Paul Pierce Injury: Celtics Will Eliminate Hawks in Game 5 If Captain Plays

The Atlanta Hawks are on the ropes. They are beat up, worn down and ready to quit. All the Boston Celtics have to do is unleash their heaviest hitter and they will surely secure a knock out.

Of course, this all hinges on the health of Paul Pierce, the Celtics’ captain and best offensive player.

If he is active for Game 5 of the first-round playoff series between these two teams, there is little doubt the C’s will be advancing to play either the Chicago Bulls or Philadelphia 76ers.

According to Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston, Pierce isn’t exactly a sure thing to suit up tonight for what could be the deciding contest.

The star injured his left knee during shootaround before Game 4 and re-aggravated it before halftime guarding a screen from Atlanta forward Josh Smith.

Somehow, he was still the leading scorer in the game and had a ridiculous 24 points, four rebounds and two blocks in just 16 minutes, 37 seconds of play. He buried 10 of his 13 shot attempts, including four of six from downtown.

There wasn’t a person in the Garden who could have stopped PP that night and it took his own knee failing—which is wearing down on the 34-year-old after countless NBA games—to eventually force the captain to his bench.

Boston is no stranger to winning without its veterans, which was evidenced by a solid Game 2 performance in which it stole a game in Atlanta without Rajon Rondo or Ray Allen in the backcourt.

However, the Hawks are a proud team and will not roll over easily in a deciding game on their home floor. It’s going to take a solid all-around performance from the C’s and nothing is guaranteed, especially if Pierce does not suit up.

If the swingman is cleared to go, look for Boston to come out inspired and ready to advance to Round 2 by ending the series tonight.