Although he'd get Steve Francis' vote, Paul Pierce is not the NBA's Most Valuable Player this season. But the fact he's already been mentioned among the game's elite by a number of opposing players this season is a tribute to the lengths in which the Celtics' fourth-year star has taken his game.

Though he is the league's second-leading scorer in averaging a career-high 27 points per game, Pierce can no longer be defined solely in terms of the points he puts on the board. He's come a long way as a stand-up defender, no longer having to rely on steals to contribute at that end of the floor. He's learned how to pass out of double-teams, particularly in recent weeks since the Celtics went into more of an attack mode at the basket and lessened their 3-point shooting load.

Pierce, 24, is averaging a career-