Paul Pierce Downplays The Miami Heat-Boston Celtics Rivalry During 2010s

NBA great Paul Pierce has often been a critic of the Miami Heat.

During his days an ESPN analyst, he never got let an opportunity pass when it came to criticizing the Heat. Pierce recently made a claim the Heat-Celtics rivalry during the 2010s wasn't as heated as retired Heat forward Udonis Haslem has claimed in the past.

Pierce spoke of it an appearance on The Dan LeBatard show this week.

"First of all, I'm trying to remember when he told me that because I never remember hearing that," Pierce said. "Second of all, when we played Miami when Udonis Haslem was out there, I don't remember no hard screens, no hard fouls, and now that we're in retirement trying to get our podcast off, I'm starting to hear this hate."

The rivalry reached its peak while LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in the early 2010s when the Celtics were led by Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Pierce.

They met in the 2011 Eastern Conference semifinals and 2012 conference finals, with the Heat winning both series. It reached another level when Allen joined the Heat for the 2013 season.

Pierce and Haslem had the biggest beef, dating to when Haslem called his rival a "studio gangster." Haslem has never shied from verbally sparring with Pierce, even saying he'd challenge him to fight.

"I rub people the wrong way," Pierce said. "I never liked Miami. I respected them, but it is what it is. I'd rather do it in a telephone booth, but if you need more room in the grocery store, that's cool too."

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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat, a Fan Nation channel for Sports Illustrated. He has covered the NBA since 2010.

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