Pierce is the Most Important Celtic

[Donoghus]

Given our current depth at the PG position, I think the loss of Rondo would probably have a more devastating effect on this team.

That's not to detract from Pierce's importance.  He's certainly a vital cog that's needed (as is KG as witnessed last year).  I just think that Rondo skill set is so unique to this team that his subtraction would throw things in bigtime flux.

Heh, heh. He said "depth at the pg position."  Heh, heh.

Well, that kinda illustrates my point what the loss of Rondo would mean. How else do you want me to explain it?

[BballTim]

You can win a title without a legit starting PG, as long as you have a superstar wing player or a superstar big man.

 Sure, just like you can win a title without a legit starting sg or a legit starting sf or a legit starting pf or a legit starting c as long as you have a superstar big and another superstar. No single position is indispensable, nor has it ever been the case.

[makaveli]

If Garnett misses time, Pierce shoulders a bigger load and takes more responsiblity.  If Pierce misses time, the reverse is not true.  Garnett plays exactly the same.

wow really well put tp
what we need to understand is that these guys play together for 3 years now,the same lineup the same system, and it takes a while when someone goes down and gets back before they adjust. And it is especially hard to adjust when you are on a 4 game road trip, everybody thinks they could steal one at home against the hurt, injured, tired and unadjusted Celtics

[BballTim]

I would definitely vote Pierce as our MVP and I don't think that saying it takes anything away from Garnett. Pierce by himself cannot win a championship, he needs Garnett.  Garnett is a very close second.  Same though for Kobe, Bird, Jordan, Russell or anyone else.  They all need teams.  Garnett is probably the closest second best player on a championship team ever.  Pierce is certainly not the best #1 player on a championship team ever but he is the best on this team.

And please, stop with the Rondo is the most important or more important than Pierce.  We would need a replacement if Rondo went down but he would be relatively easy to replace compared to Pierce or Garnett.

  Wings aren't much harder to replace than point guards.

[Jon]

Whether you think Pierce is the most important Celtic or not, I think the important thing to keep in mind is that if the C's had to win the past two games (by playing Pierce) they would've done so and they would've won and we wouldn't be talking about Rondo missing free throws or the half dozen other things on this board.

Does this team have flaws?  Yes.  But can we overcome most of them when we're at full speed?  Yes. 

[BballTim]

Whether you think Pierce is the most important Celtic or not, I think the important thing to keep in mind is that if the C's had to win the past two games (by playing Pierce) they would've done so and they would've won and we wouldn't be talking about Rondo missing free throws or the half dozen other things on this board.

  But if Paul had played and Rondo or KG had been our we wouldn't necessarily have done any better.

[ScoobyDoo]

I think the poster who said Pierce can create his own shot is right on the money and that's the key. The whole team is important and we need everyone to win the ring. Garnett and Pierce, Ray, Ronod, Perk. Perk's out, we really suffer underneath, Ray out, we can't stretch the floor as much, KG out, they load up on Paul and Ray, Rondo out, we stagnate probably, etc...

But the key thing that Paul does do which no one lese on the team can do nearly as well or with as much consistency or clutchness, is get us a bakset down the stretch, in tight games and when we need them most. He is incerdibly good at that. Either getting the hoop, the harm or both...

This would've been very helpful in the last two tight games.  

[housecall]

I think the poster who said Pierce can create his own shot is right on the money and that's the key. The whole team is important and we need everyone to win the ring. Garnett and Pierce, Ray, Ronod, Perk. Perk's out, we really suffer underneath, Ray out, we can't stretch the floor as much, KG out, they load up on Paul and Ray, Rondo out, we stagnate probably, etc...

But the key thing that Paul does do which no one lese on the team can do nearly as well or with as much consistency or clutchness, is get us a bakset down the stretch, in tight games and when we need them most. He is incerdibly good at that. Either getting the hoop, the harm or both...

This would've been very helpful in the last two tight games.  

Its possible with Pierce playing these games might not have come down to the wire,might have been a little separation for the C's... there is definitely something missing because top team shouldn't be in a dogfight to win aganist bottom feeder team.At this time point production from the bench is sporadic.

[Who]

The loss of Paul Pierce is compounded by the injury to Marquis Daniels + Danny Ainge not signing a second backup wing player and instead relying on TA/Giddens/Walker.

If Pierce had a better replacement player while injured this problem would be a lot smaller.

[Fafnir]

The loss of Paul Pierce is compounded by the injury to Marquis Daniels + Danny Ainge not signing a second backup wing player and instead relying on TA/Giddens/Walker.

If Pierce had a better replacement player while injured this problem would be a lot smaller.

Tony's worked out well enough considering we were stuck with him. How deep do you want us at the wing? 3 is usually all you have at any position in the best case scenario.

[Who]

The loss of Paul Pierce is compounded by the injury to Marquis Daniels + Danny Ainge not signing a second backup wing player and instead relying on TA/Giddens/Walker.

If Pierce had a better replacement player while injured this problem would be a lot smaller.

Tony's worked out well enough considering we were stuck with him. How deep do you want us at the wing? 3 is usually all you have at any position in the best case scenario.

SG -- Ray Allen
SF -- Paul Pierce
First Backup Wing -- Marquis Daniels
Second Backup Wing -- ??
Fifth Wing In The Rotation -- ?? ... perhaps Tony Allen

I like an NBA team to have five wings + five bigs + three point guards as a minimum guideline who are serviceable players (13 players) ... two guards + four wings + four bigs who are rotation (10) worthy players.

The Celtics never signed a secondary wing off the bench in the summer and it's part of the reason why they're short-handed right now.

[Who]

For the last couple of games the Celtics have only had one perimeter player coming off the bench (Eddie House).

The Celtics have a 15 man squad and only two players (both wings) out injured ... and they have only one perimeter player off the bench that can contribute in a regular season game?

The roster is short a serviceable, and really a rotation caliber, wing.

[footey]

I think based on last year's playoffs and my observations this year, Rondo has become our most indispensable player. Despite his 30 points, his nagging hammy hampered his ablity to explode after the first quarter when he was wreaking the most havoc.

[Rondo_is_better]

For the last couple of games the Celtics have only had one perimeter player coming off the bench (Eddie House).

The Celtics have a 15 man squad and only two players (both wings) out injured ... and they have only one perimeter player off the bench that can contribute in a regular season game?

The roster is short a serviceable, and really a rotation caliber, wing.

Did you just call Paul Pierce "servicable"

[dasandruler]

no way----a HEALTHY kg is a monster.  Kg means not effin around with chi town in the series last year, and sweeping dat azz.  Kg means: the brad millers of the world-- on their azz, outta the paint, and off the boards. chitown,orlando get smacked down in the playoffs--period.  pierce looks slower and more perimeter to me this year.  But paul was da truth during our champ run.  Matching kobe and bron shot for shot--he was the xfactor. slashing and dashing, pickin and poppin...transition 3ball when he's hot....thats when the whole league was scared to death of the GREEN TEAM.  he's third most important behind rondo now.