The closer- >Paul Pierce

[Meds]

I'm as optimistic a Celtics fan as you will ever find, heck I thought Gerald Green could be T-Mac (How's Russia Gerald?)But if there is one thing that worries me about the Celtics it is Paul Pierce. In my heart of hearts I think KG will bring it at the defensive end come playoff time, and I also think Ray will be a solid playoff contributor. But I honestly do not believe Paul Pierce can play like he did during banner 17. When was the last time you saw Paul Pierce take over a game. Dude outplayed Lebron and kobe in those playoffs and finally got the respect he deserved. I get that he's a little banged up but the guys not that bad that he can't play through it. Look at the Kings game the other night. Omri Casspi is a horrendous defender. Paul pierce lit him up for 15 points on 5-15 shooting. Rondo disappears in a half court offense in the 4th quarter. Paul has to be that go-to-guy. Do I think he can do it? absolutely I still trust him to take that shot at the buzzer. But I would be lying if I said I was not worried. Anyone else worried about this?

[Who]

Pierce hasn't looked good this season. He has been unable to dominate a game offensively throughout like he has in the past. It's one quarter, or 2-3 quarters, but rarely a whole game and never a series a games.

I don't think he's capable of taking over a playoff series with his scoring ability anymore.

And, I think he'll fail a lot more often than he'll succeed in trying to take a game over.

[Who]

Shorter spurts of dominance is what he's capable of now. So the other Celtics go-to scorers need to step up and give him some help.

Unfortunately, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett haven't looked capable of doing that this season ... which means Rondo needs to become more of a scorer for this team. Like how he plays when Garnett is out and preferably a little more than that.

[celticinorlando]

before the knee injury...PP looked to be in great shape...thin...pretty quick...since then he has been the opposite. i think the knee was worse than we were told and it has taken the life out of PP. but he can't take over a game like he once did. but we need him to play better if possible

we have to have rondo push and be a legit other scorer...same with ray...ray has to get his game right

[MF Doom]

To the OP, I agree completely. But the thing is, I don't see his lack of good play a result of declining. Maybe it is his health but we don't know that. It seems to me though that he has lost a sense of urgency. We havn't seen him this season get the ball in critical possessions and be agressive. He either doesn't get the ball or when he does, it seems like he is half @**ing it. This seems to be a major problem for the entire team: a lack of urgency and aggressivness.

[dang] I miss Powe

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

I'm as optimistic a Celtics fan as you will ever find, heck I thought Gerald Green could be T-Mac (How's Russia Gerald?)But if there is one thing that worries me about the Celtics it is Paul Pierce. In my heart of hearts I think KG will bring it at the defensive end come playoff time, and I also think Ray will be a solid playoff contributor. But I honestly do not believe Paul Pierce can play like he did during banner 17. When was the last time you saw Paul Pierce take over a game. Dude outplayed Lebron and kobe in those playoffs and finally got the respect he deserved. I get that he's a little banged up but the guys not that bad that he can't play through it. Look at the Kings game the other night. Omri Casspi is a horrendous defender. Paul pierce lit him up for 15 points on 5-15 shooting. Rondo disappears in a half court offense in the 4th quarter. Paul has to be that go-to-guy. Do I think he can do it? absolutely I still trust him to take that shot at the buzzer. But I would be lying if I said I was not worried. Anyone else worried about this?

Why is it that you guys are only talking about taking over a game on the offensive end? Pierce is taking over the games in more ways than you guys are recognizing. His efficiency across the board has increased and he's playing the best defense of his career. You remember defense, right? It's that thing that "wins championships".

[Scribbles]

I'm sorry but Pierce has been hurt, and he still has had some great games this year, even with the injury. He put up 35 against Atlanta and had 6 games straight in Feb. where he was shooting over or near 50% and had over 20 points. And that's just from the start of Feb. to the All Star break.  Lately, yes, he has been struggling, but the more he keeps playing hurt the more he is going to continue to break down.  

Same goes with KG, his defense is just not even close to where it was a few years ago, part of it he's aged, part of it is the injuries he has as well.  If anyone is expecting him to to pick up  the defense come playoff time they're only trying to fool themselves.

I honestly think of the Big 3, Pierce is the only one that could still be a top two option on a championship team for another 2-3 seasons.  Ray's better days are long behind him everyone knows that, and KG's are closing out quickly as well.  I still think KG could be a 3rd option on a contender, but Ray is now more of a 4th or 5th option, or 6th man type of player.  

And youcanthandlethetruth, great post, agreed, Pierce is doing a lot of other great things on the court even when he isn't having a great scoring game. 

[hpantazo]

Pierce, more than any other player on the team, is saving it for the playoffs. He will be fine come May.

[Jon]

It's February.  Let's see what happens in May. 

[xmuscularghandix]

I'm sorry but Pierce has been hurt, and he still has had some great games this year, even with the injury. He put up 35 against Atlanta and had 6 games straight in Feb. where he was shooting over or near 50% and had over 20 points. And that's just from the start of Feb. to the All Star break.  Lately, yes, he has been struggling, but the more he keeps playing hurt the more he is going to continue to break down.  

Same goes with KG, his defense is just not even close to where it was a few years ago, part of it he's aged, part of it is the injuries he has as well.  If anyone is expecting him to to pick up  the defense come playoff time they're only trying to fool themselves.

I honestly think of the Big 3, Pierce is the only one that could still be a top two option on a championship team for another 2-3 seasons.  Ray's better days are long behind him everyone knows that, and KG's are closing out quickly as well.  I still think KG could be a 3rd option on a contender, but Ray is now more of a 4th or 5th option, or 6th man type of player.  

And youcanthandlethetruth, great post, agreed, Pierce is doing a lot of other great things on the court even when he isn't having a great scoring game. 

TP, Pierce has had his best season percentage-wise and he's been hurt. You'll see what up in this second half.

I also think it's hilarious that KG clearly looks slower but he'll be alright, Ray is having one of his worst shooting years ever but he'll be alright, and Pierce is the youngest with the most successful season despite injuries... AND HE SUCKS?!?

[Meds]

I'm sorry but Pierce has been hurt, and he still has had some great games this year, even with the injury. He put up 35 against Atlanta and had 6 games straight in Feb. where he was shooting over or near 50% and had over 20 points. And that's just from the start of Feb. to the All Star break.  Lately, yes, he has been struggling, but the more he keeps playing hurt the more he is going to continue to break down.  

Same goes with KG, his defense is just not even close to where it was a few years ago, part of it he's aged, part of it is the injuries he has as well.  If anyone is expecting him to to pick up  the defense come playoff time they're only trying to fool themselves.

I honestly think of the Big 3, Pierce is the only one that could still be a top two option on a championship team for another 2-3 seasons.  Ray's better days are long behind him everyone knows that, and KG's are closing out quickly as well.  I still think KG could be a 3rd option on a contender, but Ray is now more of a 4th or 5th option, or 6th man type of player.  

And youcanthandlethetruth, great post, agreed, Pierce is doing a lot of other great things on the court even when he isn't having a great scoring game. 

TP, Pierce has had his best season percentage-wise and he's been hurt. You'll see what up in this second half.

I also think it's hilarious that KG clearly looks slower but he'll be alright, Ray is having one of his worst shooting years ever but he'll be alright, and Pierce is the youngest with the most successful season despite injuries... AND HE SUCKS?!?

Not true at all you took that way out of context. I had a pretty optimistic post but I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried. I expect more from Paul than the rest of the team. Banner 17 was a direct result of Paul Pierce playing great basketball on both ends of the floor. I agree Paul can be a shut down defender for this team but that is not what I'm arguing. We need a go-to-guy late in ther game and right now, we don't have one. Hence why we are surrending a lot of 4th quarter leads. We need the truth to play elite basketball come playoff time and I would like to see a glimpse of it during the regular season just so I can have some reason to believein him come playoff time.