NBA Rumors: Boston Celtics Will Rebound with Banged-Up Paul Pierce in 2012

The Boston Celtics won't be winless for much longer. 

Superstar scorer Paul Pierce missed the Celtics' first two regular season games at New York and at Miami with a bruised heel, and he's expected to sit out again Wednesday night against the New Orleans Hornets, according to ESPNBoston.com.

The report also says that Pierce could play as soon as Friday against the Detroit Pistons, and bet on it if Boston drops to 0-3 on Wednesday night.

But even at 0-3, it's not time to panic in Beantown, unless Sasha Pavlovic becomes the long-term starter at small forward, of course.

The schedule lightens up for Boston now, with home games against the Pistons, Wizards, Nets, Raptors and Suns all coming up.

In its two losses, Boston looked every bit the contender that the Heat and Knicks are considered to be this season, and without their leading scorer in uniform.

Pierce averaged 18.9 PPG last season while starting 80 games for the Celtics. 

His efficiency has also been missed by Boston thus far in 2011-12. Pierce shot a career-best 49.7 percent from the field last season and was the C's go-to-guy late in games.

Kevin Garnett was forced to be that guy on Christmas Day against the Knicks, and the result was a game-tying attempt that went begging at the buzzer and a 106-104 Celtics loss on the road, in which Boston was outscored by 10 points in the fourth quarter.

These games and these moments highlight the need for Pierce in the rotation for Boston to be successful against the league's top-tier teams.

Everyone has a place in Doc Rivers' system, and when Pierce finds his in the coming days and weeks, Boston will be tough to beat once again.

The play of the Celtics thus far is encouraging however, and suggests that even a somewhat hobbled No. 34 will be an effective piece.

Pierce's heel may never be fully healed this season, but his game doesn't require it to be. He'll dominate below the rim and beyond the arc for Boston like he has for more than a decade. 

Boston needs its captain, and by the looks of it, they'll get him back just in time to ring in the new year and challenge the Eastern Conference's best this season.