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As far as whether he is leaning one way or another, Ainge made it clear that no decision on Pierce's future had been made. "I have not even discussed that with anyone within our franchise yet," Ainge said. "So that's something for like a few weeks from now to contemplate." CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Danny Ainge 

Gary Washburn: Paul Pierce said at #celtics shootaround he has no plans of retiring after season, will play out final year of contract and determine future Twitter @GwashNBAGlobe

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce 

"Well, I always said I want to end my career as a Celtic,” said Pierce. “But they're the ones -- I have a contract for next year, but it's not guaranteed. So the decision is in their hands. Whatever decisions they make, maybe if they trade me somewhere or I end up somewhere else, maybe it can be a situation where I come back for a one-day deal and retire a Celtic." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce 

Pierce recently told the Globe that he understands this could be his final postseason as a Celtic, saying, “I’ve been thinking that the last three years.” Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce 

Gary Washburn: Paul Pierce said he talked with Jason Collins before his announcement, said he showed "courage". #celtics Twitter @GwashNBAGlobe

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Jason Collins 

When he was rushed back in 4:10 later, the Knicks were within 10. The Celtics kept the lead at nine, but when Garnett (13 points, six assists) sat just 42.6 seconds from the end of the third, the Knicks added six quick points and the Celtics stared at another abysmal third quarter, what Paul Pierce called their “Achilles heel” of the series. “When they’re making their run, you’re trying to figure out how to stop the momentum and you’re trying to create a run of your own,” Garnett said. “It’s not easy. They know what they’re doing, and that’s what they’ve been doing all year. To turn that off is difficult.” New York Post

Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett 

Gary Dzen: Pierce on not being doubled: "Yeah it was sort of surprising. Usually they get the ball out of my hands a little bit earlier." Twitter @GlobeGaryDzen

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce 

Peter Stringer: Pierce on sending series back to NYC for Game 5: "I already called my friends in New York yesterday telling them I'd be there for dinner." Twitter @celtics

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce 

Marc Stein: Celtics? One Pierce confidante says "no way" PP even thinks of retiring after NYK series. KG surely tougher call but I still say he plays on Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett 

While the Celtics' could wind down season in disappointing fashion perhaps because of injuries and age creeping into the once-energetic bodies of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, there will be intrigue this summer. The organization must choose whether to reload for one more championship run or cut ties with its most popular player. Pierce has a team option on his contract for 2013-14 at $ 15.3 million, with a $ 5 million buyout before June 30. Meanwhile, Chris Wilcox's minimum salary is the only guaranteed money that will come off the books next season, ensuring the Celtics will again be a luxury-tax team. Even jettisoning Pierce's contract would not offer financial flexibility because they would still be over the salary cap. Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Chris Wilcox, Salary Cap 

“The Knicks are really doing a good job on defense, trying to take us out of our offense,” Pierce said. “I think our 3- point game hasn’t really been there the whole series. We haven’t really got to the line a ton. But we have got to figure it out. We have got to do a better job of knocking down open shots, we’ve got to get to the free throw line, got to move the ball. Can’t turn the ball over. We turned the ball over a lot tonight and I think that’s something that’s biting us.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Paul Pierce 

"We can be more creative. I have to be," head coach Doc Rivers said before Thursday's practice. "Because that’s just asking Paul to do too much. We're asking him to guard Carmelo (Anthony) at the time, asking him to bring the ball up the floor at times, we’re asking him to be our post passer. Listen, he’s Paul Pierce. He’s not Christopher Reeve." Booth Newspapers

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Doc Rivers 

Paul Pierce is a lot of things to the Celtics. He’s the captain, the leader, the top scorer, the best passer and one of the best defenders. But he can’t be the end-all, be-all to the Celtics if they are to have any chance of coming back in the series against the Knicks. That was the message from Doc Rivers before Thursday’s practice. “We’re not going to put all that pressure on Paul,” Rivers said. “If we’re asking Paul to score, start the offense and pass the ball, we’re going to struggle scoring. One of our [coaches] even gave me a list of guys who should throw the post pass and it was two guys, and I laughed because one of them was the post guy. That [narrows] our choices a little bit. We can be more creative. I have to be [more creative] because that’s just asking Paul to do too much. We’re asking him to guard [Carmelo Anthony] at times, we’re asking him to bring the ball up the court at times, we’re asking him to be our post passer. He’s Paul Pierce, not Christopher Reeve.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce 

“We’ve got to play through Kevin a lot more,” Pierce said yesterday at the team hotel. “He’s one of our best passers. I mean he’s one of the most unselfish players, so we have to do a better job of getting him the ball, a lot more than he got it yesterday. “Doc said he wants Kevin to be aggressive, he wants him to take 20 shots, but even when we run plays for Kevin, he’s so responsible that he’s going to find the open man and be responsible with the ball. He usually ends up getting four or five assists. So we have to do a better job of involving him because he’s good at doing a lot of playmaking duties.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett 

Chris Herring: Woodson says Felton would likely defend Pierce to start, and Shumpert on Jeff Green if Prigioni returns for Game Two. Twitter @HerringWSJ

Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Paul Pierce, Raymond Felton, Jeff Green, Iman Shumpert, Pablo Prigioni 

"On behalf of the New York Knicks organization, we just want to let Boston know that we send our prayers to them," said Anthony, who spoke first. "We offer our condolences and prayers to the city of Boston and to the people of Boston." As Pierce began to speak some in the Garden crowd began to boo before they were shushed into silence. "The Boston Celtics thank you for your support during this tragedy," Pierce said. "And to the people of Boston, we will rise and run again." New York Daily News

Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony 

Al Iannazzone: Fans booed Paul Pierce when he addressed the crowd about Boston, but then other fans quieted them and he was cheered. Twitter @Al_Iannazzone

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce 

Pierce doesn’t consider his own feelings about Allen that extreme. But as the Celtics captain admitted this week in anticipation of last night’s game against the Heat, he’s still not ready to put Allen back on his calling list. “One day when it’s all said and done, I’m sure we’ll talk about it off to the side,” Pierce said when asked if he was capable of forgiving Allen for joining the Celtics’ bitterest conference rival. “But not right now.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen 

“It definitely hurt me,” Pierce said. “Say we play the Lakers for the championship, and two years later I go and sign with the Lakers. That’s the equivalent of what he did.” Allen, told of Pierce’s comments last night, quietly nodded. “I miss playing with Paul, and being his teammate,” he said. “There’s a lot of sentimentality from me being there and walking with those guys. That doesn’t change. I wouldn’t take that away from him. I respect him feeling that way. Those feelings are justified. I’m not on his team anymore, I’m not helping them win. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen 

Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce took the trip with the Celtics to Miami, but as promised, coach Doc Rivers announced neither would play Friday against the Miami Heat to rest sore ankles. Knowing he may make this decision, Rivers asked reporters after Wednesday's loss to the Brooklyn Nets whether the Heat-Celtics game would be nationally televised. When told the game would be on NBA TV, Rivers shook his head and smiled. Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Injuries, Kevin Garnett