Paul Pierce is a better offensive player than Larry Bird, says Robert Parish

The Celtics honored legend Paul Pierce with a dinner Saturday night, and former Boston great Robert Parish paid the 10-time All-Star the ultimate compliment.

Parish told Jared Weiss of USA Today that Pierce was the best offensive player in Celtics history.

"I just feel like Paul was more creative. He was a better scorer than say Larry or John Havlicek," Parish said. "I think Havlicek, Larry and Paul were probably the best offensive players that the Celtics ever had. And I think Paul would top that list in my opinion."

It's certainly an intriguing debate for Celtics fans. Pierce averaged 21.8 points, 6 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game in 15 seasons with Boston. Bird finished his career with a 24.6 points, 10 rebounds and 6.3 assists a game. Havlicek posted 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
Havlicek, who played his entire career (1962-1978) with the Celtics, is the team's all-time leading scorer, followed by Pierce and Bird.
By the way, Parish is fourth on the team's all-time scoring chart.

Of course, numbers only tell part of the story, and given that Parish shared the court with Bird for 13 seasons, he knew what Larry Legend could do with the basketball.Veteran Boston sportswriter Bob Ryan had a different view of Parish's thoughts.
"He’s wrong. Bird is the best pure offensive Celt player," Ryan tweeted. "Pierce a better pure scorer. Larry is the best passing forward ever. No contest.
The Celtics held the dinner to honor Pierce a day before they retire his No. 34 jersey