Take Pierce off Lebron!

[wdleehi]

They had Lebron with 3 fouls at the half. Not going all out at Lebron to get him a quick four was a poor move on the game plan in my opinion.

CsfanNH

I agree with that.


James also banged his leg early in the third.  You could see s slight limp until he worked it back out. 


They should have attacked.

[Aaron]

Nobody can justify why Pierce is playing Lebron.       

Um, I'd like to give it a try...

2-18, 6-24, 5-16, 7-20

What more do you need?

Its our defense as a whole that is shutting Lebron down.  There would be a tiny downgrade on defense if Pierce wasn't guarding Lebron.  There would be a huge upgrade on offense because Pierce won't be expending so much energy and concentration on defending Lebron. 

Pierce is so focused on his defense that he can't get in a rythm on offense.  Or are you telling me that Lebron is suddenly a Paul Pierce stopper? 

Give me a reason why Paul can't get into a rythm?  From the start of the series he's been locked into a defensive battle with James.  He has tunnel vision. 

Yes, our defense as a whole is shutting down LeBron... but it starts with Pierce.  Pierce has been amazing when it comes to denying him the ball, not letting him get the ball in a position to do much.  Pierce is also directing LeBron's drives into the help defense, and recovering beautifully when he's screened.

And I don't think it's necessarily his D that is hurting his offense.  I think that Paul's best offensive weapon, his strength, is being negated by James.  When Pavolovic was on him, Pierce went off... I say we let Pierce keep shutting down LeBron, and more importantly Ray Allen should step up and help out a bit.

[MMacOH]

When the Spurs beat the Cavs last year they used Bowen and the same defensive scheme we are using.  Posey is our Bowen.  Stop wasting Paul Pierce in this role.  Paul should be attacking Lebron on offense.  Ray Allen stinks right now.  We need offense.  We need someone to go nuts in the fourth quarter.  Paul Pierce has never been used as a defensive stopper for the opposing team's superstar.  Why is he now? 

You can't sit there and say that "Paul needs to figure out how to get involved in the offense"    I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that guarding Lebron James requires 100 % of your focus.   

That was a different Cavs team last year.  Lebron was dishing the ball to Eric Snow, Donyell Marshall and Larry Hughes last year.  None of them could shoot worth a lick.  West and Wally are much better shooting options (and Gibson still is a good shooting option).

[wdleehi]

When the Spurs beat the Cavs last year they used Bowen and the same defensive scheme we are using.  Posey is our Bowen.  Stop wasting Paul Pierce in this role.  Paul should be attacking Lebron on offense.  Ray Allen stinks right now.  We need offense.  We need someone to go nuts in the fourth quarter.  Paul Pierce has never been used as a defensive stopper for the opposing team's superstar.  Why is he now? 

You can't sit there and say that "Paul needs to figure out how to get involved in the offense"    I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that guarding Lebron James requires 100 % of your focus.   

That was a different Cavs team last year.  Lebron was dishing the ball to Eric Snow, Donyell Marshall and Larry Hughes last year.  None of them could shoot worth a lick.  West and Wally are much better shooting options (and Gibson still is a good shooting option).

The difference was the Spurs stepped up offensively. 


Duncan worked the low post and it opened everything up in front of Parker. 


Celtics have stayed away to often from the down low.  That means the Cleveland defense has less to react to and can pretty much stay with their men. 

[MMacOH]

When the Spurs beat the Cavs last year they used Bowen and the same defensive scheme we are using.  Posey is our Bowen.  Stop wasting Paul Pierce in this role.  Paul should be attacking Lebron on offense.  Ray Allen stinks right now.  We need offense.  We need someone to go nuts in the fourth quarter.  Paul Pierce has never been used as a defensive stopper for the opposing team's superstar.  Why is he now? 

You can't sit there and say that "Paul needs to figure out how to get involved in the offense"    I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that guarding Lebron James requires 100 % of your focus.   

Parker torched, absolutely torched the Cavs last year.  I was worries Rondo would do the same in this series and he started to in game 1 but has been quiet since.


That was a different Cavs team last year.  Lebron was dishing the ball to Eric Snow, Donyell Marshall and Larry Hughes last year.  None of them could shoot worth a lick.  West and Wally are much better shooting options (and Gibson still is a good shooting option).

The difference was the Spurs stepped up offensively. 


Duncan worked the low post and it opened everything up in front of Parker. 


Celtics have stayed away to often from the down low.  That means the Cleveland defense has less to react to and can pretty much stay with their men. 

[crownsy]

Nobody can justify why Pierce is playing Lebron.       

Um, I'd like to give it a try...

2-18, 6-24, 5-16, 7-20

What more do you need?

Its our defense as a whole that is shutting Lebron down.  There would be a tiny downgrade on defense if Pierce wasn't guarding Lebron.  There would be a huge upgrade on offense because Pierce won't be expending so much energy and concentration on defending Lebron.  

Pierce is so focused on his defense that he can't get in a rythm on offense.  Or are you telling me that Lebron is suddenly a Paul Pierce stopper?  

Give me a reason why Paul can't get into a rythm?  From the start of the series he's been locked into a defensive battle with James.  He has tunnel vision.  

suddenly a pierce stopper? Outside of one game this year, lebron has been a problem for paul on defense for about 3 years.

and how exactly will he get in a rythm because he's not gaurding james on one end? james is not going to magically go easy on him because paul isn't gaurding him on the other end, and since lebron has shown no sign of it, i don't see him letting pierce take a break on offense. He'll still be right in his face, making him take jumpers over the top.

Lebron is playing great defense on paul, for example last night, they put sasha on pierce for 5 minutes and he got lit up. James went over and screamed in sasha's face, then switched back onto paul and locked him down again.

And i don't buy the "they'll be a tiny downgrade" doc is not going to start posey for ray, it won't happen. thats just a clear fact. therefore, you have to gaurd lebron with  ray? awesome.

Pass.

[nickagneta]

Pierce off LeBron is playoff suicide. He has been better than fantastic.

That said Id love to see the following lineup:

Brown  - C
KG     - PF
Posey  - SF guarding LeBron
Pierce - Combo Guard guarding Wally
RAllen - Combo Guard guarding DWest

I think this set would cause all sorts of problems for the Cavs matchup wise and have Pierce bring up the ball because LeBron isn't going to exert himself pressing Pierce in the backcourt.

Just a thought.

[crownsy]

Pierce off LeBron is playoff suicide. He has been better than fantastic.

That said Id love to see the following lineup:

Brown  - C
KG     - PF
Posey  - SF guarding LeBron
Pierce - Combo Guard guarding Wally
RAllen - Combo Guard guarding DWest

I think this set would cause all sorts of problems for the Cavs matchup wise and have Pierce bring up the ball because LeBron isn't going to exert himself pressing Pierce in the backcourt.

Just a thought.

yep, and it causes them all kinds of havok on the pick and roll, since ray is a much biger threat to shoot the open jumper than rondo, they couldnt both slide under to cut the passing lanes to KG.

but that kind of thinking would require some kind of good coach, willing to take risks. and since we dont have one of those, our starting 5 is pretty set. Thats the main reason i just can't entertain this pierce of lebron theroy. Ray allen vs LBJ....ewwww.

[RockinRyA]

paul has done a good job.. ray is starting to come around though what hurt them was they stopped looking for him

[acieEarl]

Obviously.  Posey and TAllen can take on the responsibility.  Let Pierce focus on his scoring.  This is so obvious.  Nobody can justify why Pierce is playing Lebron.  Pierce should guard Wally because he he can get a hand in his face.     

Pierce has done a unbelievable defensive job on Lebron so might not be a good idea to take him off. Lets say you do take Pierce off Lebron, does that mean Lebron's not going to cover Pierce, I don't think so.

[steve]

Obviously.  Posey and TAllen can take on the responsibility.  Let Pierce focus on his scoring.  This is so obvious.  Nobody can justify why Pierce is playing Lebron.  Pierce should guard Wally because he he can get a hand in his face.     

Pierce has done a unbelievable defensive job on Lebron so might not be a good idea to take him off. Lets say you do take Pierce off Lebron, does that mean Lebron's not going to cover Pierce, I don't think so.

Lebron doesn't want to foul out.  But he's not fouling Pierce because Pierce isn't driving on him.  Why isn't Pierce attacking him?  To me, it appears that it is because Paul is focusing all his attention on defense hoping that Ray and KG will take care of offense.  Well guess what that isn't working. 

[steve]

Pierce off LeBron is playoff suicide. He has been better than fantastic.

That said Id love to see the following lineup:

Brown  - C
KG     - PF
Posey  - SF guarding LeBron
Pierce - Combo Guard guarding Wally
RAllen - Combo Guard guarding DWest

I think this set would cause all sorts of problems for the Cavs matchup wise and have Pierce bring up the ball because LeBron isn't going to exert himself pressing Pierce in the backcourt.



Just a thought.

I love how "playoff suicide" turns into something you'd like to see.  This lineup would be perfect.  Is this too drastic of an adjustment?  Isn't that how teams win championships? 

Teams don't do what they have done all year in the playoffs.  They gameplan.  Doc is too stubborn to mess with his veterans or too scared.  This way if they lose he can just blame it on the "Big 3" 

[crownsy]

Pierce off LeBron is playoff suicide. He has been better than fantastic.

That said Id love to see the following lineup:

Brown  - C
KG     - PF
Posey  - SF guarding LeBron
Pierce - Combo Guard guarding Wally
RAllen - Combo Guard guarding DWest

I think this set would cause all sorts of problems for the Cavs matchup wise and have Pierce bring up the ball because LeBron isn't going to exert himself pressing Pierce in the backcourt.



Just a thought.

I love how "playoff suicide" turns into something you'd like to see.  This lineup would be perfect.  Is this too drastic of an adjustment?  Isn't that how teams win championships? 

Teams don't do what they have done all year in the playoffs.  They gameplan.  Doc is too stubborn to mess with his veterans or too scared.  This way if they lose he can just blame it on the "Big 3" 

his point was clearly that to pull pierce off lebron is sucide BECAUSE doc won't make any other changes, and thus that means ray or rondo has to gaurd lebron. lets not jump all over people because tempers are (understandably) short with regards to the C's right now.

He offered up the second lineup as a thing that doc would never condiser doing either that might work.

This whole discussion is moot because Doc is not going to change the starting lineup, so pierce has to defend lebron to allow KG to roam and help out when lebron penetrates.

And as to pierce not attacking, i maintain that back is more dinged up than they are letting on. all driving to the hoop pretty much ended after game 2 vs atlanta. He has been hesitant to put the ball on the floor ever since. Combine that with his 15% drop in FT shooting since then, where he clearly bails out of that crouch, which is probley uncomfortable with his back, ASAP, and i smell back injury he's playing through.

[nickagneta]

Pierce off LeBron is playoff suicide. He has been better than fantastic.

That said Id love to see the following lineup:

Brown  - C
KG     - PF
Posey  - SF guarding LeBron
Pierce - Combo Guard guarding Wally
RAllen - Combo Guard guarding DWest

I think this set would cause all sorts of problems for the Cavs matchup wise and have Pierce bring up the ball because LeBron isn't going to exert himself pressing Pierce in the backcourt.



Just a thought.

I love how "playoff suicide" turns into something you'd like to see.  This lineup would be perfect.  Is this too drastic of an adjustment?  Isn't that how teams win championships? 

Teams don't do what they have done all year in the playoffs.  They gameplan.  Doc is too stubborn to mess with his veterans or too scared.  This way if they lose he can just blame it on the "Big 3" 

his point was clearly that to pull pierce off lebron is sucide BECAUSE doc won't make any other changes, and thus that means ray or rondo has to gaurd lebron. lets not jump all over people because tempers are (understandably) short with regards to the C's right now.

He offered up the second lineup as a thing that doc would never condiser doing either that might work.

This whole discussion is moot because Doc is not going to change the starting lineup, so pierce has to defend lebron to allow KG to roam and help out when lebron penetrates.

And as to pierce not attacking, i maintain that back is more dinged up than they are letting on. all driving to the hoop pretty much ended after game 2 vs atlanta. He has been hesitant to put the ball on the floor ever since. Combine that with his 15% drop in FT shooting since then, where he clearly bails out of that crouch, which is probley uncomfortable with his back, ASAP, and i smell back injury he's playing through.

Not that I needed defending, but TP4U crownsy for saving me the time explaining what I was trying to communicate.

[ILOVEWALTAH]

Ray Allen at the PG and Posey taking up Rondos spot would never happen and second would have triple the amount of Blogs questioning DOC on this site. Having Ray at the point throws off his entire game and would take away KG pierces and allens ability to use eachother and create off eachother. I dont understand why after really only one excellant game by Lebron, which was inevitable, we need to change the defense. The first games pierce did a good a job and his teammates were doing a great job hedging on the pick & Rolls but the teams defensive rotation was perfect making sure someone was always covered. Last nights game I saw PJ having to run from under the hoop to the top of the key, trying to affect a shooter with an open three, which shouldnt happen. Plus when the C's did hedge it didnt have the same intensity or pressure. I will agree with P.J. possibly starting, 4/4 from the floor while making plays on the defensive end, he was the only Celtic posessing consistancy.