The “menacing hand gesture” has spread to the streets of Boston. Check out Mayor Menino with the local hip-hop group “Special Teamz” at a 2005 Boston Hip Hop Fest at Boston City Hall.

The bottom line here is that Paul Pierce should undoubtedly be on the Eastern Conference All-Star team when the tip-off commences in New Orleans.

Currently, the 6-foot-6, 230-pound University of Kansas product is averaging a tasty 21.5 points per game with 5.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists thrown into the mix as well. Pierce has proved to be an imperative part to the Celtics this season and his value has never been higher as he has morphed into the quintessential team player.

To me, Pierce’s supreme value comes on the defensive side of the ball as of late. He has begun to do the little things that don’t show up in the Boston Herald’s box score every morning. He’s always in the right spot; he has begun to create havoc and has shown an intensity that has begun to seep through Pierce’s seams which has ignited a fire under the Celtics’ 27-3 spotlight.