The Boston Celtics were on fire this weekend with back-to-back wins Friday and Sunday. During both games, Paul Pierce exhibited superior ball skills on offense and defense, totaling 49 points over the weekend.

The New Orleans Hornets flew into Boston on Sunday night in hopes of stinging the Celtics with their first loss of the season.

Paul throws down a dunk on New Orleans' Hilton Armonstrong (Getty Images).

But Paul had a different plan, scoring 27 points and adding four rebounds, two steals and two assists as the Cs took the buzz out New Orleans with a 87-77 win over the visiting Hornets.

While the win was definitely a total team effort, No. 34 stood out as he dropped nearly 30 points to lead the Celtics to their fourth-straight win.

The Truth posted the first two points of the game and from that point on the Hornets struggled to contain him. In the second quarter he hit back-to-back 3-pointers, widening Boston’s lead to 9 points. Paul followed up his triples with a driving layup and turnaround jump shot to extend his first half point total to 20.

Despite coaching him for six seasons, Celtics coach Doc Rivers continues to be impressed with the performance of his veteran forward on a night-by-night basis, as quoted in the Providence Journal:

“Paul’s been amazing,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “You can see it, just his whole demeanor, everything’s been good… He’s been absolutely amazing.”

He rounded out the 3rd quarter with a couple of free throws and assists to try to slow down the Hornets, who had recovered to tie the score at 69.

Late in the game, Paul put the win on ice. No. 34 started his defensive rally with a rebound coupled with another turnaround jumper and added a three-pointer to push the Celtics ahead of New Orleans 95-86 with only a minute and 17 seconds left in the game.

“I feel good,” Pierce said, as quoted in the Providence Journal. “I think when you put in the work constantly and you focus night in and night out, I think that’s one place where I really grow, focusing on every game, taking it one game at a time and looking ahead. The older I’m getting, the wiser I’m getting I believe and I’m figuring out different things that I can do on the court within the team’s system.”

THE THREE MUSKETEERS
On Sunday night, The Truth and teammate Kevin Garnett worked in tandem and played off each others’ strengths.

It was all part of a game plan according to Rivers, as quoted by Reuters:

“It went through KG and Paul and it really was a two-man game,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “We basically said if they switch, post them; if they don’t, Paul, turn the corner.”

KG believes that the success of the offensive play calling, sometimes using Garnett as a decoy, has played an important role in Boston’s success early in the season, as quoted by Reuters:

“That’s what I’m in there for,” Garnett said. “I’m in there trying to wreak havoc on defense and then trying to make it easy for everybody else.”

In the C’s last matchup with the Hornets in February of last season, Ray Allen was sidelined with an injury as Boston went on to win on the road 89-77. In this game, Allen was healthy and in full force scoring 17 points. Garnett scored 14 points to compliment Paul’s offensive efforts.

With their trio of stars healthy, the Celtics remain a force in the Eastern Conference.

BULLS BY THE HORNS
On Friday night, the Chicago Bulls came to Boston to deliver a little payback to the Celtics.

The matchup marked the first time the teams played each other since the first round of last season’s playoffs, when the C’s overcame Chicago to win the series 4-3, in what many have called one of the best playoff series’ of all time.

A sold out crowd of nearly 19,000 fans was on hand to witness the rematch. The Associated Press reported this season’s matchup was very different from the last:

“Unlike their opening-round playoff series that saw the teams play a record seven overtime quarters in four games and had one game decided in the closing seconds, Boston broke this one open early in the first half.

Paul Pierce and the Celtics not only delivered a steady defense but made several successful drives to the basket to dominate the Bulls and take home their 3rd win of the season, 118-90.

“Obviously, we’re a defensive team, but we’re an offensive team, too,” Paul Pierce said. “Last year we were one of the top shooting percentage offenses. It’s just about us not turning the ball over. We (had) quite a few turnovers (last season). We’ll try to get that down, but I think we’re a tremendous offensive team, too.”

LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD
Friday night’s matchup between the C’s and Bulls showcased the real No. 34 that Boston fans know and love. The Truth posted 22 points in the game, with 20 of them coming in the 3rd quarter. An NESN Blogger described the action:

“A monster run between the second and third quarters made this one a no-doubter as the Celts improve to a very impressive 3-0.”

In 31 minutes of play, El Captain had 3 steals, 4 assists, 8 rebounds and nailed five 3 – pointers to cap off the night. He told the Associated Press he felt like he could not be stopped.

“When you’re a scorer and you make a couple, you feel like you’re on fire,” Pierce said.

No. 34 wasn’t just on fire, he was white hot and his Twitter followers were all a buzz over his stellar performance:

“RJstn: @paulpierce34 always picking it up in the second half, toooo clutch

biggjuiccee: RT:Good Game! Thanks for playing like da Champions u are!!!!!!!!! I’m lookin fa an EXCELLANT SEASON!!!!!!!!!!

sign0in: @paulpierce34 it’s nice game against bulls,..keep it up

reynold_21: @paulpierce34 take banner 18 baby..”

THE WINNING COMBINATION
The key to the Cs success was the starting five of Paul, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, and Kendrick Perkins. That combination yielded Boston remarkable stats on both offense and defense. The Boston Herald described their performance as follows:

“As evidence, they shot 58.1 percent (43-for-74) from the field last night, with Pierce and Ray Allen going a combined 15-of-21 for 42 points.

The Celts also shot 50 percent from downtown, with No. 34 burying all five of his 3-pointers in a manic 20-point third quarter.

The numbers down the other end, meanwhile, remained air tight.”

The Celtics held a third straight opponent under 42 percent shooting from the field, as the Bulls shot 41.5 percent.

Impressed with their own performance, Kevin Garnett reveled in his teammates’ accomplishments, as quoted by the AP:

“That was beautiful to watch,” Garnett said of the scoring by dominance by Pierce and teammate Ray Allen one quarter earlier. “To watch those two play and build the lead up while they were in there.”

Halftime brought a renewed Celtics on the floor as Paul and Ray Allen had a flurry of field goals to widen Boston’s lead by 27 to 88-61.

The breakout wasn’t happenstance, Garnett noted to the Associated Press. At half, The Truth urged his teammates to come out strong:

“Paul said in the locker room, `Let’s open the third quarter big and stay aggressive,” Garnett said.

With another impressive victory No. 34 and his teammates sent a clear message to the Bulls and the league that they are serious about contending for another title.

NEXT UP
The Celtics are on the road this week to the City of Brotherly Love where they will take on the Philadelphia 76ers this Tuesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 6pm and the game on CSN.

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