Dime Magazine posed that question this weekend.

the Miami broadcast posed a viewer poll asking who is the greatest Celtic of all-time. The options: Bill Russell, Jon Havlicek, Larry Bird and Paul Pierce....

At first glance, a lot of people are going to say that’s crazy for Pierce to even be in the discussion....

But consider that Pierce is third all-time on Boston’s career scoring list behind Hondo and Bird, and second in points per game behind Bird. Consider that he’s first (by a landslide) in three-pointers made, second in free throws made, second in steals, fourth in blocks, ninth in rebounds (as a small forward/shooting guard), and seventh in assists. He “only” has one championship ring and no League MVP’s, but Pierce is all over the record book of the most storied franchise in the NBA. He deserves to be in the discussion.

It's an interesting question... and Paul DOES deserve to be in the discussion of all time greatest Celtics.  But he's not THE greatest.  That's a pretty exclusive club.  Sorry Paul, that's just a by product of playing for the Celtics.

Really, the conversation there is only between Larry Bird and Bill Russell.  Bird's got the mythology behind him, while Russ has the hardware.  To me, it doesn't matter which you say is greater.  You take one, give me the other, and I'll be happy with that scenario.

But Paul's place in the pantheon is really in the realm just below those two.  The numbers, as Dime laid out, are indeed staggering.  The resolve he's shown in playing through the lean years is impressive.  And even more impressive is how he willingly stepped out of the limelight as the Big 3 were assembled.  He doesn't HAVE to be "the man" every game.  He's happy doing other things to make sure everyone on this team is happy.

He easily could have derailed the 07-08 championship season by being a selfish prima donna.  That he didn't might be even more impressive than any statistics you can rattle off in support of Paul Pierce's standing among the greats.

One more title could end even what little debate there is over this.  There's nothing that will cement your standing in Celtics history more than multiple titles.  But even short of that, there's no doubt that Pierce will be raising his number 34 to the rafters, and giving a speech in Springfield some day.