HH Tournament: (3) Paul Pierce vs (6) Tom Heinsohn

Paul Pierce and Tom Heinsohn is the next matchup in the Hardwood Houdini Tournament

Kevin Garnett barely edged past Dave Cowens in the Second Round yesterday. Garnett will take on Larry Bird in the Elite Eight. The next matchup will be between two Celtics’ legends – Paul Pierce and Tom Heinsohn.

Don’t forget that this is based solely off their playing careers with the Boston Celtics. Any coaching or front office experience shouldn’t be taken into account, neither should their collegiate careers or any other NBA teams they may have played for.

Paul Pierce – 10x All-Star

21.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.4 SPG

15 Seasons with Boston, 1x Champion, 10x All-Star

Paul Pierce is one of the most recognizable faces in Boston Celtics history. He stuck with the Celtics through many downs and very few ups. Pierce was one of the leaders on the team starting as a rookie, and emerged as one of the best small forwards in the game during his 15 seasons with Boston. He was a solid all-around player but Pierce’s greatest attribute came in the form of his versatile scoring.

Pierce averaged 25.3 points per game in his third season, sparking a run in which he scored at least 20 points per night in eight of the next nine seasons. Plus, he topped 25 points per game five times during that stretch, leading to seven All-Star appearances, as well.

It wasn’t the fact that Pierce was a great scorer, rather that there was no way to stop him. Pierce was a reliable three-point shooter and could use his mid-range game or drive to the basket. He shot 37 percent from three during his time in Boston, but he topped 40 percent three times, including as a rookie when he shot 41.2 percent from deep.

In addition to his three-point shot, Pierce owned a consistent mid-range jumper. He was never a sharpshooter, however he did shoot 41.4 percent from 10-to-16 feet out with Boston and topped 45 percent three times from that range.

Pierce was one of the best pure scorers in the league during his prime with the Celtics. It’s cemented in Celtics history as Pierce is the franchise leader in free-throws and threes made, second in points and third in field-goals made.

There’s a lot you could say about Paul Pierce’s time in Boston. His loyalty and team-first attitude are just a couple of characteristics he showed off-the-court. When thinking of his play on-the-court, though, nothing tops his innate ability to put the ball in the net.

Tom Heinsohn – 1986 Hall of Fame Inductee (Player)

18.6 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.0 APG

9 Seasons with Boston, 8x Champion, 6x All-Star, Rookie of the Year, #15 Retired by Celtics

Tom Heinsohn finished his career with over 12,000 points, yet his rebounding was the most impressive feat during his playing career with the Celtics. He won eight titles over nine seasons playing alongside Bill Russell and made six All-Star teams, as well. Heinsohn was a Hall of Fame worthy player, he put up solid numbers every year, especially when considering Bill Russell overshadowed him in the Celtics front court.

Despite playing next to arguably the greatest rebounder in NBA history, Heinsohn still pulled down 8.8 rebounds per game over his career. He started his career averaging at least nine boards per night in six consecutive seasons, including two seasons in which he averaged a double-double.

Of course, he never led the league in rebounding, although he was one of only a few players on the Celtics during that era who was able to grab a rebound away from Bill Russell. Plus, his production only increased during the postseason.

In the playoffs, Heinsohn grabbed 9.2 rebounds per game and an astounding 11.7 per night as a rookie. Playing in all 10 playoff games as a rookie, Heinsohn contributed 22.9 points and 11.7 rebounds per game during the Celtics championship run. That playoff run showed the potential a young Tom Heinsohn held, especially on the glass.

In franchise history, Heinsohn still ranks seventh all-time in rebounds per game and ninth in total rebounds. He trails Tom Sanders by 49 rebounds and Paul Pierce by less than 100, making it fairly obvious that he would be much higher on this list if Russell wasn’t playing next to him. Heinsohn would have put up more daunting numbers, similar to Dave Cowens.

Tom Heinsohn wasn’t a one-trick pony by any means, but few players were able to average a double-double with Bill Russell next to them. His rebounding numbers may not jump off the page like some players, but factor in the star-studded Celtics roster and Heinsohn was an elite player.

Don’t forget to vote on Twitter @HoudiniCeltics! The poll is up for 20 hours. Comments on here don’t count as votes, only the poll on Twitter will be looked at to determine who goes on to the Elite Eight.

Next: Is Gerald Green the Solution to Boston's Shooting Problems?

Also, look at tomorrow’s match-up to see the results from today’s showdown.