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Author Topic: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?  (Read 12778 times)

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How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« on: December 12, 2010, 03:29:08 PM »

Offline LooseCannon

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Actually, I'm asking a serious question, not posting to rave about how good his defense is.  Paul Pierce has never made first or second All-NBA Defensive team, but he seems to look pretty good according to various defensive metrics such as Defensive Rating or Defensive Win Shares.  I'm pretty sure Pierce has said in the past that he feels severely under-rated as a defender at his position.  I really just follow the Celtics (and, when they are contenders, their main rivals), so I sometimes don't know that much about some of the other teams.  (Pondering that for a moment....I actually can't name any players on the Sacramento Kings right at this instant.  It's not important for me to remember them and I can always look it up, but I can easily rattle off most of the reserves for the Lakers or Heat because those teams matter.)

Let's make this a simple question.  How many small forwards currently in the NBA are better defenders than Paul Pierce?  You should actually name those players if you want full credit for your answer.
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Re: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« Reply #1 on: December 12, 2010, 03:47:18 PM »

Online Roy H.

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Among guys averaging over 30 minutes, I'd put the following SFs over Pierce defensively:

Lebron
Deng
Ariza
G. Wallace
Kirilenko
Prince
Battier

A few caveats:  I don't think the gap between Pierce and any of the guys listed is that big, and I could see arguments for Pierce over any of the above except for Lebron, Deng, and Wallce.  Prince and Battier have fallen off a bit, and Wallace and AK47 are as much PFs as SFs.  Pierce is the second best player on that list overall, and like I said, he's very close to all of those guys defensively.
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Re: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« Reply #2 on: December 12, 2010, 03:59:04 PM »

Offline Fafnir

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Quote from: Roy H. on December 12, 2010, 03:47:18 PM
Among guys averaging over 30 minutes, I'd put the following SFs over Pierce defensively:

Lebron
Deng
Ariza
G. Wallace
Kirilenko
Prince
Battier

A few caveats:  I don't think the gap between Pierce and any of the guys listed is that big, and I could see arguments for Pierce over any of the above except for Lebron, Deng, and Wallce.  Prince and Battier have fallen off a bit, and Wallace and AK47 are as much PFs as SFs.  Pierce is the second best player on that list overall, and like I said, he's very close to all of those guys defensively.
I'd add Shawn Marion to that list. He's been very good at the SF position in Dallas, though he's almost Tony Allen-esque on offense at times.

I don't think Prince is as good defensively as Pierce, he's the only guy I'd take off of it.
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Re: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2010, 04:14:28 PM »

Online Roy H.

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Quote from: Fafnir on December 12, 2010, 03:59:04 PM
Quote from: Roy H. on December 12, 2010, 03:47:18 PM
Among guys averaging over 30 minutes, I'd put the following SFs over Pierce defensively:

Lebron
Deng
Ariza
G. Wallace
Kirilenko
Prince
Battier

A few caveats:  I don't think the gap between Pierce and any of the guys listed is that big, and I could see arguments for Pierce over any of the above except for Lebron, Deng, and Wallce.  Prince and Battier have fallen off a bit, and Wallace and AK47 are as much PFs as SFs.  Pierce is the second best player on that list overall, and like I said, he's very close to all of those guys defensively.
I'd add Shawn Marion to that list. He's been very good at the SF position in Dallas, though he's almost Tony Allen-esque on offense at times.

I don't think Prince is as good defensively as Pierce, he's the only guy I'd take off of it.

Yeah, I only looked at guys averaging 30+ minutes, but Marion and Artest are both probably better than Pierce, I'd say.  Marion has fallen off a lot, but his D is still ahead of Paul's.

As for Paul vs. Prince, it's a toss up, but I think Prince's length gives him the edge.
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Re: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2010, 05:33:32 PM »

Offline housecall

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Pierce is probably in the top 3 defensive sf...some games his focus on defense is more intense than others.Ive noticed when Lebron is playing he tends to raise his level of defense vs if someone of a lesser offensive problem.He doesn't hang his hat on defense as much as lets say a Battier but has been just as productive defensively.Kobe has burned Battier more times than not but Battier supposedley have a special book on how to defend him.The media over sells some guys because they lack a good offensive game.
  
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Re: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2010, 06:17:29 PM »

Offline LB3533

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I think Paul has been one of the top 2 or 3 defensive SF/SG over the last decade in the EC.

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Re: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« Reply #6 on: December 12, 2010, 07:19:38 PM »

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(1) Shawn Marion
(2) LeBron James
(3) Gerald Wallace
(4) Luol Deng
(5) Ron Artest
(6) Paul Pierce

With Shane Battier, Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute just a smidge behind Paul.

Then Marvin Williams and Nicolas Batum.
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Re: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« Reply #7 on: December 12, 2010, 07:40:04 PM »

Offline PosImpos

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Don't forget about Thabo Sefolosha.  He plays SG more, but he also has the size to play SF.  He's known as one of the best wing defenders in the league.

When Andre Iguodala plays SF he's one of the best defenders in the league at that position.  I have a lot of respect for Iggy's defense.

Three players who have all the tools to be really great defenders - Rudy Gay, Danny Granger, Kevin Durant.

Anyways, I think Paul is quite good on defense, but I wouldn't call him a lockdown defender by any means.  I think often when he's matched up against another great player at his position he's able to wear them down because they have to work at least as hard defending him as he does defending them.
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Re: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« Reply #8 on: December 12, 2010, 08:37:19 PM »

Offline Mike

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I think Pierce has dropped off a bit since the championship season.  He got absolutely burned by Iguodala on that crucial play in the final minute of Thursday night's game.
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Re: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« Reply #9 on: December 12, 2010, 09:19:37 PM »

Offline Bahku

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When assessing any player on a very unselfish team like the Celtics, you have to look past the individual stats and take the team as a whole. The C's believe strongly in the "Team" concept on both ends of the floor, and in such an environment, no single player is going to have a big stat line, whether it's scoring or defense.

However, Paul Pierce is a very unusual player in that he goes about his job quietly, (most of the time), and contributes those intangibles that strengthen the team as a whole, but don't bring a lot of attention to him personally. Paul is a great defensive player, and at the core of what drives this team at both ends.
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Re: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« Reply #10 on: December 12, 2010, 09:49:09 PM »

Offline looseball

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I think Pierce is a very good defensive player when he wants to be.  But most games he's more interested in offense, and his defense is altogether too casual.
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Re: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« Reply #11 on: December 12, 2010, 09:54:23 PM »

Offline twistedrico

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He has been VERY GOOD this year.
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Re: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« Reply #12 on: December 12, 2010, 10:02:55 PM »

Offline pearljammer10

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He's great. Turns it on when he needs to or when it counts most.
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Re: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« Reply #13 on: December 12, 2010, 10:51:16 PM »

Offline MBz

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One one one is he a stopper like Ron Artest? Absolutely not, but in the celtics defensive system, he's great.  He helps, he keeps guys in front of him and he does his job.  Ultimately that's all that matters to me.  Now if you get guys like LeBron, Carmelo isolating against Pierce with no help then he's going to get burnt, but there are not many guys in the league who have the ability to stop those guys 1 on 1.
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Re: How Good Is Paul Pierce On Defense?
« Reply #14 on: December 12, 2010, 10:59:24 PM »

Offline Celtics18

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I agree with Paul.  He's consistently been one of the most under-rated defenders in the league.
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