Paul Pierce Leads Celtics to Victory with a Season-High 36 Points

Paul Pierce poured in a game- and season-high 36 points to help the Celtics escape Charlotte with a 102-95 win, after blowing an 18-point lead. With Mickael Pietrus and Ray Allen out, the Captain truly embodied his role and put the team on his back.

He shot the ball well from the floor, but more importantly, he was getting to the rim and drawing fouls. Throughout the course of the game, he got to the free throw line a phenomenal 18 times and cashed in on 15 of those opportunities. 

Not only did he light up the stat sheet with points, but he also hit the boards and was the game's leading rebounder with ten. 

Although it may seem Pierce's performance can serve as the only bright spot in this win over one of the worst teams in the league, there is much more positiveness that can be taken from this win.

First of all, the Celtics were able to get just their second win of the season in the second of a back-to-back on the road (and the only other one came when the Celtics played the Clippers after the Lakers, so there was no travel involved).  

With six different back-to-back scenarios remaining on the Celtics schedule, it is important for the Celtics to gain the confidence necessary to win in consecutive games. 

Most importantly though, this win moves the Celtics into a tie with the Philadelphia 76ers for first place in the Atlantic division. If the Celtics can keep this position, then their seed will go from a seven seed to a four seed in the playoffs, and this would allow them to avoid the Heat, Bulls and Magic in the first round of the playoffs.

But with 17 games left, all of them against teams better than the Bobcats, the Celtics and captain Paul Pierce need to continue to play well to maintain their spot atop the Atlantic Division.