When Game 7 of the NBA Finals tips off this evening, Paul Pierce believes his Celtics legacy will be on the line.

The Truth and his Boston brethren already captured an NBA world title — the 17th in Celtics franchise history —– in 2008. But No. 34 doesn't think just one title should be enough to cement his place among Celtics legends. He craves a second title to carve the names of he and his teammates deep in to Celtics lore. That desire drives him night in and night out.

"I just love the pressure, truthfully," Paul said in an off-day media session on Wednesday. "I love the fact that I get to play against the Los Angeles Lakers in a Game 7 on the road. I love the fact that if I don't win multiple championships, I probably won't be mentioned amongst the other guys in Celtics history that have done it before. That type of stuff motivates me. That type of stuff helps me play at my best, when I'm put to that type of test. To win another championship would be the best thing that could ever happen.

"But that's what we play for. That's what motivates me each and every year. That's what the challenge is for me, every time I put on this Celtics uniform. To win one would be great and I haven't even thought about the feeling of not being There with the other guys and winning multiple championships. Because I feel like we're going to get it done."

To get it done, Boston will have to be at their best and throughout the series the Celtics have been at their best when they're feeding the ball to The Truth and allowing him to be at his best.

Over Boston's last two wins in the series, Paul has drained 19 of 33 shots, a 57.5 percent clip from the field. No. 34 was 6-14 from the field in the Game 6 loss and is averaging 18 points per game in the series.

"We have to definitely get off to better starts," Paul said. "When we get off to good starts, it carries over for the rest of the game. We have to rebound a lot better, they dominated us on the glass. Also need to keep our turnovers down. If we can do all of those things, I think we play our best basketball and give ourselves a chance at winning."

The Truth has been crucial to getting the Celts off to a fast start as well. In Game 4, he scored 10 first quarter points and in Game 5 he poured in eight in the first quarter and 15 by halftime.

Paul attributed those opportunities to aggressiveness and said that's when he plays at his personal highest level.

"Be aggressive. Don't look too passive," Paul said after Game 4. "I think when I'm passive a lot I turn the ball over or things don't go my way. But when I play on my instincts and attack, be aggressive, I'm a much better player."

THE LONG ROAD TO GLORY
On Wednesday, Paul reflected a little on the ups and downs of the season.

Though the Celtics endured the most difficult road to and through the playoffs, he wouldn't make any excuses and said that won't be any consolation in defeat.

"It's tough, but winning a championship is tough, so you have to expect it," Paul said. "It would be a great accomplishment. Anytime you get a chance to win a championship it's a great accomplishment. I guess you can say especially the things we've been through with the injuries...It would mean a whole lot to us, but we never felt like we were the underdog coming into this. We felt like we were a championship team before the season started. The season didn't go particularly the way we wanted it to go, but at the end of the day we always feel like we're a championship caliber team. It'll be great if we can get it done."

The Celtics will have one more obstacle to overcome. Center Kendrick Perkins was officially ruled out for Game 7 with a knee injury. Now the Boston will use a committee of reserves to fill the role, but The Truth is confident in his teammates.

"It's unfortunate that we lose one of the guys who's been so big for us in the playoffs and in this series, especially with his strength and his length," Paul said. "But that means other guys have to be ready to step up. We've got Big Baby, Rasheed and Shelden Williams. We have guys that are capable of coming in. All we're asking for is one game, as hard as you can go, for all the marbles. For one game, I'm sure we have guys that can fill in and get the job done."

The Celtics have played in three Game 7's over the last three years and are 2-1 in those games. Paul has averaged 20 points per game over those three contests.

NEXT UP
Paul leads the Celtics into the final game of the 2010 regular season tonight when they take on The Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals at The Staples Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. EST and the game can be seen on ABC.

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