That list included Paul Pierce, who was reportedly mentioned in a deal that would send Pierce to Brooklyn in exchange for Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks and a first-round pick.

Pierce, now 35 years old, has spent his entire 14-year NBA career in Boston. He’s the longest-tenured Celtic on the roster by far — Rajon Rondo, now in his seventh season in green, ranks second — and is a lock to have his No. 34 hanging in the rafters of TD Garden someday.

But what if Pierce is moved at the deadline? Many Celtics fans don’t even remember the last time the team hit the floor without him, and The Truth has provided some of the most iconic performances of post-Larry Bird era.

Strangely enough, one of those performances came against the very team that’s reportedly pursuing him. In 2002, Pierce, then teamed with Antoine Walker, led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they faced the New Jersey Nets. The Nets won the series in six games, but Pierce left his mark in Game 3, scoring 19 points in the fourth quarter to bring Boston back from a 21-point deficit in one of the largest comebacks in NBA playoff history.

Pierce finally broke through in his next Conference Finals appearance six years later, where he scored 41 points in Game 7 to beat LeBron James‘ Cleveland Cavaliers. It was the first of several battles between Pierce and LeBron, who met again in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 playoffs, with each winning a pair of series.

The captain was perhaps never finer than during his one successful championship run, when the Celtics topped the Lakers in six games in the 2008 NBA Finals to win their first title since 1986. Pierce needed to be carted off the court in a wheelchair in Game 1, but returned to score 24 points in a Boston win and was eventually named the series’ Most Valuable Player.

Now, Danny Ainge says the Celtics are “unlikely” to make any sort of franchise-shaking deal before Thursday’s deadline. But if they do decide to, and Wednesday night’s game against the Lakers is Pierce’s last in a Boston uniform, what moment will you remember most about his career? Voice your opinion in the poll below.

While there is reason to rejoice, as the C’s spoiled Ray Allen‘s return to Boston, news broke at halftime that the Celtics will be without All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo for the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL. Rondo was a late scratch, being ruled out with a hyperextended right knee, before news broke that Rondo was done for the year.

Boston goes from having the NBA assists leader and an All-Star starter to having no true point guard left on the roster. The Celtics, who have been rumored as candidates to make moves before the trade deadline, might be shopping for a reliable point guard.

Rondo has been the most critical player in Boston’s offense over the last few seasons, as his emergence as one of the game’s top point guards extended the Big Three era. Since Rondo has become a full-time starter, the Celtics have won an NBA title and reached four of the last five Eastern Conference Finals.

For the time being the Celtics will have to rely on the leadership of the aging Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, while needing bigger contributions from the backcourt of Avery Bradley, Courtney Lee, Leandro Barbosa and Jason Terry.

With the four-time NBA All-Star selection sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Celtics may be dealing with its biggest loss of the season. What effect do you think Rondo’s injury have on the Celtics’ season?

Ray Allen will have his hands full not only defending Boston’s young and versatile guards but also in dealing with the fans. The same crowd that embraced him when he broke Reggie Miller’s 3-point record can’t be happy that he has gone to the dark side.

Making it even more intriguing is the slight hostility that has arisen among the questions of who did and didn’t do what. Rajon Rondo and Allen were reportedly not seeing eye to eye, so how Rondo greets his former teammate could be something to keep an eye on. Oh, and “big brother” Kevin Garnett, who didn’t want to see Allen on opening night, is likely still disappointed in him.

Where the Celtics stand as of now puts a bad taste in the mouth of all Celtics fans, especially with the C’s shooting 33.5 percent from beyond the arc. Allen’s presence only makes that taste worse. In the 2012-13 season, the 37-year-old is posting 11.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 25 minutes per game.

Allen’s debut in Boston in a Heat uniform should be just a precursor to the two teams battling for bragging rights at the end of the season, but the Celtics have some work to do first. Boston is having a horrific finish to the first half of the 2012-13 season, while the Miami Heat are in the thick of things, sitting on top of the Eastern Conference standings.

At the end of the day, it’s always the game that matters. But Sunday could also mean a rough awakening for Allen — or maybe some pleasant feelings, as a thanks for providing five great years for the green team. What do you think? How should Celtics fans respond?

Garnett has an undeniable reputation among his NBA brethren, and it’s not a glowing one. The veteran is not only one of the best basketball players of his generation, he’s also one of the best agitators. Never afraid to take liberties after the whistle blows, Garnett also blows more than his fair share of hot air.

It’s his trash talk that has been the biggest point of contention lately. Garnett was one of the top stories in the NBA this past week for his role in a tussle with Knicks scorer Carmelo Anthony. The two went at it all game, with their dispute apparently pouring out into the tunnel and all the way to the Celtics’ team bus. Anthony, who received a one-game suspension for his actions, seemed hellbent on getting some sort of retribution. Garnett had gotten under his skin with trash talk, reportedly saying something to Anthony about his wife; the two are separated.

That comes more than two years after Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva alleged that Garnett called him a “cancer patient ” Garnett refuted the fact saying that he called Villanueva, who suffers from a condition that keeps him from growing hair, a “cancerous player.”

“KG talks alot of crap, he’s prob never been in a fight, I would love to get in a ring with him, I will expose him,” Villanueva tweeted at the time.

There is, no doubt, a rhyme to Garnett’s reason. He is trying to get into his opponents’ heads, and in the case of Anthony, it appears to have worked. The New York swingman had a miserable game, shooting 6-for-26 from the floor, while the Celtics knocked off the first-place Knicks in New York.

While Garnett’s trash talk obviously fuels him, and he fuels the Celtics, there are some that Garnett takes it a little too far sometimes. Knowing what we know about Garnett and how he plays the game, is that a fair point?

As soon as Garnett went down to the floor, Rondo went after Humphries, engaging the power forward that spilled into the stands as Gerald Wallace and other teammates got involved. Rondo, Humphries and Wallace were all ejected, but most suspected that wouldn’t be the end of it.

On Thursday evening, word broke that Rondo would be suspended by the NBA for two games for instigating the melee, leaving the Celtics without their point guard for a little while. This, of course begs the question, is the suspension fair?

On the one hand Rondo clearly instigated the fighting portion of the skirmish, shoving Humphries which incited the other players.

On the other hand, it was Humphries’ foul that put Garnett on the ground in the first place, and it can be argued that all Rondo was doing was protecting his teammate. The NBA certainly doesn’t have much tolerance for fighting, but this was a relatively minor incident.

So, what do you think of Rondo’s suspension?

With the Red Sox welcoming the Minnesota Twins to Fenway Park for a four-game series, what better time to honor those former Twin City athletes?

Let's start with Randy Moss. Moss was far from a fan favorite when he left the Minnesota Vikings in 2005, and after two years with the Oakland Raiders, Moss came to Foxboro in 2007.

But Bill Belichick has a way of rejuvenating troubled players, and Moss was no different. Critics called him an outdated talent, but Moss was able to prove them wrong and quickly became Tom Brady's favorite pair of hands.

In his first season with the Pats, Moss broke the NFL's single-season touchdown record previously held by Jerry Rice as well as the Patriots franchise record for highest receiving yardage total with 1,493. Moss was not only a big gamer, but also an exciting player to watch.

Then there's Papi. One of the most beloved Boston sports figures of all time, David Ortiz has been a presence on the field and off. A two-time World Series champ, eight-time All-Star and clutch hitter extraordinaire, he is truly an icon in Boston.

Ortiz came to the Sox from the Minnesota Twins, where he was essentially a nobody. But once he was given a chance, Papi took off.

Last but by no means least is Celtics big man Kevin Garnett, more affectionately referred to as KG. Garnett was a standout on the Timberwolves and came over to Boston as the final part of the Big Three, as he joined superstars Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. A 2008 NBA champion, 2004 NBA MVP and a 14-time NBA All-Star, Garnett has been nothing short of incredible while donning the Celtics green and white.

Boston has certainly made the best of Minnesota's talent over the past few years, but which athlete has been the most enjoyable to watch in a Boston uniform?

Which former Minnesota player have you most enjoyed having on a Boston team?

If Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett have their numbers retired as expected once their days in green are finished, however, the Celtics will have 23 numbers unavailable between zero and 35. Pretty soon, new Celtics players may need to don fractions.

Although it may be useless to close the stable door after the horse is out, the Celtics may need to consider tightening their standards for retired numbers. After all, the collection of numerical retirees already includes two men who never even played in the NBA.

Up to now, any player who A) contributed significantly to multiple titles in Boston or B) played the bulk of a Hall of Fame career in green could count on having his number hanging from the rafters at the Garden. A few players have managed to grace the banners without such illustrious careers. Satch Sanders, Jim Loscutoff, Don Nelson, Jo Jo White and Cedric Maxwell did not make the Hall of Fame as players, and it is unlikely Reggie Lewis would have made it, either. Dennis Johnson had his number retired in 1991, well before he reached Springfield posthumously in 2010.

The Celtics’ number situation has not quite reached New York Yankees proportions — once Derek Jeter‘s No. 2 and, presumably, Joe Torre‘s No. 6 are retired, every number between one and 10 will be out of commission in the Bronx — but it may not be long before a bunch of guys take the court at the TD Garden wearing No. 59 or No. 71.

Should the Celtics establish higher standards for retired numbers? If so, what should those new standards be? Share your proposal in the comments section below.

Check out every player whose number is retired by the Celtics>>

Should the Celtics limit the amount of numbers they retire in the future?

Photo via Flickr/s.yume

Forty-eight minutes of basketball and 45 LeBron James points later, and the basketball world is singing a different tune. The momentum is firmly back in Miami's court, and the Heat will get home-court advantage for the decisive Game 7.

The Celtics are going to have to be firing on all cylinders to slow down James and the Heat, especially if Chris Bosh is able to play significant minutes.

Kevin Garnett will once again be responsible for spearheading the Celtics' defensive efforts. His energy, physicality and size down low has made him a force throughout the playoffs. But his 36-year old legs will have to hold up for another sizeable workload in Game 7 for Boston to slow down Miami.

Offensively, the Celtics have leaned on their distributer, point guard Rajon Rondo. Rondo was not himself in Game 6, making a handful of unforced turnovers, as the Celtics struggled to get going on offense. If he can revert back to form, the Celtics should be able to find a better rhythm on offense.

Meanwhile, Paul Pierce lives for moments like these. One of the greatest players to ever don a Celtics uniform, Pierce will need to rebound from a dismal 4-for-18 shooting performance in Game 6. After settling for too many jumpers in the 21-point loss on Thursday, Pierce will have to get to the basket more often to get into a groove.

Hobbled by an ankle injury, Ray Allen has been hit or miss during the 2012 NBA Playoffs. The Celtics are hoping for the former when Allen suits up Saturday night. Allen is not relied upon to be a huge producer, but double-digit points from the veteran would take a lot of pressure off the rest of the Celtics.

The Big Four won't be able to do it all, however. The bench play of Marquis Daniels, Keyon Dooling and Mickael Pietrus has been a huge asset for Boston at times during the postseason, and Game 7 would be the perfect time for the reserves to rise to the occasion again, particularly on the defensive end of the floor.

Who do you think is the biggest factor in Game 7 for the Celtics?

Who will be the biggest factor for the Celtics in Game 7 against the Heat?

They weren't supposed to be heading to Boston's TD Garden for a do-or-die Game 6, staring elimination in the face.

No, they were supposed to be celebrating already, having dispatched the aging Celtics easily and eagerly awaiting the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals.

Yet, here they are, forty eight minutes away from a possible vacation, with Kevin Garnett and the Jungle Garden crowd smelling blood, ready to give the Heat everything they've got in the hopes of sending them home losers.

How did it come to this? Well, there are plenty of culprits that you could point the finger at. Maybe James just doesn't have what it takes to be a champion. Maybe Wade isn't doing enough to help his MVP teammate. Maybe Chris Bosh wasn't healthy enough to make the impact the team needed. Maybe coach Erik Spoelstra couldn't find the right way to fit together the pieces of his so-called "superteam."

Or, maybe the Celtics are just plain better.

Who is most responsible for the Heat's struggles this series?

So just what does this announcement of Bosh's possible return mean for both the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics?

The Numbers

Miami finished the regular season with a 46-20 record. When the Heat played with Bosh in the lineup during the regular season, they were 42-15. They went 4-5 without him. This postseason, however, the Heat are 5-1 when Bosh plays and 5-4 without him.

When Bosh played in the playoffs, Miami scored an average of 96.5 points a game and allowed 83.3 points. Without Bosh, they averaged slightly less (95.7) and allowed far more (91.7), probably due to the lack of Bosh's defensive presence.The All-Star power forward was averaging 14.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in the postseason on 51.7 percent field goal shooting.

Watch Out, KG

Anyone who has watched a single minute of a Celtics postseason game could tell you that, with the exception of Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett may be the most dominant presence in a C's uniform — or any uniform, for that matter. This postseason, Garnett is averaging a beastly 19.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.

In Bosh's absence, the Heat have had to resort to a much smaller lineup. This has allowed Garnett to do what he has been doing. Bosh may be able to contain him.

Mind the Perimeter

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said the perimeter defense and trapping along the outer boundaries of the 3-point line will have to improve once Bosh is reinstated into the Heat lineup.

Without Bosh's presence down low, the Celtics have been able to spend extra defensive efforts on Miami's big 3-point shooters, like Dwayne Wade and LeBron James. Now, they will have to pull those extra defensive efforts back in order to focus on Bosh down low.  

How big of an impact will Bosh's return have on the series?

How much of an impact will Chris Bosh have upon return to Heat lineup?

In order to take down the Miami Heat and advance to the NBA Finals, the Celtics need to get contributions off the bench. In Game 3, Marquis Daniels stepped up, providing energy and contributing 17 minutes of solid basketball on both ends of the floor.

The bench contribution did not stop there. Keyon Dooling pitched in 20 minutes, attempting to fill the defensive void left by injured guard Avery Bradley. Mickael Pietrus also added to the defensive effort for the Celtics, holding his own against LeBron James and Dwayne Wade with his physical play.

And while he didn't provide a noteworthy performance in Game 3, Greg Stiemsma has proven to be a capable big man who can spell the starters for a handful of minutes per game.

The Celtics are looking to even the series Sunday night in Boston, and to do so, they will need another strong effort from the bench.

Which Celtics bench player will have the biggest impact in Game 4?

Which Celtics bench player will have the biggest impact in Game 4?

The Celtics looked completely overmatched in Game 1 of their series, losing by 14 and seemingly allowing the Heat to penetrate and score at will. On the strength of a instantly legendary near-triple-double effort by Rajon Rondo in Game 2, Boston battled the Heat all the way into overtime — but some questionable officiating may have cost the C's a victory. In Game 3, however, the boys in green broke through with a balanced team effort to overcome yet another monster game by LeBron James.

Meanwhile, in the West, the Spurs began the series by simply doing what they had done the previous 18 games — winning. It took some colorful exhortation by coach Gregg Popovich in Game 1 — we all remember "I want some nasty" — for the Spurs to gut out a comeback win, before getting a slightly easier victory in Game 2. But the Thunder rolled in Game 3 back in Oklahoma City, demolishing San Antonio by 20 and halting their seemingly inevitable march to the NBA Finals.

At this point, both the East and West seem up for grabs after the statements delivered in Game 3 by the Celtics and Thunder. But which team stands a better chance of coming back and winning their series?

Who is more likely to come back and win their playoff series

In the second quarter, Kevin Garnett was given a delay of game technical for tipping the ball toward the sideline after it had gone through the hoop. Ray Allen received a tech for making a face of disagreement while walking back down the court. Toward the end of the same quarter, Celtics head coach Doc Rivers got a technical for saying "Come on, Eddie" to referee Ed Malloy, who also gave a technical to Rondo in the third quarter.

While Rivers had a lot to say about the technicals after Game 1, the Celtics did not have many complaints during their wins in the first two rounds of the playoffs, during which they beat the Hawks and the 76ers.

Elsewhere in the league, the officials were also critiqued for their handling of Game 5 between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers. The refs gave the Pacers' Tyler Hansbrough a flagrant foul for hitting Dwyane Wade in the face as he went up for a layup. In the ensuing Pacers possession, Udonis Haslem did not make any attempt at the ball as he smashed both arms across Hansbrough's face, but he was not ejected and only received a flagrant foul. Later in the game, the Heat's Dexter Pittman threw an intentional, dangerous elbow to the Pacers' Lance Stephenson, but he also only received a flagrant foul and was not ejected. The NBA handed down suspensions to Pittman and Haslem the next day.

Thus far into the postseason, what grade would you give NBA officials?

What Grade Would You Give the NBA Officials This Postseason?

Celtics guard Avery Bradley struggled with shoulder injuries throughout the postseason before having season-ending surgery to resolve the issue.

It was a blow for the Celtics, as Bradley has been a fundamental part of the Celtics' defense and a key to their success this season. When teammate Ray Allen went down with bone spurs in his ankle, Bradley helped to carry the team.

Meanwhile, the Heat lost forward Chris Bosh to a strained abdominal muscle in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Indiana Pacers.

Bosh has been a consistent, reliable player for the Heat all season, and while Miami still has LeBron James and Dwayne Wade leading the attack against the Celtics, Bosh's absence will certainly be noticed.

It's hard to tell if Bosh or Bradley will be missed the most going into the series matchup, but their teammates will have to step it up for sure. Bosh's absence means that James and Wade will have to lead the Heat, while Rajon Rondo and Allen will be relied on to carry the Celtics. 

Whose absence will matter more in Celtics-Heat series?

The game was in the balance until the final moments, when the Celtics heated up on offense, shooting just over 69 percent in the fourth quarter.

Rajon Rondo filled up the stat sheet in the closing moments, collecting 11 of his 18 points inside the five-minute mark of the fourth quarter. Rondo rounded out a triple-double with 10 rebounds and 10 assists on the evening.

Kevin Garnett had another dominant performance, picking up a double-double. Garnett averaged 19.7 points and 11 rebounds per game through the seven-game series and added 18 points and 13 boards in the Game 7 victory.

And while Ray Allen was not himself for the majority of the contest, the sharpshooter nailed some clutch three-balls in the waning moments of the game to seal the deal for Boston after a cold shooting night.

Which Celtic was most important in the Game 7 victory over the Sixers?

Which Celtic was most important in the Game 7 win over the Sixers?

The C's and Sixers will square off in Game 7 at TD Garden on Saturday, with the winner advancing to the Eastern Conference finals, where the Miami Heat anxiously await.

Boston entered the series as the heavy favorite. And while the C's remain the favorite for Game 7, with the action tipping off on the Celtics' home floor, the Sixers have shown that they're not to be taken lightly. Doug Collins' group has stepped up defensively, while using athleticism to overpower the veteran Celtics on occasion.

The C's have plenty of reasons to be confident going into Game 7, but a much-anticipated showdown with the Heat is no longer a foregone conclusion. Instead, we're left wondering whether Saturday will mark the end of the Big Three era.

What's your confidence level heading into Saturday's do-or-die clash?

How confident are you that the Celtics will defeat the Sixers in Game 7?

The Magic announced that neither head coach Stan Van Gundy nor general manager Otis Smith would be back next season. Naturally, everyone assumed that this was the work of center Dwight Howard, but that may not be the case.

Chris Sheridan reported that Howard still wants out of Orlando, despite the shakeup on the bench and in the front office. 

"Howard wants out of Orlando more than he ever did before in order to start a new chapter of his career," Sherdian wrote, citing a source. "And it is well-known throughout the league that the Magic do not want to endure another soap opera season like the one they just experienced."

Howard was in trade limbo all season until he agreed not to opt out of his contract heading into next season. That, along with Monday's moves, seemed to indicate that Howard might be in Orlando for the long term, but that's apparently not the case. 

The Magic are expected to meet with Howard soon to get to the bottom of all of this, and if Howard indicates that he wants to be traded, there are sure to be a handful of suitors.

The frontrunner, if Howard were to leave Orlando, would be the Brooklyn Nets, but a source also told Sheridan that "it is not going to be a one-horse race."

Teams like the Lakers and Clippers could also end up being Howard's new employer, while there are plenty of fans in Boston and New York who are hoping their teams can try and swing a deal this summer if Howard's on the block.

Which team will Dwight Howard play for next season?

Photo via Orlando Sentinel

But since Bosh went down, the Heat are 0-2, and the two losses are stirring controversy in South Beach due to the team's unexpected struggles.

The Heat lost by three to the Pacers in the final seconds of Game 2, but the Pacers embarrassed the Bosh-less Heat in Game 3 on Thursday night, winning 94-75 in Indianapolis.

Thursday night's loss had tempers flaring between guard Dwyane Wade and head coach Erik Spoelstra. In the third quarter, the Heat scored just 12 points. Spoelstra approached Wade, and the guard clearly did not want to hear anything his coach had to say. Wade had to be separated from Spoelstra.

If Wade continues to play like he did in Game 3, shooting 2-for-13 from the field, the Heat's offseason will be starting much sooner than they anticipated. But it can't all be Wade and Spoelstra contributing to the Heat's problems.

There's also this season's MVP, LeBron James, who is averaging 27.1 points a game and, for a change, hasn't been the main focus in the past 48 hours. James, however, continues to produce very little in the second half and at the end of games. He was 2-for-8 in the second half of Game 3, and he isn't helping a team without Bosh or Wade win key games.

Then there is Shane Battier, who played 23 minutes in Game 3 but failed to score. He shot six 3s but couldn't hit any of them.

The Heat are also not getting any support from their bench. Mike Miller, James Jones, Ronny Turiaf and Norris Cole all played at least 10 minutes in the game, with Turiaf the leading scorer with just five points and eight rebounds.

But go ahead — make the call. Who is most to blame for the Heat's struggles?

Who is most to blame for the Heat's struggles against the Pacers?

Larry Bird

Bird, the president of basketball operations for the Pacers, was also named the Coach of the Year in 1998 (also with the Pacers) and is the first person to win those two awards as well as the Most Valuable Player award, which he won three years in a row from 1984 to 1986 with the Celtics.

It’s only fair to wonder which of Boston’s players is most likely to become a coach or executive after his playing days are over.

Is it Paul Pierce, the team captain? Or Kevin Garnett, who, with all his intensity and fire, could likely deliver some great motivational speeches? Could it be Ray Allen, the consummate pro? Or maybe Rajon Rondo, who hasn’t shrunk from running an offense of future Hall of Famers?

Who would you trust most with running your team?

Which current Celtics player would make the best coach or executive?

In fact, the Sixers have a number of players who could be very desirable to C’s fans, and who could potentially become fan favorites if they were to ever don green.

Andre Iguodala is perhaps the most recognizable name on the Sixers. His high-flying style of play has led to him appearing on plenty of highlight reels, but his defense is what makes him one of the game’s better players.

The Sixers also have a good young point guard in Jrue Holiday. The Philly floor general averaged 13.5 points and 4.5 assists per game in his third season in the league, and at just 21 years old, he’s still getting better.

Philadelphia’s leading scorer is also a point guard. Lou Williams averaged 14.9 points in 26.3 minutes per game off the bench this season, and he’s proven to be a clutch shooter capable of making big shots.

Evan Turner has also shown an ability to provide an offensive spark, and the former No. 2 overall pick should only improve as he gains more experience — much like Holiday.

As for big men, the Sixers have a talented pair in Elton Brand and Spencer Hawes, who can both rebound the basketball. That’s something the Celtics do struggle with from time to time.

So who would you most like to see in Beantown?

Which 76ers player would you most like to see on the Celtics?