Pierce is the Problem

[2short]

to me, a lot of rays shots should come from the inside out game, be it kg or another guy posting up
ray coming off picks works some of the time but it should be double picks etc, good thing to do if guy guarding him is kobe etc, make guy run all over the floor
maybe we just need some new offensive sets?

[PLamb]

How quickly we forget

Pierce has been "ice in veins" for so many years and because he missed a shot last night that, in looking back, was a decent shot in an area he likes to take shots, he's the "problem"

He had a bad night

He's been inconsistent coming off the injury

He's aging

But he is not the "problem"

He is definitely part of the "solution"

I'm encourage with the Celtics play and especially last night's game

I'm not understanding today's "doom and gloom" and "blame game" threads

[ssspence]

there is no THE problem.

the problems of this team are enormously wide ranging.... can't score, can't rebound, can't match the speed or stamina of the opposition in the second half of games, can't get key stops, can't stay healthy, can't not run without a limp, can't dunk, can't not be bored, can't.... the list goes on.

[Newguy]

For those who say that Ray Allen should be shooting more than PP, well, he already is.

2009-2010 season so far:

Ray Allen
FGM: 5.8
FGA: 12.4
3pt FGM: 1.7
3pt FGA: 4.9
FTM: 2.9
FTA: 3.2

Paul Pierce
FGM: 5.4
FGA: 11.9
3pt FGM: 1.7
3pt FGA: 3.8
FTM: 5.1
FTA: 5.9

Their efficiency is about the same, so I'm not sure that Pierce is the problem.

[ssspence]

For those who say that Ray Allen should be shooting more than PP, well, he already is.

2009-2010 season so far:

Ray Allen
FGM: 5.8
FGA: 12.4
3pt FGM: 1.7
3pt FGA: 4.9
FTM: 2.9
FTA: 3.2

Paul Pierce
FGM: 5.4
FGA: 11.9
3pt FGM: 1.7
3pt FGA: 3.8
FTM: 5.1
FTA: 5.9

Their efficiency is about the same, so I'm not sure that Pierce is the problem.

Pierce's FTAs should tell you a lot of what you need to know about his game this year.

[FatjohnReturns]

Pierce isnt the problem. Its the fga he is attempting that is the problem. He is taking a beating driving to the rim. He needs to get on the box and have Rondo feed him the ball with a clean deep entry pass. The result would Pierce drawing alot of contact and fouls from the opposing team. He would probably make alot of and 1's and the other team would be in the penalty quick.

[Pucaccia]

In most of the losses, the Celtics started the game great, spread the ball, players are involved.  Then....For some weird reason, Pierce becomes the ball handler and the Offense slows down and gets stagnant.  Not just now, but when Pierce was younger too, he never made a good percentage of last minute shots.  Perhaps, every once in a while but the majority of time in his career he either misses or looks stupid giving the ball up.
I love Pierce, He is a great Celtic, but the offense should not go through him. Allen and even KG should get more looks.

[ssspence]

Pierce isnt the problem. Its the fga he is attempting that is the problem. He is taking a beating driving to the rim. He needs to get on the box and have Rondo feed him the ball with a clean deep entry pass. The result would Pierce drawing alot of contact and fouls from the opposing team. He would probably make alot of and 1's and the other team would be in the penalty quick.

I agree it would behove him to play in the post more frequently. His drives have become to wild and he's not geting the calls he used to.

[BballTim]

 Not just now, but when Pierce was younger too, he never made a good percentage of last minute shots.  Perhaps, every once in a while but the majority of time in his career he either misses or looks stupid giving the ball up.

  This isn't true at all. Paul was one of the better clutch/4th quarter scorers in the league for much of his career.

[barefacedmonk]

Paul Pierce certainly looks like the 'Inconvenient Truth' atm....but I have no doubt that he is one of the answers to our problems...not the problem itself.

[wdleehi]

That no one on the Celtics want to adjust the end of the game plan at this point is the problem.



Most atheletes need to be told they can not do what they used to do.  Their mind can still do it, the problem is, the body doesn't keep up with the mind.

[BudweiserCeltic]

It was a good shot. That's his sweet spot. It wasn't that long ago that he hit pretty much the same shot to beat the Hawks and we were singing his praises. As long as Pierce can get a shot off, I'm fine with whatever he does. The problem is when he tries to penetrate or something and he gets into traffic just to get the ball stolen from him.

I'd be perfectly happy with him simply standing around the 3-point line and launch a shot.

[Greenbean]

If I didn't see a healthy and strong Pierce earlier this season, I would be writing alot of his past strong suits, like driving and getting fouled, and his post game. I havent seen many guys lose it during a season so Im hoping Pierce can build up enough strength to get back to his 2 month ago self.

[MBz]

How quickly we forget

Pierce has been "ice in veins" for so many years and because he missed a shot last night that, in looking back, was a decent shot in an area he likes to take shots, he's the "problem"

He had a bad night

He's been inconsistent coming off the injury

He's aging

But he is not the "problem"

He is definitely part of the "solution"

I'm encourage with the Celtics play and especially last night's game

I'm not understanding today's "doom and gloom" and "blame game" threads

I don't think people are mad he attempted the game winning shot, I just think an isolation stand still play at the end of the game isn't a good shot.  Especially against a team with some pretty good perimeter defenders, I don't remember who was covering him, but I'm assuming Delfino or Mbah a Moute.  Both are have way decent defenders, have him come off a screen for a curl, run a pick and pop with KG, even run a pick and pop where Pierce sets a screen for Ray to help get pierce open, just do something other then the isolation.  He doesn't have the first step he used to, he can't just go iso at the end of games.

[Atzar]

I actually liked the shot last night.  Normally he gets swallowed up and has to force up a contested hero shot, but that wasn't the case last night.  He got a shot where it was between him and the rim, and he just missed it. 

My beef with Pierce is more general.  With the exception of the Charlotte game, he's been consistently getting torched on defense while simultaneously not giving us much on offense.  I'm hoping he's just still recovering from injuries, though, so I'm willing to be patient.