A few interesting things i heard on NBATV

[Who]

I can't consider Pierce an MVP candidate when he is the third best player on his own team.

It's like talking about Chris Bosh or Andrew Bynum as the MVP.

They, like Pierce, just aren't in that class ... (anymore).

[Bankshot]

I can't consider Pierce an MVP candidate when he is the third best player on his own team.

It's like talking about Chris Bosh or Andrew Bynum as the MVP.

They, like Pierce, just aren't in that class ... (anymore).

What two are better than Pierce?  I hope you don't say Rondo when the only thing he has on Pierce is passing. Please list other aspects of Rondo's game that is better than Pierce's.

[Snakehead]

I can't consider Pierce an MVP candidate when he is the third best player on his own team.

It's like talking about Chris Bosh or Andrew Bynum as the MVP.

They, like Pierce, just aren't in that class ... (anymore).

What two are better than Pierce?  I hope you don't say Rondo when the only thing he has on Pierce is passing. Please list other aspects of Rondo's game that is better than Pierce's.

Rondo plays PG you can't just compare them that way.  Rondo doesn't just pass well he runs the offense.

Notice the Big Three said at the beginning of the season "This is Rondo's team now"?  Yeah he's good.  Better than Pierce, and that is not a knock on Pierce who still remains one of the leagues best players.

I agree with Who, KG and Rondo are both better players this year but Pierce has been outstanding.  All three are great and like I said, so good there is no MVP candidate on our team really. 

I think KG might be the best one overall because he is the Defensive Player of the Year IMO and has played so well for us.  And we've seen how we play without him.

[kozlodoev]

82games.com says Rondo is shooting .465 on jump shots this season (which, by the way, is better than Paul Pierce's .455) -- so good luck to teams planning to back off of him.

On the other hand, the site also thinks that 20% of Shaq's shots were "jump shots", so I am not quite sure how reliable the definition is.

[BballTim]

I can't consider Pierce an MVP candidate when he is the third best player on his own team.

It's like talking about Chris Bosh or Andrew Bynum as the MVP.

They, like Pierce, just aren't in that class ... (anymore).

What two are better than Pierce?  I hope you don't say Rondo when the only thing he has on Pierce is passing. Please list other aspects of Rondo's game that is better than Pierce's.

  You could start with his defense.

[Chris]

82games.com says Rondo is shooting .465 on jump shots this season (which, by the way, is better than Paul Pierce's .455) -- so good luck to teams planning to back off of him.

On the other hand, the site also thinks that 20% of Shaq's shots were "jump shots", so I am not quite sure how reliable the definition is.

Does that count all of the wide open jump shots he has passed up to make a pass that led to a worse shot (or a turnover)?

Rondo's shooting percentage is irrelevant until he believes he can make the shots.

[BballTim]

82games.com says Rondo is shooting .465 on jump shots this season (which, by the way, is better than Paul Pierce's .455) -- so good luck to teams planning to back off of him.

On the other hand, the site also thinks that 20% of Shaq's shots were "jump shots", so I am not quite sure how reliable the definition is.

Does that count all of the wide open jump shots he has passed up to make a pass that led to a worse shot (or a turnover)?

  No, but I don't think that all the times Paul does that figure into his totals either so it's fair.

  If you total all of the times Rondo passes up a wide open jumper to get things like open threes for Ray and Paul or alley-oops for KG and Shaq and don't just keep track of the worse shots and turnovers it seems like a better strategy.

 

[Snakehead]

82games.com says Rondo is shooting .465 on jump shots this season (which, by the way, is better than Paul Pierce's .455) -- so good luck to teams planning to back off of him.

On the other hand, the site also thinks that 20% of Shaq's shots were "jump shots", so I am not quite sure how reliable the definition is.

Does that count all of the wide open jump shots he has passed up to make a pass that led to a worse shot (or a turnover)?

  No, but I don't think that all the times Paul does that figure into his totals either so it's fair.

  If you total all of the times Rondo passes up a wide open jumper to get things like open threes for Ray and Paul or alley-oops for KG and Shaq and don't just keep track of the worse shots and turnovers it seems like a better strategy.

 

You beat me to it.  Though he could hit the open jumpers it's hard to knock Rondo when he drops dimes for easy baskets and open shots regardless.  He has brought his passing to a new level and the rest of the players play so well off of him.

[Chris]

82games.com says Rondo is shooting .465 on jump shots this season (which, by the way, is better than Paul Pierce's .455) -- so good luck to teams planning to back off of him.

On the other hand, the site also thinks that 20% of Shaq's shots were "jump shots", so I am not quite sure how reliable the definition is.

Does that count all of the wide open jump shots he has passed up to make a pass that led to a worse shot (or a turnover)?

  No, but I don't think that all the times Paul does that figure into his totals either so it's fair.

  If you total all of the times Rondo passes up a wide open jumper to get things like open threes for Ray and Paul or alley-oops for KG and Shaq and don't just keep track of the worse shots and turnovers it seems like a better strategy.

 

You beat me to it.  Though he could hit the open jumpers it's hard to knock Rondo when he drops dimes for easy baskets and open shots regardless.  He has brought his passing to a new level and the rest of the players play so well off of him.

I love the passing, but he has gone to the extreme.  If he continues playing the way he is now, he is going to make it much easier for teams to defend him once they start really gameplanning in the playoffs. 

For Rondo to make the leap to the next level, he should not be thinking "pass or shoot", he should be thinking what is the best way to get his team points on this particular possession.  He needs to take the shots when they are there, and he needs to make the passes when they are there. 

It is no coincidence that the only way they were really able to score down the stretch last game was by him finally taking the shots.  He needs to take what the defense gives him.

[Megatron]

The argument about who is better Rondo or Pierce is stupid.

Until Rondo can hit game winning shots, drop 30+ point games when needed and be consistently the one we go to at crunch time, then I refuse to believe he is our best player.

Great player yes, but I still have KG and Pierce as better players then Rondo right now.

When the game is on the line, Rondo is standing in a corner, and isnt part of the play usually.

Doc said it earlier about Pierce "Thats what we do in crunch time, get the ball in your best players hands."

Doc clearly thinks Pierce is our guy, and hes proven why many times.

[Fafnir]

82games.com says Rondo is shooting .465 on jump shots this season (which, by the way, is better than Paul Pierce's .455) -- so good luck to teams planning to back off of him.

On the other hand, the site also thinks that 20% of Shaq's shots were "jump shots", so I am not quite sure how reliable the definition is.

Does that count all of the wide open jump shots he has passed up to make a pass that led to a worse shot (or a turnover)?

  No, but I don't think that all the times Paul does that figure into his totals either so it's fair.

  If you total all of the times Rondo passes up a wide open jumper to get things like open threes for Ray and Paul or alley-oops for KG and Shaq and don't just keep track of the worse shots and turnovers it seems like a better strategy.

 

Rondo's shots are likely to be wide open however, Pierce's not so much.

Team's actually keep stats on who hits uncontested shots at what rate. I'd imagine Paul's numbers go up quite a bit, as would Ray's. Rondo's are probably closer to his overall averages, as team's typically want him to shoot that shot still

[Snakehead]

The argument about who is better Rondo or Pierce is stupid.

Until Rondo can hit game winning shots, drop 30+ point games when needed and be consistently the one we go to at crunch time, then I refuse to believe he is our best player.

Great player yes, but I still have KG and Pierce as better players then Rondo right now.

When the game is on the line, Rondo is standing in a corner, and isnt part of the play usually.

Doc said it earlier about Pierce "Thats what we do in crunch time, get the ball in your best players hands."

Doc clearly thinks Pierce is our guy, and hes proven why many times.

Do you remember when Rondo carried us through the playoffs last year?  There is more to basketball than scoring.

Rondo usually is initiating the offense when the game is on the line.. did you also miss the game yesterday for example?

Again, the Big Three said it's his team.  Idk what else people need.  Not that he is by far the teams best player but he is a giant part of it now and Pierce is simply not the team's best player. 

The idea that being the best player involves taking the crunch time shot is simply false and a major misconception.  It's obviously a great quality, but it doesn't make you the best player.  I'd argue KG is our MVP and he is not a go to offensive player at the end of games at all.  Again, basketball is not all about scoring.

All kind of a dumb argument but I completely disagree with you.

[BballTim]

82games.com says Rondo is shooting .465 on jump shots this season (which, by the way, is better than Paul Pierce's .455) -- so good luck to teams planning to back off of him.

On the other hand, the site also thinks that 20% of Shaq's shots were "jump shots", so I am not quite sure how reliable the definition is.

Does that count all of the wide open jump shots he has passed up to make a pass that led to a worse shot (or a turnover)?

  No, but I don't think that all the times Paul does that figure into his totals either so it's fair.

  If you total all of the times Rondo passes up a wide open jumper to get things like open threes for Ray and Paul or alley-oops for KG and Shaq and don't just keep track of the worse shots and turnovers it seems like a better strategy.

 

You beat me to it.  Though he could hit the open jumpers it's hard to knock Rondo when he drops dimes for easy baskets and open shots regardless.  He has brought his passing to a new level and the rest of the players play so well off of him.

I love the passing, but he has gone to the extreme.  If he continues playing the way he is now, he is going to make it much easier for teams to defend him once they start really gameplanning in the playoffs. 

For Rondo to make the leap to the next level, he should not be thinking "pass or shoot", he should be thinking what is the best way to get his team points on this particular possession.  He needs to take the shots when they are there, and he needs to make the passes when they are there. 

It is no coincidence that the only way they were really able to score down the stretch last game was by him finally taking the shots.  He needs to take what the defense gives him.

  I didn't see the end of the game last night but it's worth pointing out that KG's out, Rondo's hobbled and PP just sprained his ankle the other night. As for Rondo, it's not like he can't score. He's averaged 16-17 points a game in the playoffs the last few years.

[Chris]

82games.com says Rondo is shooting .465 on jump shots this season (which, by the way, is better than Paul Pierce's .455) -- so good luck to teams planning to back off of him.

On the other hand, the site also thinks that 20% of Shaq's shots were "jump shots", so I am not quite sure how reliable the definition is.

Does that count all of the wide open jump shots he has passed up to make a pass that led to a worse shot (or a turnover)?

  No, but I don't think that all the times Paul does that figure into his totals either so it's fair.

  If you total all of the times Rondo passes up a wide open jumper to get things like open threes for Ray and Paul or alley-oops for KG and Shaq and don't just keep track of the worse shots and turnovers it seems like a better strategy.

 

You beat me to it.  Though he could hit the open jumpers it's hard to knock Rondo when he drops dimes for easy baskets and open shots regardless.  He has brought his passing to a new level and the rest of the players play so well off of him.

I love the passing, but he has gone to the extreme.  If he continues playing the way he is now, he is going to make it much easier for teams to defend him once they start really gameplanning in the playoffs. 

For Rondo to make the leap to the next level, he should not be thinking "pass or shoot", he should be thinking what is the best way to get his team points on this particular possession.  He needs to take the shots when they are there, and he needs to make the passes when they are there. 

It is no coincidence that the only way they were really able to score down the stretch last game was by him finally taking the shots.  He needs to take what the defense gives him.

  I didn't see the end of the game last night but it's worth pointing out that KG's out, Rondo's hobbled and PP just sprained his ankle the other night. As for Rondo, it's not like he can't score. He's averaged 16-17 points a game in the playoffs the last few years.

That's my whole point.  He absolutely can.  But he doesn't.  He has become infatuated with the assist to the point that he is not as effective as he could be if he used all his assets and just took what the defense gave him more often. 

[ejk3489]

The argument about who is better Rondo or Pierce is stupid.

Until Rondo can hit game winning shots, drop 30+ point games when needed and be consistently the one we go to at crunch time, then I refuse to believe he is our best player.

Great player yes, but I still have KG and Pierce as better players then Rondo right now.

When the game is on the line, Rondo is standing in a corner, and isnt part of the play usually.

Doc said it earlier about Pierce "Thats what we do in crunch time, get the ball in your best players hands."

Doc clearly thinks Pierce is our guy, and hes proven why many times.

Just because Rondo doesn't take the last shot in cruch time doesn't mean he isn't our best (or at least second best) player. I also wouldn't say he's standing in a corner doing nothing...the game winning assist against Philly this year and the layup to bring the game into overtime in Miami last year come to mind.

Do you think Orlando wants Dwight Howard taking the last shot in cruch time? I would say definitely not, and theres no question he's the best player on that team.