The top 10 small forwards of the last decade - #2 - Paul Pierce

[paintitgreen]

I'm sure Marion is being considered a power forward for this exercise, which makes some sense since he generally played that position with Amare at center. But he's more natural as a small forward and think he should be on this list instead. Johnson and McGrady should be on the 2 guard list from yesterday. Marion should be here. I'd maybe put Prince in there, definitely ahead of Iguodala (has AI2 done that much in 3 years to warrant making an all-decade list?) and probably Mashburn too.

But Bowen should definitely be on that list. And so should Ron Artest, maybe even Shane Battier, whom I think is better than Prince. The 3 position has been filled with great defenders, ignoring them is ridiculous. Alternatively, if Bowen is considered a 2, he should have been on the 2 guard list. He was a DPOY and a key to four championship teams, something nobody on the current small forward list can say.

Small Forwards (Ball Don't Lie rank)
1 Lebron (1)
2 Pierce (2)
3 Carmelo (4)
4 Bowen (U)
5 Marion (U)
6 Artest (U)
7 Stojakovic (5)
8 Lewis (
9 Jefferson (7)
10 Battier (U)
Removed from list: Iguodala (9), Mashburn (10)

Shooting Guards (Ball Don't Lie rank)
1 Kobe (1)
2 Wade (2)
3 Manu (6)
4 Allen (4)
5 Iverson (5)
6 Carter (3)
7 McGrady (SF 3)
8 Hamilton (9)
9 Johnson (SF 6)
10 Roy (
Removed from list: Redd (7), Stackhouse (10)

[Fafnir]

Marion played the 4 most of the time. He was the best at that position, as a small forward he was above average. At the 4 he was an all star.

[JBcat]

Pierce played some at shooting guard earlier in the decade when Eric Williams started alongside him.   They should just create a list for top 20 wing players combining SGs and SFs and call it a day. 

[Neurotic Guy]

I'm sure Marion is being considered a power forward for this exercise, which makes some sense since he generally played that position with Amare at center. But he's more natural as a small forward and think he should be on this list instead. Johnson and McGrady should be on the 2 guard list from yesterday. Marion should be here. I'd maybe put Prince in there, definitely ahead of Iguodala (has AI2 done that much in 3 years to warrant making an all-decade list?) and probably Mashburn too.

But Bowen should definitely be on that list. And so should Ron Artest, maybe even Shane Battier, whom I think is better than Prince. The 3 position has been filled with great defenders, ignoring them is ridiculous. Alternatively, if Bowen is considered a 2, he should have been on the 2 guard list. He was a DPOY and a key to four championship teams, something nobody on the current small forward list can say.

Small Forwards (Ball Don't Lie rank)
1 Lebron (1)
2 Pierce (2)
3 Carmelo (4)
4 Bowen (U)
5 Marion (U)
6 Artest (U)
7 Stojakovic (5)
8 Lewis (
9 Jefferson (7)
10 Battier (U)
Removed from list: Iguodala (9), Mashburn (10)

Shooting Guards (Ball Don't Lie rank)
1 Kobe (1)
2 Wade (2)
3 Manu (6)
4 Allen (4)
5 Iverson (5)
6 Carter (3)
7 McGrady (SF 3)
8 Hamilton (9)
9 Johnson (SF 6)
10 Roy (
Removed from list: Redd (7), Stackhouse (10)

Bruce Bowen, the 4th best small forward of the decade?  You are talking HOF territory there.  Bowen was effective and an important defensive player in the Spurs championships, but I have to believe there are easily 30 SFs in the decade who could have won with the Spurs.  Note that he was never better than the 4th or 5th best player (at best) on his team. Is there anyone else on the list you could say that about?

[xmuscularghandix]

Some of those guys are more SGs.  Tracy has the size to be a SF but if I'm not mistaken he's played at SG a lot.  Joe Johnson is a SG.

I think this list more than anything highlights the fact that there aren't very many amazing SFs in the league - just a lot of solid ones.

Perhaps in the next decade you'll see more superstar SFs with Kevin Durant already blossoming, Granger taking the leap last year, Beasley with a lot of potential, and LeBron and Melo with a lot of their careers still ahead of them.

I'd argue also that there isn't always a great deal between a small forward and shooting guard as well. 

I think a SF is a player who's expected to go out there and give you everything. When a SG is expected to score and maybe dish a little.

You guys are saying all this stuff like, "McGrady??? pshhh... he's a Shooting Guard." When Paul Pierce is also a G/F and actually made his first All-Star game at Guard.

[Bahku]

I know some will think I'm completely insane, (when the truth is I'm only partially insane), but I would take Paul Pierce's team-first play over LeBron's whining prima donna attitude ANY day.

[nickagneta]

I know some will think I'm completely insane, (when the truth is I'm only partially insane), but I would take Paul Pierce's team-first play over LeBron's whining prima donna attitude ANY day.

Then we are both insane.

With this club Paul Pierce is a better player than LeBron would be on the same club. I just think his demeanor and drive for winning, as opposed to LeBron's  towards money, iconic status and history are a better fit and would yield better results with this Celtics team.

[Bahku]

I know some will think I'm completely insane, (when the truth is I'm only partially insane), but I would take Paul Pierce's team-first play over LeBron's whining prima donna attitude ANY day.

Then we are both insane.

With this club Paul Pierce is a better player than LeBron would be on the same club. I just think his demeanor and drive for winning, as opposed to LeBron's  towards money, iconic status and history are a better fit and would yield better results with this Celtics team.

Extremely well-said, and easily worth a TP!

[TheLegendaryClub]

I know some will think I'm completely insane, (when the truth is I'm only partially insane), but I would take Paul Pierce's team-first play over LeBron's whining prima donna attitude ANY day.

Then we are both insane.

With this club Paul Pierce is a better player than LeBron would be on the same club. I just think his demeanor and drive for winning, as opposed to LeBron's  towards money, iconic status and history are a better fit and would yield better results with this Celtics team.

Co-sign, and TP to both of you.

[Bahku]

I know some will think I'm completely insane, (when the truth is I'm only partially insane), but I would take Paul Pierce's team-first play over LeBron's whining prima donna attitude ANY day.

Then we are both insane.

With this club Paul Pierce is a better player than LeBron would be on the same club. I just think his demeanor and drive for winning, as opposed to LeBron's  towards money, iconic status and history are a better fit and would yield better results with this Celtics team.

Co-sign, and TP to both of you.

Back atcha, Bud!

[Clutch Theory]

Seriously? Mashburn is considered a Small Forward? And LeBron James is already put ahead of PP? I don't agree with that at all. Regardless if Bron has an MVP ( One that really belongs to Wade ), shouldn't put him ahead of Pierce. And also, they have proven Shooting Guards in a Small Forward list. Andre Igoudala? He gets that much love? Seriously.

Last time I checked Tracy McGrady is a Small Forward. Rarely well he ever play Forward or defend them. If they are putting SG's on a Forward's list, Kobe might as well be on there too. And Jamal Crawford without a doubt.

[mgent]

I know some will think I'm completely insane, (when the truth is I'm only partially insane), but I would take Paul Pierce's team-first play over LeBron's whining prima donna attitude ANY day.

Then we are both insane.

With this club Paul Pierce is a better player than LeBron would be on the same club. I just think his demeanor and drive for winning, as opposed to LeBron's  towards money, iconic status and history are a better fit and would yield better results with this Celtics team.

You truly think if we traded Paul Pierce for LeBron James, it would hurt our team?  That makes no sense.  LeBron is more talented in almost every way (expect for perhaps experience).

If you think Paul Pierce is a better person and a better icon for our team, that is one thing.  But if you want your team to win, LeBron is the with-out-a-doubt choice.

Also, I don't think you can say Pierce has a bigger desire to win than LeBron.  He has shown nothing other than a desire to win.  Pierce didn't win his first championship until recently.

[jambr380]

I know some will think I'm completely insane, (when the truth is I'm only partially insane), but I would take Paul Pierce's team-first play over LeBron's whining prima donna attitude ANY day.

Then we are both insane.

With this club Paul Pierce is a better player than LeBron would be on the same club. I just think his demeanor and drive for winning, as opposed to LeBron's  towards money, iconic status and history are a better fit and would yield better results with this Celtics team.

You truly think if we traded Paul Pierce for LeBron James, it would hurt our team?  That makes no sense.  LeBron is more talented in almost every way (expect for perhaps experience).

If you think Paul Pierce is a better person and a better icon for our team, that is one thing.  But if you want your team to win, LeBron is the with-out-a-doubt choice.

Also, I don't think you can say Pierce has a bigger desire to win than LeBron.  He has shown nothing other than a desire to win.  Pierce didn't win his first championship until recently.

I love love love Paul, but geez, Lebron is pretty amazing and really does deserve to be at the top of this list. He's been a star since he walked into the league- and had a lot more pressure put on him [from the beginning] than Paul. If we trade Paul for Lebron today, I would feel bad for Paul, but be extremely excited about the Celtics future.

As for the list, Neurotic Guy makes a great point about some of the great defenders missing from the list. Marion should be on there, along with Artest probably. I like Bowen, Prince, and Battier, but don't think they quite cut it.

I might also throw Jamison in the fold, but he has been a pf lately, so he may be on that list.