Your Laker team of Kareem, Shaq, and Wilt and maybe a couple of non-centers is too ridiculous to comment on.

It's an excellent story Dan, with one secondary observation. As one who grew up a rabid fan of all teams Philly, after many years living here I've come to appreciate and even, gulp, admire the Celtics' tradition. But I'd not include the great Wilt Chamberlain as part of the Lakers' legacy. He belongs in the Philadelphia pantheon.

Pierce gets my vote

Pierce, hands down. Pierce makes any team and any teammate better, just like Bird, Cousy, Russell, and Hondo. I don't think the same can be said of KM, who I loved, but they didn't call him the "black hole" for nothing. The only assists he ever had happened when the ball bounced off his hands, which it often did, into the hands of a teammate.

I think the debate isn't between McHale and Pierce, it's Pierce and Cowens. Big Red was a Hall of Famer, Rookie of the Year, MVP, seven-time all-star in about a 10-year career and won two rings playing as a 6'9" center against big dudes like Jabbar (Alcindor), Lanier and Cartwright. He didn't have the inside moves of McHale, but was a better outside shooter who scored just as much per game. He also averaged nearly twice as many rebounds. I heard Ainge on the radio one day say he'd put Cowens in his starting five, which prompted me to look it up. That said I'd put Pierce in over Cowens. Bird is the only Celtic I can remember that could get you a hoop when you needed it the way Pierce can.

Pierce or McHale? McHale; inside game, rebounding. Pierce or Havlicek? I think that's the question. Hondo's game was flexibility, scoring, and longevity. He was a wind-up doll who could play every minute of every game at a high level. He played a lot of them. And he stole the ball...! Pierce is also flexible and has now enjoyed a long career. But he's a great scorer. If you had to have a basket or had to pick one for the last shot, who would you rather have? John Havlicek coming around a triple screen? Or Paul Pierce going one-on-one with whoever the other team puts on him? Pierce has made an excellent case for himself in the Celtics pantheon.

Pierce was fantastic in quarters 1 and 4. Quarters 2 and 3--forced way too many shots, had turnovers. Great final surge, though, with the game on the line. OK, so McHale can be the 6th man.

I don't like his game. He's rough around the edges and he's a flopper. But he belongs on the list. No doubt about it.

It's his all around game. The things he does that don;t make the stat sheet. He makes other players better. He wins. He's gone up against Lebron a few years now and won except for last year. Pierce is a competitor - a truly great player. No flash all substance. Yes he makes the starting five. Mchale didn't have the defensive chops or all around game. It's time to give Pierce his do - one of the greatest!