Paul Pierce admitted on Thursday that during the season, when the Celtics were struggling, the desire to play in another season came to him.

``You think about all of that,'' the Celtics captain said after yesterday's practice, on the eve of his team's third straight first-round playoff series against Indiana. ``At times I thought this was not the best situation for me. What veteran player wouldn't if his team wasn't doing well?

``I never asked to be traded, though. I never lulled, and I never missed a practice.''