Paul Pierce Best Small Forward in NBA?

[LarBrd33]

If I were building a team to win now, let's say for the summer olympics for example, and not concerned about the future, I would take Pierce over Lebron, and his maturity and outside shot is a big part of that. Call me nuts, but I said last summer after we got KG we would win it all this year, and I said Pierce would outplay Kobe when we got to the finals, and people called me nuts then too.

Apparently you know something the Olympic committee doesn't...  either that or you don't know your Pierce/LeBron USA Men's team history... (hint:  they blamed the failure of team USA on Pierce... and LeBron and Kobe are the chosen ones they have decided will finally lead us back to gold this year)

Man trust me... I've watched every game of Paul's Celtic career.  But this is what we call being a Boston homer.  You have to understand that the Celtic defense is what won the championship.  That defense is amazing.   That defense made Kobe look human (he isn't).    Pierce wasn't going up against that defense.   You can't even compare "Kobe vs Pierce", because it was Kobe (and his help) vs Celtic defense and Pierce (and his help) vs Laker defense (HUGE difference).  

But lets not forget that it took possibly the greatest game of Pierce's career... in a game 7 IN BOSTON to beat the LeBron by 5 points.  5 points...

[wdleehi]

I've said for a long time that it's Lebron and Paul at the top of their position, you have to give Lebron the top spot, Pierce is a close second, and then there is a huge drop off. The national media has just realized how great a player Paul is, it's kind of funny since we have known all along what he is capable of, which lead me to thinking where does he rank out of all the players in the league. After the playoffs I don't think you can put guys like: T-Mac, Duncan, Wade, Dirk, Nash ahead of him any more. The only players in the league I would consider better than or at Paul's level would be: Kobe, Lebron, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, KG, after that it's all a debate.

You don't think anybody can put Duncan ahead of Pierce? Really? But you can put KG ahead of Pierce? I don't get it. Duncan and KG are essentially the same player. And Duncan, not KG, not Kobe, not Nash, was the single best player in the NBA from 2003 to 2007. Maybe Kobe and/or Lebron replaced him this year as the top, but Duncan is still ahead of or equal to KG right now. He gives you the same defense, leadership, rebounding and passing skill for a big man, less shooting range but a better post offense. There's a reason his teams have NEVER missed the playoffs.

On the original topic, yeah, Lebron is clearly the best and while I love Pierce, it's really not close. Pierce is number 2. Dirk's a PF, but a similar player, I'd put him close to Pierce if they were the same position. He can't give you the D, but (largely because of his height) is a better rebounder. I'd take Pierce second and Dirk third. Same thing for T-Mac. If he was a 3 (T-Mac's a 2 guard), I'd take him ahead of Carmelo or Butler, but I've always considered Pierce better because he's so much more consistent and I hope national media wakes up and realizes that. (Incidentally, I'd take Dirk over T-Mac because of health).

If it wasn't for the health factors, I'd want Caron Butler on my team right now ahead of Carmelo Anthony. But health is a factor and while Melo has underachieved in the NBA in my opinion (not that he hasn't done well but he should have exploited the Lakers' problem with defending SFs and clearly didn't), he's durable and a much larger skill set than Butler (even if he doesn't use it enough). I'd definitely take him third.

I'm glad Paul showed he should have been second team All-NBA this year. Hopefully he'll get it next year as payback for being robbed this year.

Duncan is ahead of both KG and Pierce.  He and KG are not the same player.  

[wdleehi]

If I were building a team to win now, let's say for the summer olympics for example, and not concerned about the future, I would take Pierce over Lebron, and his maturity and outside shot is a big part of that. Call me nuts, but I said last summer after we got KG we would win it all this year, and I said Pierce would outplay Kobe when we got to the finals, and people called me nuts then too.

Still have to take Lebron.  He made it to the Finals last year without another star on the team. 


Give him someone who could set him up on offense and be a real threat when Lebron sets him up on offense, that would be a very dangerous team (especially with the defense the Cavs already play)

[LarBrd33]

lol man this thread has gotten out of control.   Duncan better than Pierce?  uhhhhh...

To answer the original poster.    I'll concede that Pierce is the #2 SF in the league (right now) behind LeBron.   But this team definitely brought out his best qualities.  I don't feel like arguing whether or not Dirk is a choke.  I'm sure we could get into a good debate about how Pierce was the 2nd best player on his team and Dirk had to carry the Mavs, but... lets not even go there.   Not when there are some crazy homers claiming Pierce is better than Duncan.  This thread will make your head spin enough already.

[crownsy]

If I were building a team to win now, let's say for the summer olympics for example, and not concerned about the future, I would take Pierce over Lebron, and his maturity and outside shot is a big part of that. Call me nuts, but I said last summer after we got KG we would win it all this year, and I said Pierce would outplay Kobe when we got to the finals, and people called me nuts then too.

Still have to take Lebron.  He made it to the Finals last year without another star on the team. 


Give him someone who could set him up on offense and be a real threat when Lebron sets him up on offense, that would be a very dangerous team (especially with the defense the Cavs already play)

if they had kept boozer and developed big z to wear he is now...that would be a scary team. can you imagine lebron driving and dishing to boozer?

[BudweiserCeltic]

If I were building a team to win now, let's say for the summer olympics for example, and not concerned about the future, I would take Pierce over Lebron, and his maturity and outside shot is a big part of that. Call me nuts, but I said last summer after we got KG we would win it all this year, and I said Pierce would outplay Kobe when we got to the finals, and people called me nuts then too.

Still have to take Lebron.  He made it to the Finals last year without another star on the team. 


Give him someone who could set him up on offense and be a real threat when Lebron sets him up on offense, that would be a very dangerous team (especially with the defense the Cavs already play)

if they had kept boozer and developed big z to wear he is now...that would be a scary team. can you imagine lebron driving and dishing to boozer?

I'm pretty sure they tried to keep Boozer, but Boozer made a fool out of them... or am I mistaken?

[wdleehi]

If I were building a team to win now, let's say for the summer olympics for example, and not concerned about the future, I would take Pierce over Lebron, and his maturity and outside shot is a big part of that. Call me nuts, but I said last summer after we got KG we would win it all this year, and I said Pierce would outplay Kobe when we got to the finals, and people called me nuts then too.

Still have to take Lebron.  He made it to the Finals last year without another star on the team. 


Give him someone who could set him up on offense and be a real threat when Lebron sets him up on offense, that would be a very dangerous team (especially with the defense the Cavs already play)

if they had kept boozer and developed big z to wear he is now...that would be a scary team. can you imagine lebron driving and dishing to boozer?

I'm pretty sure they tried to keep Boozer, but Boozer made a fool out of them... or am I mistaken?

They let Boozer out of his contract to resign him.


Unfortunately for them, the Jazz swooped in and offered him more money then Cleveland could match.  It is called bad management. 

[Who]

Don't forget Hedo, he put up big time numbers in the playoffs...

17.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 5.5apg

he doesn't play defense. at least, not consistantly.

hedo is a good SF though, i'd have him 6th or 7th i think, based on gut reaction.

Hedo is a fine defender who hadn't played defense since he left San Antonio until this season. He was a very good defender for Sacramento, probably the second best on a squad that lead the league for defensive FG%. He also played very good defense for San Antonio while there.

This season he played slightly above average defense for Orlando (consistently) that would have been well above average defense if he just stopped giving away ticky tack fouls after playing 20 seconds of quality D. Just resist the urge to reach in Hedo!!!

[Who]

Pierce is the second best small forward in the NBA behind LeBron James.

It's a fairly large gap until you arrive at the third best small forward, there's a couple of players vying for 3rd spot and I'd inch towards Carmelo Anthony.

[green tea]

Shouldn't Shawn Marion be in the mix somewhere?

[wdleehi]

Shouldn't Shawn Marion be in the mix somewhere?

In the mix.  But his 'I want to be the man' and 'I am unappreciated in Phoenix even though I am the highest payed player on the team' acts really hurt him. 

[green tea]

Shouldn't Shawn Marion be in the mix somewhere?

In the mix.  But his 'I want to be the man' and 'I am unappreciated in Phoenix even though I am the highest payed player on the team' acts really hurt him. 

I agree...his attitude leaves much to be desired.  But he's definitely a high quality player.

While we're at it, Lamar (cough, cough) probably deserves to be in the discussion somewhere as well.

Josh Smith plays in a small market, and doesn't get the press he deserves.  He scares the heck out of me; I think he could be an elite SF for years to come.

[wdleehi]

Shouldn't Shawn Marion be in the mix somewhere?

In the mix.  But his 'I want to be the man' and 'I am unappreciated in Phoenix even though I am the highest payed player on the team' acts really hurt him. 

I agree...his attitude leaves much to be desired.  But he's definitely a high quality player.

While we're at it, Lamar (cough, cough) probably deserves to be in the discussion somewhere as well.

Josh Smith plays in a small market, and doesn't get the press he deserves.  He scares the heck out of me; I think he could be an elite SF for years to come.

Except those guys have been playing PF. 

[green tea]

Shouldn't Shawn Marion be in the mix somewhere?

In the mix.  But his 'I want to be the man' and 'I am unappreciated in Phoenix even though I am the highest payed player on the team' acts really hurt him. 

I agree...his attitude leaves much to be desired.  But he's definitely a high quality player.

While we're at it, Lamar (cough, cough) probably deserves to be in the discussion somewhere as well.

Josh Smith plays in a small market, and doesn't get the press he deserves.  He scares the heck out of me; I think he could be an elite SF for years to come.

BTW, not saying that these guys are top 1 or 2 worthy...but they should definitely be in a top 5-10 discussion.

I believe Smith could be in a top 3-4 discussion in a year or two.

[Who]

Shouldn't Shawn Marion be in the mix somewhere?

If Shawn Marion is your best player you're not going to win.
If Shawn Marion is your second best player you're not going to win.
If Shawn Marion is your third best player you have a chance to win.

How can a man who's only ever going to be the third best player on his own team be in the mix for the best player in the league at his position?

At best Marion is a borderline All-Star. For lists of borderline All-Stars he's in the mix like a couple of other guys the OP mentioned for posters to consider.

BTW, not saying that these guys are top 1 or 2 worthy...but they should definitely be in a top 5-10 discussion.

Ahh ....