Pierce finished the regular season with 18.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.1 steals. He averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 0.8 steals in the playoffs before the Celtics were eliminated by the Knicks in the first round.

Pierce struggled from the field and finished with 14 points (4-18 FG, 1-9 3Pt, 5-5 FT) in the loss to the Knicks on Friday. He added seven rebounds and five assists.

Pierce had a team-high 29 points (9-10 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 7-8 FT) to go with eight rebounds, six assists and one block in 50 minutes Sunday in an overtime win in Game 4 against the Knicks.

Pierce will not be expected to handle all of the Celtics' pressure to initiate offense in the future, the Boston Herald reports.