LeBron James Vs Paul Pierce- "Why Do I Want To Be Cool With That Guy?' Cavaliers Play Wizards In Heated Rivalry Tonight

Paul Pierce has some choice words for LeBron James reheating an age-old Eastern Conference rivalr yas the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers take on Pierce's new team the Washington Wizards tonight.

"I think a lot of it is misunderstood. If I see LeBron walking down the street, it's not going to be no fistfight. I got a lot of respect for him," ESPN report Pierce as saying. 

The pair have matched up across numerous memorable times in their career, with their respective teams matching up in the Eastern playoffs six times in the past eight years, and the highlight being game seven of the 2008 Eastern semi-finals, when Pierce had 41 points, four rebounds, five assists, two steals, and LeBron racked up 45 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals as Pierce's Celtics beat the Cavs enroute to winning the championship.

LeBron, of course, would get his revenge with the Heat, beating Pierce and Celtics in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals on their way to winning Lebron's first championship. 

"The competitive nature of both of us," said Pierce of tonight's impending matchup," being at the same position, being on top teams, gunning for the same trophy year in and year out, that's where that comes in to play. It's like fighting for the same girl. Why do I want to be cool with that guy?"

"I've got total respect for him as a person. It's just the things that we go through are all on the court and that's where we leave it." 

The 5-5 Cavs take on the 7-3 Wiz as LeBron and company have been struggling to gel, especially defensively, as Grantland's Kirk Goldsberry points out. 

As for LeBron's decision to head back to Cleveland, CSN Washington report that Pierce said he was "definitely surprised" that the superstar left after making four straight finals appearances with Miami. He also conceded that the lure of going home must have been strong for LeBron, leading him to leave Miami to team up Kyrie Irving. "Obviously, Cleveland has a special place in his heart and he felt like he left something behind but it's good for him. It's good for the game of basketball." 

The 16-year veteran Pierce added that the move "shifts the balance of power", and after Pierce's own experiences in Boston with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, then last year with the Brooklyn Nets and now with the upstart young Wizards, he understands the growing pains LeBron's team is going through. 

"We know how tough it is to put together a team and try to win a championship in that first year which makes the Eastern Conference that much wide open."

Who do you think will win tonight? And will the Cavs pull it all together, or will they be forced to make a trade in order to bolster their defense?