He’s led by resilient example in these playoffs. And that’s a turnaround. Celtics fans can easily recall the 2003 Eastern Conference Finals against the Nets when, trailing 74-53 after three quarters, Pierce was brooding on the bench when then-teammate Antoine Walker got loud in the Celtics huddle and sparked a record-setting fourth quarter comeback. Pierce was brilliant in that final quarter but he’d appeared to have mentally checked out before Walker’s rant.

The year before that, Pierce was on the U.S. team in the FIBA World Championships held in Indiana. The dysfunctional American stars finished sixth in the tournament and Pierce was reportedly very unpopular with his teammates and hasn’t played for a U.S. squad since.

Mercurial, moody and a chronic complainer, Pierce was hard to like then. He got even harder to like when he acted out bizarrely in a 2005 playoff game with the Pacers, got ejected, then showed up at the postgame press conference with a giant wrap around his head.

At the start of the 2006 season, Pierce changed. He grew up. After delivering an impassioned speech to the Celtics crowd before the first regular season game that season, he began playing like a leader.

Not that anyone noticed. The Celtics were so far off the national radar screen that Pierce and his 40-point games against the Wizards in February barely registered. But under head coach Doc Rivers, Pierce acted more like a professional and took the lead in trying to lead an exceptionally young and clueless Boston team.

It was time served in purgatory for Pierce. Now, on the brink of an NBA title, he’s nearing hoops heaven.

“I always leave it on the court,” Pierce said Tuesday. “That's just something I owe to my ballclub, my franchise, every time I step on the court. And I have plenty in the tank. It's not over. I've got to suck it up for two more games, if that. It'll all be worth it in the end.”

For Pierce, it won’t be complete until he cradles the golden Finals trophy. But what he’s done in these playoffs and The Finals in particular has changed the perception of Paul Pierce. For the good and for good.

MORE FROM NBA

NBA Section Front

Wade scores 41 as Heat holds off Wizards Heat owner confident Wade won’t leave Iverson yet to return to Grizzlies Grizzlies rookie Thabeet breaks jaw Mavericks start slow, beat Rockets 121-103 Abdul-Jabbar has rare form of leukemia   Celizic: Kareem confronting ‘scary’ cancer head on   Video: Addul-Jabbar talks about his battle   Slideshow: Abdul-Jabbar’s career highlights Winderman: Boost or bust? Young season offers insight   NBA Section Front   Add NBA headlines to your news reader: