Paul Pierce Claims Responsibility For Pushing LeBron James 'Over The Top'

LeBron James' rise to power is a complex journey, but Paul Pierce says their battles helped him become the legend he is today. In a chat with "The Schmo," Pierce explained that he helped bring out the best in James and that their rivalry helped push him to another level of greatness.

"I had a couple of playoff battles with Bron and he really brought out the best of me," said Pierce. "But I will say, I brought out the best out of him, too. 

Specifically, Pierce identified their showdown in Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. James dropped 45 points and 15 rebounds to prevent elimination, and it was really the start of the next phase of his career.

"When he came to Boston, Game 6, I think it was in 2012, and he gave me the 40-something piece, because I was about to go back to the Finals, he played the game of his life," added Pierce. "That's when he took the next step because I know I pushed him."

LeBron James has faced many opponents over the years, some stronger than others. While Pierce's Celtics were not on the same level as the Curry-led Golden State Warriors, they are remembered today for being one of his greatest obstacles.

They met four times in the playoffs: 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012. The first series in 2008 went the full seven games and included standout performances from both star forwards. In the end, however, Pierce won the historic duel in Game 7 en route to his first and only NBA championship.

Two years later, the two teams met once again, and this time the Celtics were able to win in six games over a weakened Cavaliers squad. Pierce struggled in the series, averaging just 13.5 points per game, but the Celtics' defense gave them a lot of problems, holding them to 44.9% shooting as a team. James was uncharacteristically inefficient, averaging 26.8 points per game on 44.7% shooting.

2011 is the first time that James beat the Celtics' "big three," mostly thanks to Dwyane Wade, who averaged 30.2 points in five games. Not a single Celtics player averaged over 20 points in the series, and it served as the ultimate revenge for James despite losing the Finals that year.

Finally, there's the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics were on the decline by this point, but they still managed to push Miami to the brink with Pierce averaging 18.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on 34.4% shooting. Game 6 served as the turning point of the series, as James went off to save his team from elimination. He dropped a series-high 45 points along with 15 rebounds and five assists in what many claim is one of the best playoff performances of his career. Pierce, meanwhile, put up just nine points on an abysmal 22.2% shooting.

So while Pierce is responsible for giving LeBron some of his greatest challenges, it has more to do with how good the Celtics were as a team than his own individual impact. As the first "superteam" of the modern era, the Celtics were giving everyone trouble, including Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, when they met in the Finals.

Without those series, it's true that LeBron might not have broken through when he did, but it might also have to do with added experience, better teammates after his move to Miami, and the natural decline of the Celtics' big three, who were already in their mid-30s by the 2012 playoffs.