Paul Pierce was nicknamed “The Truth” for a reason: he says what’s on his mind. The nickname’s origin probably had something to do with his playing ability, as well, but in his appearance on WEEI’s “Ordway, Merloni & Fauria” on Wednesday he attributed it to his approach to life.

Pierce also spoke on the state of the current group of Celtics, which is riding a five game winning streak heading into Saturday’s matchup with the Golden State Warriors. The Celtics legend turned broadcaster still thinks his old team can make it through the Eastern Conference into the NBA Finals.

“I think they so,” Pierce said when asked if Boston will meet its preseason expectations. “I just don’t think they should let the pressure get to them. You’re going to have your ups and downs. I had a chance to speak with Jayson (Tatum) at his Nike shoot and I just told him, ‘Man, there’s going to be ups and downs during the regular season, it’s full of emotional highs and lows. You got to just get past that and just keep your head up. Don’t worry about that.’ Because think about it: once the playoffs start, (it’s) a whole new season. You can erase the regular season. Erase all the good and bad and y’all start fresh and be like, ‘From this point on we got to be on point and this is what matters.’ Because (if) they get to the finals, then all that stuff in the regular season is forgotten.”

As a follow-up, Pierce was asked about Tatum and how he compared to Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier in terms of mental approach. Pierce gave a surprising answer.

“He has that ability to be a superstar and (it’s) my personal opinion you need a great wingman to be your best player to win a championship,” Pierce said on WEEI. “If you think about all the championship teams, it’s tough for your point guard to be the best player. Rare occasions. Isiah (Thomas), Magic (Johnson), Steph Curry, Chauncey Billups, and Tony Parker when he won MVP. Steph was their best player in the finals, but he didn’t win MVP in none of those finals. It was all the wing guys (Andre) Iguodala and (Kevin) Durant. Throughout the years: Kawhi (Leonard), LeBron (James), (Dwyane) Wade, Kobe (Bryant). … You need that special wing player, that guy who can get his own shot. He has to be that wing player. Look at the last 20 champions. The best player has been, more times than not, that great wing player.”

Essentially, Pierce expressed the development of Tatum is more important to Boston’s success than Kyrie Irving dominating the present. Because as much as Irving is a top-10 talent, he can never be a wing and therefore can never be the vital player Pierce believes Boston needs in order to win it all.