By JAMES PETTITT

As a contributor to this site stated recently, Philly can not handle the truth. Well it seems that the league can not handle the Truth. With his 46 points yesterday to close out the Sixers, Paul showed the rest of the league what Boston Celtics fans have known for a long time, there are few players better going around better than Paul.

Paul Pierce does not really belong in this era's NBA. Paul is more reminiscent of an earlier NBA, one where shorts were short and players could consistently hit the jumper. Maybe it is why he gets no recognition when spoken of in the leagues elite. His game is based around his deadly jump shot and his aggressive drives to the basket, which often result in his direct opponent leaving the game in foul trouble. While Paul does not the spectacular ability of a Vince Caret, Tracey McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson or even Ray Allen, he is just as good. Despite this he still does not the recognition he deserves.

Paul's lack of recognition began even on NBA Draft night, 1998. Paul, expected to be drafted in the top 3 in the draft, saw himself drop to 10 where he fell into the Celtics lap. Though Paul was as well credential as anyone in that draft, teams felt that such players as Larry Hughes, Jason Williams and Robert Traylor were better value. The only negative comment about Paul was that he seemed a little slow, not athletic enough. So Paul left for Boston, where his fight for recognition continued.

In Paul's rookie years he played as well as any rookie, indeed he won the rookie of the month for February and finished the season with averages of 16ppg and 6rpg. Despite this, he found himself gobbled up in ROY voting by the spectacular Vince Carter whose regular visits to Sportscenter seemed to entrench in the minds of voters that Vince was more worthy than Paul for the award.

The next insult was season 2000-2001. Paul, despite being stabbed 12 times in a bar a month before the season began and not being able to lift weights all season, led a furious Celtic run which only just failed to make the playoffs. Paul averaged 25ppg shooting 44%, and had the second most 30 or more points nights in the league after Al. Despite this the league did not listen. Too infatuated with Tracey McGrady leading the Magic or Kobe Bryant living on Shaq's coattails, Paul could not even get an all-star berth or a spot in any of the all-NBA teams.

The final insult was only being selected to the third all-NBA team last week. Yes a great honour it was, but how many people really believed Tracey McGrady is better than Paul Pierce. More athletic yes, better no. Yes, Paul did make an appearance in the mid season classic, but after the season he has had, surely he deserves more. This season he averaged 26ppg (3rd in the league) and 7rpg. Paul led the league in total points (something no Celtic has done before), was named player of the month twice, scored 46 points in a second half and overtime and won two games on the buzzer. Still the voters felt Kobe, McGrady and Iverson has better seasons than Paul.

The next insult will be the MVP voting. Paul will receive few votes and again will be overlooked as one of the best players in the league. Voters will want athletic stars to get more recognition leaving the most underrated layer in the league again in the cold. Still maybe it is better that way, in fact, it would be good if Paul did not receive an MVP vote, he seems to respond well to insults, just ask Philly, Detroit in two weeks and whoever is unlucky enough to play the Celtics in the Eastern Finals.