The difference between PP and KG….Is it over for PP?

[prov1ml34]

For about 2 seasons now, PP appears to have no lift on his legs.  It was evident during the playoffs last season and was fairly attributed to fatigue.  I’ve been patient this season waiting for PP to start dominating on 4th quarters the way he used to, but it isn’t happening.  Actually, KP and RR appear to be pairing up on most 4th quarter plays – which can’t be good.  I am not talking about taking the final shot, but calling his number every time down the floor on crunch time and that is not happening for one reason or the other…..but most likely because he isn’t as reliable as he used to.

KG situation is different.  Although he is not the Kevin of old, KG still make his presence felt on the defensive end.  Rapidly degrading, but still effective on the boards.

The feeling/sense that I am getting recently is;  Is it over for PP? Is a 10pt/4rb night what we should be expecting from now on?  And if so, what are our options now and in the future? 

You do realize that before he injured his foot and had his recent thumb injury that Pierce was pretty much the best player in our team throughout the whole season right?

Paul had been playing pretty efficiently (if not very aggressively) indeed, but to suggest the best player on the team this year has been anyone other than Rondo is absurd.

Rondo is far from the best player on this team. The only reason we would have struggled with him out of the lineup before, was because we had no back up point guard. We wasn't the best player, but rather the most important, since there were no other options. Now that Nate arrived, I truly believe you could insert him in the starting lineup and have not near as big of a "fall off" as you would if you were to remove a healthy paul, a healthy ray, or even a 70% healthy KG from this team.

[Roy Hobbs]

Like others, I attribute Paul's struggles to his recent injuries.  I don't think he's washed up or rapidly declining; I think he's hurt.

[CelticG1]

What happened to the beginning of the season when everyone was saying Pierce looked like he was in the best shape of his life, who had more lift and was dunking more than every other year?

[BballTim]

Rondo is far from the best player on this team. The only reason we would have struggled with him out of the lineup before, was because we had no back up point guard. We wasn't the best player, but rather the most important, since there were no other options. Now that Nate arrived, I truly believe you could insert him in the starting lineup and have not near as big of a "fall off" as you would if you were to remove a healthy paul, a healthy ray, or even a 70% healthy KG from this team.

  This is ridiculous. Rondo's clearly been our best player since Xmas. If everyone's healthy then Rondo would be no worse than third best. If Nate were capable of playing as well as Rondo he wouldn't have been buried on the bench on the Knicks. He's a better outside shot than Rondo, but worse at everything else.

[BballTim]

For about 2 seasons now, PP appears to have no lift on his legs.  It was evident during the playoffs last season and was fairly attributed to fatigue.  I’ve been patient this season waiting for PP to start dominating on 4th quarters the way he used to, but it isn’t happening.  Actually, KP and RR appear to be pairing up on most 4th quarter plays – which can’t be good.  I am not talking about taking the final shot, but calling his number every time down the floor on crunch time and that is not happening for one reason or the other…..but most likely because he isn’t as reliable as he used to.

KG situation is different.  Although he is not the Kevin of old, KG still make his presence felt on the defensive end.  Rapidly degrading, but still effective on the boards.

The feeling/sense that I am getting recently is;  Is it over for PP? Is a 10pt/4rb night what we should be expecting from now on?  And if so, what are our options now and in the future? 

You do realize that before he injured his foot and had his recent thumb injury that Pierce was pretty much the best player in our team throughout the whole season right?

Paul had been playing pretty efficiently (if not very aggressively) indeed, but to suggest the best player on the team this year has been anyone other than Rondo is absurd.

  I'm a big Rondo supporter but Pierce was our best player for the first two months or so.

[barefacedmonk]

What happened to the beginning of the season when everyone was saying Pierce looked like he was in the best shape of his life, who had more lift and was dunking more than every other year?

Exactly. But you know...its Celticsblog- the home of the most fickle minded fans  

[ssspence]

Like others, I attribute Paul's struggles to his recent injuries.  I don't think he's washed up or rapidly declining; I think he's hurt.

If that's the case, he should sit until he's healthy. His play is adding insult to injury.

[ssspence]

For about 2 seasons now, PP appears to have no lift on his legs.  It was evident during the playoffs last season and was fairly attributed to fatigue.  I’ve been patient this season waiting for PP to start dominating on 4th quarters the way he used to, but it isn’t happening.  Actually, KP and RR appear to be pairing up on most 4th quarter plays – which can’t be good.  I am not talking about taking the final shot, but calling his number every time down the floor on crunch time and that is not happening for one reason or the other…..but most likely because he isn’t as reliable as he used to.

KG situation is different.  Although he is not the Kevin of old, KG still make his presence felt on the defensive end.  Rapidly degrading, but still effective on the boards.

The feeling/sense that I am getting recently is;  Is it over for PP? Is a 10pt/4rb night what we should be expecting from now on?  And if so, what are our options now and in the future? 

You do realize that before he injured his foot and had his recent thumb injury that Pierce was pretty much the best player in our team throughout the whole season right?

Paul had been playing pretty efficiently (if not very aggressively) indeed, but to suggest the best player on the team this year has been anyone other than Rondo is absurd.

  I'm a big Rondo supporter but Pierce was our best player for the first two months or so.

To each there own. But Rondo is clearly the most valuable player on the team.

[BballTim]

For about 2 seasons now, PP appears to have no lift on his legs.  It was evident during the playoffs last season and was fairly attributed to fatigue.  I’ve been patient this season waiting for PP to start dominating on 4th quarters the way he used to, but it isn’t happening.  Actually, KP and RR appear to be pairing up on most 4th quarter plays – which can’t be good.  I am not talking about taking the final shot, but calling his number every time down the floor on crunch time and that is not happening for one reason or the other…..but most likely because he isn’t as reliable as he used to.

KG situation is different.  Although he is not the Kevin of old, KG still make his presence felt on the defensive end.  Rapidly degrading, but still effective on the boards.

The feeling/sense that I am getting recently is;  Is it over for PP? Is a 10pt/4rb night what we should be expecting from now on?  And if so, what are our options now and in the future? 

You do realize that before he injured his foot and had his recent thumb injury that Pierce was pretty much the best player in our team throughout the whole season right?

Paul had been playing pretty efficiently (if not very aggressively) indeed, but to suggest the best player on the team this year has been anyone other than Rondo is absurd.

  I'm a big Rondo supporter but Pierce was our best player for the first two months or so.

To each there own. But Rondo is clearly the most valuable player on the team.

  I agree, but I'd be thrilled if KG and PP got back to being as good or better than Rondo.

[Donoghus]

I bet after the season, we're gonna hear that Pierce was playing with a lot more pain/injuries then what we were led to believe.

Just speculation but he looks really banged up.  But he's grinding through it and that's pretty admirable.

[wdleehi]

I bet after the season, we're gonna hear that Pierce was playing with a lot more pain/injuries then what we were led to believe.

Just speculation but he looks really banged up.  But he's grinding through it and that's pretty admirable.

Wouldn't be a shocker.

[guava_wrench]

"What happened to the beginning of the season when everyone was saying Pierce looked like he was in the best shape of his life, who had more lift and was dunking more than every other year?"

In the beginning of this season and last, he was quick and had great lift. He is just at a point in his career where he wears down so much during the season that he loses his athleticism.

Hobbs: "Like others, I attribute Paul's struggles to his recent injuries.  I don't think he's washed up or rapidly declining; I think he's hurt."

Decline is often just that. Slow recovery from the normal grind of an NBA season.

[guava_wrench]

For about 2 seasons now, PP appears to have no lift on his legs.  It was evident during the playoffs last season and was fairly attributed to fatigue.  I’ve been patient this season waiting for PP to start dominating on 4th quarters the way he used to, but it isn’t happening.  Actually, KP and RR appear to be pairing up on most 4th quarter plays – which can’t be good.  I am not talking about taking the final shot, but calling his number every time down the floor on crunch time and that is not happening for one reason or the other…..but most likely because he isn’t as reliable as he used to.

KG situation is different.  Although he is not the Kevin of old, KG still make his presence felt on the defensive end.  Rapidly degrading, but still effective on the boards.

The feeling/sense that I am getting recently is;  Is it over for PP? Is a 10pt/4rb night what we should be expecting from now on?  And if so, what are our options now and in the future? 

You do realize that before he injured his foot and had his recent thumb injury that Pierce was pretty much the best player in our team throughout the whole season right?

Paul had been playing pretty efficiently (if not very aggressively) indeed, but to suggest the best player on the team this year has been anyone other than Rondo is absurd.

  I'm a big Rondo supporter but Pierce was our best player for the first two months or so.

To each there own. But Rondo is clearly the most valuable player on the team.

How clear is it when he is leading us to a .500 record this year? If we play .500 when Rondo is on his game and others aren't, perhaps someone else is more valuable?

[ScoobyDoo]

I think Pierce has some nagging injuries. How can he get "old" in 4-5 mths? I don't think it happens that way.

He just looks like he's tentative and something isn't 100% right.