Peter May Lauds Ainge "Heist"

[Fafnir]

While looking at this list Faf, I can't help but ask, what shooting guards CAN he cover?

Wade...not even close.

Nick, who's quicker LeBron or Wade?

Same question with Joe Johnson, and also between Pierce and Ray.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I see a lot of talk about Pierce slipping over to the 2 guard spot i this thread and I just don't see it. Yes, he plays more perimeter than ever because of his amazingly efficient shooting but he is and will always be, going forward, a SF. He just doesn't have the lateral quickness or first step or speed to cover the SG position any longer.

What I think you will see is Green being used like James Posey playing a 3/4 hybrid and play alongside Pierce and Allen a bunch. Especially now that the C's have signed Pavlovic, I think the chances of Pierce playing any significant time at the 2 position as being a blogger's dream and nothing more. I don't see that happening.

Is Ray Allen quicker than Paul Pierce? If so is the difference a big one?

What shooting guards can't he cover, particularly in the playoffs?

Starting SGs in the East Playoffs:
Wade
Bogans/Korver
Jason Richardson
Joe Johnson
Landry Fields
Jodie Meeks
Brandon Rush

I don't see any match ups I really fear Pierce playing a few minutes against, or Green for that matter.

Out West the match ups are tougher, but Pierce has played Manu/Kobe before. Terry/Kidd/Bareas are probably the 3 guard line up the C's couldn't do that against without losing something.

While looking at this list Faf, I can't help but ask, what shooting guards CAN he cover?

Wade...not even close.
Joe Johnson...forget it.
Jason Richardson...will torch him.
Jodie Meeks...will lose Pierce in a nanosecond.
Brandon Rush...will go right by him.
The rest...who cares they aren't very good offensive players.


I think people here WAY WAY overestimate Pierce's defensive abilities on true shooting guards and his ability to play that position any longer. Since the 2008-09 season Pierce has played exactly 0% of the team's time at the SG position. Seems like maybe the coach of the team agrees with me.

Pierce can guard Kobe, he can guard all those jackasses, except Wade.

[nickagneta]

In the playoffs I'd expect to see a Rondo+Pierce+Green backcourt for most of the minutes Ray Allen spends on the bench, resting or with foul trouble.

If Ray Allen gets into foul trouble you will see a lot of Delonte West and Rondo in the back court with possibly some Wafer or Pavlovic mixed in.

[BballTim]

I see a lot of talk about Pierce slipping over to the 2 guard spot i this thread and I just don't see it. Yes, he plays more perimeter than ever because of his amazingly efficient shooting but he is and will always be, going forward, a SF. He just doesn't have the lateral quickness or first step or speed to cover the SG position any longer.

What I think you will see is Green being used like James Posey playing a 3/4 hybrid and play alongside Pierce and Allen a bunch. Especially now that the C's have signed Pavlovic, I think the chances of Pierce playing any significant time at the 2 position as being a blogger's dream and nothing more. I don't see that happening.

Is Ray Allen quicker than Paul Pierce? If so is the difference a big one?

What shooting guards can't he cover, particularly in the playoffs?

Starting SGs in the East Playoffs:
Wade
Bogans/Korver
Jason Richardson
Joe Johnson
Landry Fields
Jodie Meeks
Brandon Rush

I don't see any match ups I really fear Pierce playing a few minutes against, or Green for that matter.

Out West the match ups are tougher, but Pierce has played Manu/Kobe before. Terry/Kidd/Bareas are probably the 3 guard line up the C's couldn't do that against without losing something.

While looking at this list Faf, I can't help but ask, what shooting guards CAN he cover?

Wade...not even close.
Joe Johnson...forget it.
Jason Richardson...will torch him.
Jodie Meeks...will lose Pierce in a nanosecond.
Brandon Rush...will go right by him.
The rest...who cares they aren't very good offensive players.


I think people here WAY WAY overestimate Pierce's defensive abilities on true shooting guards and his ability to play that position any longer. Since the 2008-09 season Pierce has played exactly 0% of the team's time at the SG position. Seems like maybe the coach of the team agrees with me.

Pierce can guard Kobe, he can guard all those jackasses, except Wade.

  Consider the perspective though. Pierce "guarding" those SGs basically means guarding them as well (or close to as well) as West or Wafer.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I see a lot of talk about Pierce slipping over to the 2 guard spot i this thread and I just don't see it. Yes, he plays more perimeter than ever because of his amazingly efficient shooting but he is and will always be, going forward, a SF. He just doesn't have the lateral quickness or first step or speed to cover the SG position any longer.

What I think you will see is Green being used like James Posey playing a 3/4 hybrid and play alongside Pierce and Allen a bunch. Especially now that the C's have signed Pavlovic, I think the chances of Pierce playing any significant time at the 2 position as being a blogger's dream and nothing more. I don't see that happening.

Is Ray Allen quicker than Paul Pierce? If so is the difference a big one?

What shooting guards can't he cover, particularly in the playoffs?

Starting SGs in the East Playoffs:
Wade
Bogans/Korver
Jason Richardson
Joe Johnson
Landry Fields
Jodie Meeks
Brandon Rush

I don't see any match ups I really fear Pierce playing a few minutes against, or Green for that matter.

Out West the match ups are tougher, but Pierce has played Manu/Kobe before. Terry/Kidd/Bareas are probably the 3 guard line up the C's couldn't do that against without losing something.

While looking at this list Faf, I can't help but ask, what shooting guards CAN he cover?

Wade...not even close.
Joe Johnson...forget it.
Jason Richardson...will torch him.
Jodie Meeks...will lose Pierce in a nanosecond.
Brandon Rush...will go right by him.
The rest...who cares they aren't very good offensive players.


I think people here WAY WAY overestimate Pierce's defensive abilities on true shooting guards and his ability to play that position any longer. Since the 2008-09 season Pierce has played exactly 0% of the team's time at the SG position. Seems like maybe the coach of the team agrees with me.

Pierce can guard Kobe, he can guard all those jackasses, except Wade.

  Consider the perspective though. Pierce "guarding" those SGs basically means guarding them as well (or close to as well) as West or Wafer.

And then they having to guard Pierce or Green in return, depending on what poison they want to pick.

With that said, Green's defense in that one play with Nash showed me a bit of promise.

[droponov]

Doubtful. Pierce defends most of those players better than Delonte and Ray.

Even against that Dallas small backcourt, the Celtics can have Pierce guarding Kidd, Allen checking Terry, Rondo on Barea. Huge matchup advantage for the Celtics at every position.

[Bingbangbarros]

Brandon Rush? Really? I agree with the last few comments. I think Pierce will probably cover the bigger shooting guards better than Ray. For a few minutes a game I don't see it hurting us at all especially when they will also have to guard Pierce. Joe Johnson I'm not worried about. Didn't he guard him in the playoffs a few years ago?

We will probably use Green at PF many times and considering he isn't a great rebounder and our team rebounding for some reason sucks I am not happy about this.

[bucknersrevenge]

I see a lot of talk about Pierce slipping over to the 2 guard spot i this thread and I just don't see it. Yes, he plays more perimeter than ever because of his amazingly efficient shooting but he is and will always be, going forward, a SF. He just doesn't have the lateral quickness or first step or speed to cover the SG position any longer.

What I think you will see is Green being used like James Posey playing a 3/4 hybrid and play alongside Pierce and Allen a bunch. Especially now that the C's have signed Pavlovic, I think the chances of Pierce playing any significant time at the 2 position as being a blogger's dream and nothing more. I don't see that happening.

Is Ray Allen quicker than Paul Pierce? If so is the difference a big one?

What shooting guards can't he cover, particularly in the playoffs?

Starting SGs in the East Playoffs:
Wade
Bogans/Korver
Jason Richardson
Joe Johnson
Landry Fields
Jodie Meeks
Brandon Rush

I don't see any match ups I really fear Pierce playing a few minutes against, or Green for that matter.

Out West the match ups are tougher, but Pierce has played Manu/Kobe before. Terry/Kidd/Bareas are probably the 3 guard line up the C's couldn't do that against without losing something.

While looking at this list Faf, I can't help but ask, what shooting guards CAN he cover?

Wade...not even close.
Joe Johnson...forget it.
Jason Richardson...will torch him.
Jodie Meeks...will lose Pierce in a nanosecond.
Brandon Rush...will go right by him.
The rest...who cares they aren't very good offensive players.


I think people here WAY WAY overestimate Pierce's defensive abilities on true shooting guards and his ability to play that position any longer. Since the 2008-09 season Pierce has played exactly 0% of the team's time at the SG position. Seems like maybe the coach of the team agrees with me.

[/b]

Strange...Paul actually played at the 2 spot last night a little with Green at the 3. He even commented about it in today's Herald about how he and Green can create matchup problems at either spot with ability to post up. Green made similar comments during his post game interview with Dickerson too directly after the game. If the coach agrees with you, clearly the players don't and are just doing whatever they want out there.

[Donoghus]

Pierce can handle the 2 spot as a minute plug.  I don't see any issue with that.  He can handle it. 

The problem is if you have him at there for extended minutes.  3-4 minute stretches here & there?  No problem.

[droopdog7]

Sorry Nick but I have NO doubt that PP ca guard those SG's with little problem.  In fact, I think he would guard those guys better than Ray.  He is our best defender against kobe by a wide margin.

After watching him for all these years, why people still think PP is slow is beyond me?

[guava_wrench]

Ray is in better shape to chase SGs all game as they run through screens without the ball. Ray is probably better for those guys since he can run all day.

Kobe and Wade don't play that game, so they would not tire Pierce out. Lateral quickness doesn't seem to be a problem with Pierce when defending those guys.

[droopdog7]

Ray is in better shape to chase SGs all game as they run through screens without the ball. Ray is probably better for those guys since he can run all day.

Kobe and Wade don't play that game, so they would not tire Pierce out. Lateral quickness doesn't seem to be a problem with Pierce when defending those guys.

How many SG actually run through screen all day?  Not many that I can think of.  In fact, the only two that come to mind is Ray and Rip.

[droponov]

Pierce can handle the 2 spot as a minute plug.  I don't see any issue with that.  He can handle it. 

The problem is if you have him at there for extended minutes.  3-4 minute stretches here & there?  No problem.

I don't see the problem with having him there an entire season. If somehow Ray Allen was traded for LeBron, Pierce would play the 2 and he wouldn't be a defensive liability at all. He'd struggle with the quickness of some guys, but they'd struggle even more with his size on the other end.

[BballTim]

I see a lot of talk about Pierce slipping over to the 2 guard spot i this thread and I just don't see it. Yes, he plays more perimeter than ever because of his amazingly efficient shooting but he is and will always be, going forward, a SF. He just doesn't have the lateral quickness or first step or speed to cover the SG position any longer.

What I think you will see is Green being used like James Posey playing a 3/4 hybrid and play alongside Pierce and Allen a bunch. Especially now that the C's have signed Pavlovic, I think the chances of Pierce playing any significant time at the 2 position as being a blogger's dream and nothing more. I don't see that happening.

Is Ray Allen quicker than Paul Pierce? If so is the difference a big one?

What shooting guards can't he cover, particularly in the playoffs?

Starting SGs in the East Playoffs:
Wade
Bogans/Korver
Jason Richardson
Joe Johnson
Landry Fields
Jodie Meeks
Brandon Rush

I don't see any match ups I really fear Pierce playing a few minutes against, or Green for that matter.

Out West the match ups are tougher, but Pierce has played Manu/Kobe before. Terry/Kidd/Bareas are probably the 3 guard line up the C's couldn't do that against without losing something.

While looking at this list Faf, I can't help but ask, what shooting guards CAN he cover?

Wade...not even close.
Joe Johnson...forget it.
Jason Richardson...will torch him.
Jodie Meeks...will lose Pierce in a nanosecond.
Brandon Rush...will go right by him.
The rest...who cares they aren't very good offensive players.

  Saying PP might have trouble guarding a sg is one thing. Saying that Wafer or Delonte or Pavlovich will do a better job at guarding that player is something entirely different. He's better than any of them, and even if they were slightly better he's significantly better offensively than any of them so he's still the better choice.

I think people here WAY WAY overestimate Pierce's defensive abilities on true shooting guards and his ability to play that position any longer. Since the 2008-09 season Pierce has played exactly 0% of the team's time at the SG position. Seems like maybe the coach of the team agrees with me.

  You have to be careful about some of those stats. The positions are assigned somewhat arbitrarily. When PP and Daniels were on the court they assigned MD to sg and PP to sf. It wasn't based on who they were guarding at the time or what role they played on offense.

[guava_wrench]

Ray is in better shape to chase SGs all game as they run through screens without the ball. Ray is probably better for those guys since he can run all day.

Kobe and Wade don't play that game, so they would not tire Pierce out. Lateral quickness doesn't seem to be a problem with Pierce when defending those guys.

How many SG actually run through screen all day?  Not many that I can think of.  In fact, the only two that come to mind is Ray and Rip.

Ray and Rip are just the masters of it. It is still done throughout the game for plenty of SGs.