The last time the Boston Celtics was in the Finals, Paul Pierce was at the helm. It was 2008, their last championship. Those who came after then came close. But with Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Kristaps Porzingis at TD Garden, it looks like history is going to repeat itself. A 20 point lead over the Dallas Mavericks by halftime of Game 1 got all sorts of reactions from fans. The 2008 Finals MVP himself was stunned speechless. Fortunately his fingers were working enough to type out an all-encompassing tweet.

A simple “huh” summed up what most of us are feeling. Kristaps Porzingis is at 20 points, 8 points in only the first few minutes, making shots without even trying hard. All that after an injury kept him out of several games? If this is The Unicorn at his worst, the Mavs should be worried.

A couple of days ago, Pierce didn’t stutter on Undisputed when he made his finals prediction for this series. “I got the Celtics in six,” he declared. “I got respect for Dallas, and Luka, and Kyrie, they’re pretty good, they’re actually pretty good. I just think the reason that the Celtics will win the NBA Finals.”

His reasoning behind his prediction was not based on Porzingis’ return. Nor was it on Jaylen Brown winning ECF MVP. It wasn’t even about Jayson Tatum’s growth. It wasn’t even because he is a legend in Boston. He had quite the emotional reasoning behind his pick. “I just think the reason that the Celtics will win the NBA Finals, when you look at the heartaches that they’ve been through, they’ve been through the pain, they’ve been through the struggle. They have the experience; I think they understand the moment a little more than Dallas.” And his limited word do reveal his emotions as well as fans’ feelings about it.

The Truth faces the truth

16 years ago, Pierce faced his fiercest rival in the form of Kobe Bryant in a best of seven series. The Celtics won 4 -2 because of the Black Mamba stretching it out. But Bryant got his vengeance a season later in 2010. Pierce and Kobe went at it once again, fierce to the T. It took them all seven games to witness the Lakers emerge as 2nd consecutive title winners. Pierce had to be reminded of it by one fan who subtweeted, “Long series, Paul. Remember it took Kobe 7 to humiliate you guys.”

Yes, the Mavs never close that 25 point deficit in the fourth quarter but fans aren’t giving Pierce the satisfaction of this win. If he says the Celtics will win in six, others counter, “Mavs in five lil bro.”

Since Pierce won the franchise’s 15th championship, the Celts have been in the ECF six times in eight seasons. They were in the Finals in 2022 and lost to the Golden State Warriors. Pierce believes the near misses are fueling them to win this year. Even those in agreement, who responded, “gotta finish the job truth,” get bolder, predicting, “Celtics in 5.” It just made others pile on with, “Mavs in 4.”

Some think this would’ve been a done deal in Boston with the last champion they had. “Paul woulda had 40 against these bums by now.” And where’s the lie. But it’s still Game 1. You can’t tell where it will lead. That’s why Pierce’s three-letter post was also met with ‘huhs’ all around.