Pierce’s defense on James the difference

By Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff

All week long, the message was simple: Make it difficult for LeBron James. He’s going to get his points, but make him work for it.

Paul Pierce did just that Saturday night, forcing James into 6-of-16 shooting as the Celtics defeated the Heat in Game 3. After averaging 28.5 points in the first two games of the series, James was held to 15 as the Heat barely broke the 80-point barrier.

“Anything under 25 points for LeBron, you’re defending well,” said Pierce. “You know what type of talent he is, and you know you’re used to seeing him go out and get 25, 30. That’s what you expect from him. When you can hold him down to under that it gets ourselves a better chance.”

The Celtics gave better help on James in Game 3, double-teaming earlier and forcing him into more difficult decisions. James made the wrong decision at least four times in committing four turnovers. But Pierce also dug down deep on his own, getting up into James’s body knowing that the help was there.

“We picked up full court, got into their space,” said Pierce. “We didn’t let them just pass the ball around. We were the aggressors tonight.”

Pierce seems to save some of his best games for James. In Game 7 of the 2008 Eastern Conference semifinals, Pierce had 41 points as the Celtics knocked out the Cleveland Cavaliers. Pierce’s performance Saturday night was particularly important because of how he started off the Heat series in Game 1: 19 points on 6-of-14 shooting, two technicals, and an ejection in a 99-90 loss in Miami.

“It’s been a roller coaster ride for Paul, especially with the ejection [in Game 1] and not playing well,” said teammate Jeff Green. “But Paul’s a fighter, man. Going against him in practice every day, it makes me better. I try to make him better. Seeing him put on a show today was amazing.”