The 2000-01 Boston Celtics season was defined by the remarkable resilience and ascending stardom of Paul Pierce, who started all 82 games and averaged 25.3 points per game just weeks after surviving a life-threatening physical assault. Alongside All-Star Antoine Walker, who led the league in three-point field goals, Pierce formed one of the most dynamic scoring duos in the NBA, famously earning the nickname "The Truth" from Shaquille O'Neal after a spectacular 42-point performance against the Lakers. Although the team narrowly missed the playoffs with a 36-46 record, the mid-season coaching transition to Jim O'Brien brought a renewed sense of competitive energy, as the squad played .500 basketball under his leadership and established a promising foundation for the franchise's future.