Paul Pierce & Ray Allen

[ScoobyDoo]

Te last time Paul Pierce and Ray Allen looked this good, this fresh and this money come playoff time was...was...........
when they had James Posey backing them up in 2008.

Don't underestimate the "Jeff Green" trade, the 10-15 minutes a night of good solid rest that he can provide these two is paying tangible dividends for both of them. It's paying dividends physically and perhpas more importantly, mentally. Mentally because they both probably feel less pshycological drain just knowing they have a legit guy coming off bench to help them with the Melo's, LeBron's, Wade, Deng's, Durant's, and kobe's. It is huge.

JO stays healthy, Nenad give us 8-10 minutes of solid effort and Sha   

[ScoobyDoo]

and Shaq comes back and gives us 10-15 minutes...we won't miss a beat at center but we will have become so much stronger at the wing.

And it's not just the numbers Green doies or doesn't put up every night. It's just having that extra legit SF / wing body logging decent minutes defensively and in the rotation that makes the difference. It's the rest for Pierce.

If Green can really be that energy and defensive guy for Paul and Ray - you will see more and more nights form Paul and Ray like we saw on Friday.

Green frees them up.

Don't underestimate the "Jeff Green" trade.   

[Celticsfan336]

and Shaq comes back and gives us 10-15 minutes...we won't miss a beat at center but we will have become so much stronger at the wing.

And it's not just the numbers Green doies or doesn't put up every night. It's just having that extra legit SF / wing body logging decent minutes defensively and in the rotation that makes the difference. It's the rest for Pierce.

If Green can really be that energy and defensive guy for Paul and Ray - you will see more and more nights form Paul and Ray like we saw on Friday.

Green frees them up.

Don't underestimate the "Jeff Green" trade.   

[Celticsfan336]

Most people who hate the perk trade are celtic fans who do not watch a lot of nba games. Danny ainge knows better than ALL of us. that simple. Jeff green is a force, and we will all realize that. And now we have 3 7 footers ready to reek havoc and a stud off the bench. hopefully he plays like it though

[2008 + 2011 Champions]

Neither Paul or Ray ever looked this good at the same time during last year's finals. This is huge if rondo and them can keep it up

[LB3533]

To be fair how did Ray and Paul look in the 1st Round of last year's playoff against the Heat?

Didn't Paul hit that game winner against the Heat?

Or against the Bulls 2 playoffs ago? Didn't Ray actually drop 51 against the Bulls?

I remember Ray was pretty pedestrian against the Hawks in '08. (And we had Posey back then too)

[Marcus13]

The problem is you clearly haven't checked the minutes log.  We have no idea at this point if Game 3 was a fluke or a sign of things to come.

We'll find out soooon

[ScoobyDoo]

That's true and agreed, we get Shaq back even for short minutes and JO stays healthy, we are good at center.

Meanwhile, although Green has not yet "wowed" anyone, the very fact that he's another talented and good sized body at the 2/3/4 spots for us is a big boost for Ray and Paul physically and mentally.

I also agree that Jeff Green will put alot of doubters to rest next season, if not later in these playoffs once he finds his comfort zone on this team - and I think he's getting closer.

Don't underestimate his D on Melo in this series either. He's done a solid job and that has taken a load off Pierce.

Project that same scenario onto LeBron when we play Miami.

I really believe that Green will become a 20 and 8-10 guy for us at SF in the near future. Pierce may slide to shooting guard to allow it to happen, with Ray coming off the bench - next season maybe. Of if we keep Ray starting, just bring Green in early and slide Pierce, etc...

I think we will see that having Pierce fresh as the playoffs continue will payer bigger dividends than having had Perkins. And not having Perkins may be negated by JO, Krstic and Shaq anyway...    

[ScoobyDoo]

TP... After I wrote the post I went and checked the minutes log and Paul and Ray are playing heavy minutes. But I'll still hold / project that both Ray and Pierce are mentally more comfortable knowing Green is in the wings if they need a rest.

I'll also project that I think as the playoffs continue, Green will find his comfort zone with this team and that trio of Paul, Ray and Green will get better and better and it will be a difference maker.

I also think Green will become a major producer for us next season if he stays.