They fought with every last ounce of strength against wave after wave of adversity this season, but for Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics, another title was simply not destined to happen in 2008-09.

The season came to an end Sunday night as Boston fell to the Orlando Magic, 101-82, in the seventh game of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Truth and the Celtics left it all on the floor in Game 7 (Getty Images).

The Truth, as always, turned in an all-out effort, finishing 16 points, two rebounds and three assists in over 38 minutes on the court.

Paul, along with teammate Ray Allen, was taken out of the game with 2:30 left with the Celtics trailing by 22. The duo was cheered off the court with a standing ovation.

After the game, a clearly disheartened No. 34 spoke about the loss.

“We still felt like this was a team that could have gone to the championship and won it, regardless of the injuries. It felt like we ran out of gas.”

The Captain is already finding the silver lining in the season’s abrupt end. As he told the Boston Globe:

“I’m gaining more and more playoff experience. It’s always fun because you’re playing for something. The playoffs you’re playing for a goal. It’s good to have these experiences because when you look back when your career is over, a lot of games you’re going to remember are the playoff games.”

LEFT TO WONDER
Given the injuries suffered to Boston's key personnel -- namely, Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe -- Paul felt like the defense of the title was not what it could have been.

He spoke to the Boston Globe specifically about the loss of KG, and if things might have turned out differently with the Big Ticket in the lineup.

"It's only natural to think that," forward Paul Pierce said after a season-ending 101-82 Game 7 loss to Orlando in the Eastern Conference semifinals last night. "Of course, you would think that after a loss when you ponder about the season and the playoffs. That's something that people around the world are going to think about with the way we fought without him. But you can't cry over spilled milk and unfortunately we didn't have the big fella for this run. Hopefully, the main thing for him right now is to get healthy."

Check back later this week for a complete season wrap-up.

RELATED STORIES:
Magic at Celtics Boxscore (NBA.com, May 18, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090517/ORLBOS/boxscore.html
Magic at Celtics Recap (NBA.com, May 18, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090517/ORLBOS/recap.html
Comfortable with the long-tern picture (Boston.com, May 18, 2009)
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/05/18/comf...
They'd have looked sharper with Garnet (Boston.com, May 18, 2009)
http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/05/18/they...

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