It's almost fitting it comes down to this for Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics.

For the two most successful franchises in NBA history and the two most recent NBA champions, there will be a Game 7 on Thursday night to decide which team will add another banner to their winning legacy.

The Los Angeles Lakers forced the NBA Finals to Game 7 on Tuesday night with an 89-67 win in Game 6.

Paul did his best to lift the Cs with 13 points, four rebounds, two assists and made nearly 50 percent of his shots. But the Celtics offense never clicked as a unit and shot just 33 percent for the game.

The loss was clearly disappointing to Paul, especially because of the lack of effort displayed by the Celtics in Staples Center. Afterward, the Captain spoke up about the defeat, promising a better effort on Thursday in Game 7, as quoted on NBA.com:

Veteran forward Paul Pierce, literally cornered in the small room by a thicket of cameras, microphone and notebooks, found himself apologizing for the Celtics' lack of intensity.

"We've got to understand, hey, this is the defending world champs. On their court," Pierce said. "We've got to come out a lot harder in Game 7. I promise you when I'm standing here on Thursday, you will not be talking to me about energy."

For all the obstacles the Celtics have faced, No. 34 said that if he had known he'd be back in a position to win another NBA title and even to have to do so on the road, he'd take that opportunity every time.

"I'm very confident," No. 34 said going into Game 7. "Unfortunately, we put ourselves in this position. But hey, if the playoffs started and you'd have asked me if, in the beginning of April, you said we had the chance to win the championship in our last two games on the road, I'd take it. I'd take it now."

The Celtics were also dealt another roadblock to overcome in Game 6.

Center Kendrick Perkins went down with a knee injury in the first quarter and did not return, a loss that was devastating to Boston. Perkins was later diagnosed with a sprained right knee, putting his availability for Game 7 in doubt. But while the loss might rattle some teams, Paul said the Celtics won't let this obstacle get in their way either, won't use it as an excuse.

"Perk brings rebounding and defense to the game, and toughness," The Truth told ESPN.com. "We lose that, but that's not an excuse. We're a mentally tough team. We've had injuries all year that we've dealt with. We know how to win when guys go down, so that's no excuse for us."

NEXT UP
It'll be all or nothing for Paul and the C's as they take on the Lakers in Game 7 at the Staples Center on Thursday. History is on the side of Boston as it is 4-0 all-time in Game 7's against LA.

"It's easy to approach Game 7," Paul said. "This is for all the marbles. Last game of the season. There's not turning back, there's no making excuses. It's going to come down to the mental toughness to this point."

Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. EST and the game will be shown on ABC.

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Tough times in Game 6 don't dampen Celts' hopes for Game (NBA.com, June 16, 2010)
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