Tom E. Curran • E-mail

Paul Pierce has hijacked the NBA Finals.

The anticipated renewal of the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, the would-be coronation of Kobe Bryant as the greatest thing since a certain No. 23, the valedictory of Kevin Garnett, Phil Jackson’s securing his record 10th title — all these subplots have been pushed to the rear by Pierce’s singular brilliance for Boston.

And when these Finals end at the TD Banknorth Garden either Tuesday or Thursday it won’t be Kobe, KG or Big Chief Triangle taking the bows. It will be Paul Pierce. The man who’s already won the award for Best Dramatic Performance in a Series with his wheelchair bit in Game 1, will be named the Finals MVP.

Even before Sunday night’s 48-minute, 38-point, six-rebound, six-assist performance that stopped just short of dropping L.A. into oblivion, the nation’s eyes had been opened to the throwback scoring brilliance of the mostly Earthbound Celtics captain.

His offensive game isn’t based as much on explosiveness or the ability to defy Newton’s Laws as much as it is on guile, leverage, footwork, body control and a supreme ability to create his own shot. And make it. Of all the great Celtics, Pierce is the best pure scorer to ever wear the green and white.

“Paul is one of my favorite players in the league,” said Bryant after the Lakers Game 5 win when they withstood Pierce’s barrage. “He’s tough. There’s not a lot of players that have a well-rounded offensive game. What I mean by that, he’s got a good mid-range game, long ball, pull up to the hoop, pull up left, pull up right. He has the whole package. I enjoy watching him play, I enjoy playing against him, and he’s fantastic. As far as tonight, he did what a great player does. He attacked and saw opportunities to keep his team in the ballgame, and that’s what he did.”

Video   Not impressed June 16: Christopher Russo is not crazy about the Lakers' performance and says Celtics will win the NBA Finals. NBC Sports

Elevating Pierce should not be confused with denigrating Bryant. The supporting cast Boston has around him is far superior to Bryant’s. And the fact that Pierce spent a fair amount of time destroying Vladimir Radmanovic and Luke Walton while Bryant was dealing with the defense of Pierce, Ray Allen, James Posey and whoever else the Celtics sent on double-teams means the playing field isn’t level.

The critical play in Sunday’s game — Bryant’s poke-check steal on Pierce in the final minute — shows who the better all-around player is.

But Kobe’s generally doing what Kobe’s expected to do. It’s the burden the best singular player in the game often carries. As for Pierce, it wasn’t certain before these playoffs he had this in him.

Not the 41-point outburst against the Cleveland LeBrons in the seventh game of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Not Sunday’s game. Not whatever he has left in his tank to roll at L.A. when the series returns to Boston.

“I just wanted to be aggressive and attack,” said Pierce after the Celts 103-98 loss. “I notice when I’m aggressive, everybody else is aggressive, so I just wanted to make plays.”

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