Lakers vs. Celtics Game 5: Boston's Belief in 'The Truth' Leads To Big Win

Who would have thought that a single utterance in a movie by the most recognized Los Angeles Lakers superfan Jack Nicholson, "You can't handle the truth!" manifest itself in an NBA game.  

Nicholson insisted in the movie "A Few Good Men" that it was his ability to do what was necessary to get the job done that kept the masses safe.

Game Five on Sunday night saw the Boston Celtics' determination to prove that Ron Artest could not handle "The Truth," Paul Pierce. Pierce has not been a model of consistency in the Finals, and Artest has had much to do with it.

To his credit, however, Pierce didn't force his offense and stayed within the framework of team play. He played on both ends of the court and most importantly he moved the ball.

He also may have saved the Celtics' championship hopes with his leadership in this win for a 3-2 series lead. The series returns to Los Angeles for Game Six, and a possible Game Seven should C's fail to close things out tomorrow night.

There are many ways to handle "The Truth" when he is staring you right in the face. You can ignore him, or keep doing the same thing over and over again, such as giving him the same defensive looks. 

Pierce can also leave you stunned and unable to deny the fact that "The Truth" will be set free.

"The Truth" may not always look pretty. Pierce will go through his own machinations of ugly faces and unorthodox movement. But he will make himself known at one point in time or another when all eyes are on him.

Pierce has the experience off loving and hating the same team in the space of a singular breath.  

The Boston Celtics and The Los Angeles Lakers will always be a major part of his personal and professional life.  

Los Angeles is a place that can often swallow you up whole. It is known as a place that can give you instant success, or leave you strung-out in the underbelly of its glitzy veneer.

Pierce's game does not speak of Hollywood, but rather reflects the resolve and tenacity of a gritty New Englander. Those who live in and around Boston know how to navigate the circumstances of living in an unpredictable climate. The NBA season and most of all its post-season is a microcosm of that.

He now has the opportunity to provide a story-book ending, and fulfill every NBA player’s dream—a chance to win an NBA Championship in his hometown as part of the premier rivalry in NBA history.

Pierce has shown that to doubt him is not the thing to do when dealing with "The Truth."