierce has been a top 5 player for a while now. He didn’t get recognized for it because his team was awful most of the time but now that he has other pieces he’s still the same Pierce, but can now get more wins, but this strangely has yet to add up to the recognition I feel he deserves. If Pierce were selfish he probably could have won the MVP last year. But Pierce is a team player. He spreads the ball around and knows he doesn’t have to be the man anymore even though nobody in the league can truly guard him. But I love what he did last night. He saw a need to take over a game and he did it. The Raptors simply couldn’t stop him. Pierce did the same thing in game 7 of the Eastern Conf Finals last year. Only a top 5 player can do what Pierce did in that game 7, and do what he did last night. Can anyone argue with the fact that the top 5 in the NBA right now should look like this?: 1-Lebron, 2-Kobe, 3-CP, 4-Pierce, 5-Wade. Pierce is simply deserving of that spot. Who should replace him? Duncan?- he’s a great talent but does not have the skill set of Pierce, Dirk?- he can’t win the big game, he doesn’t elevate his game to the level of Pierce when it matters most. Stoudamire?- he can’t lead a team, take away Nash and he’s in trouble. Yes folks it’s time to accept it. Pierce is an elite NBA player who belongs on the current top 5 list.