Don't let Pierce's game today fool you!

[Roy H.]

 

Do you honestly believe he can play that way again tonight or again this week.  Do you believe he can carry a team for a month like he once could?  I'm just asking.

Does anybody expect Pierce to consistently put up 34/8/10 with 3 steals on 67% shooting?  No, I doubt they do.

What a lot of people are arguing, though, is that Pierce can be the 19/5/3 on 50% shooting and the .600+ TS% that he was last year.  That player is still a very, very good player.  Pierce was in the top-25 in points per game last year, and he was second in the entire NBA in TS%.

It seems entirely short-sighted to me for some fans to assume that the Pierce we've seen so far this season is the true level of play he's capable.  He's clearly been injured and rusty, and he obviously is going to improve from his current numbers.  No, he won't consistently put up 30+ points with near triple doubles, but he can be one of the very best players in the world.

[scaryjerry]

Agreed for the most part....
Pierce had a good game against the Wizards.... who cares

[Celtics18]

I know there are a lot of people out there that are going to point to today's great game by PP and say "See! He still has it. He has just been out of shape and needed to work back into his old self." This is EXACTLY what happens to old guys people. Every couple of weeks they have a magical game like they used to more often than not and it makes you think that it is still there. We have seen it with every player out there that was on their way down into mediocrity again. Jordan had the occasional 40+ game in that last season while the majority were far less. He had no help, so he was able to take a lot of shots to get into the 20's most nights. Bird had the occasional huge night where he looked like his old self while the majority of the time he looked old and worn out.

We are going to see this all year with PP, KG, and JO. (Ray is not really human so he doesn't count) JO has had a couple games where he looks like a solid big man, but also quite a few like he shouldn't be playing anymore. KG is the same. A few nights this season he has looked great. Most nights just old. The same is the case and will be with the captain.

It is time to blow this thing up. I am glad that Danny realizes it. I am glad that the ownership appear to agree as well. This is the perfect time to send him packing if you are going to do it because maybe we can get a GM to believe that he has enough in the tank to push them over the top. When Ray gets back and recovered from that ankle we can start shopping him. KG is likely to be a tougher guy to get rid of since he is definitely the most beat down of the three.

One thing that Pietrus showed me today is that he has the ability to come in and fill PP's shoes to some degree. Enough to make it worth trying to pick up some young talent or draft picks...

I think you are the one who's been fooled into believing that Paul Pierce doesn't have it anymore.

[j804]

I know there are a lot of people out there that are going to point to today's great game by PP and say "See! He still has it. He has just been out of shape and needed to work back into his old self." This is EXACTLY what happens to old guys people. Every couple of weeks they have a magical game like they used to more often than not and it makes you think that it is still there. We have seen it with every player out there that was on their way down into mediocrity again. Jordan had the occasional 40+ game in that last season while the majority were far less. He had no help, so he was able to take a lot of shots to get into the 20's most nights. Bird had the occasional huge night where he looked like his old self while the majority of the time he looked old and worn out.

We are going to see this all year with PP, KG, and JO. (Ray is not really human so he doesn't count) JO has had a couple games where he looks like a solid big man, but also quite a few like he shouldn't be playing anymore. KG is the same. A few nights this season he has looked great. Most nights just old. The same is the case and will be with the captain.

It is time to blow this thing up. I am glad that Danny realizes it. I am glad that the ownership appear to agree as well. This is the perfect time to send him packing if you are going to do it because maybe we can get a GM to believe that he has enough in the tank to push them over the top. When Ray gets back and recovered from that ankle we can start shopping him. KG is likely to be a tougher guy to get rid of since he is definitely the most beat down of the three.

One thing that Pietrus showed me today is that he has the ability to come in and fill PP's shoes to some degree. Enough to make it worth trying to pick up some young talent or draft picks...

I think you are the one who's been fooled into believing that Paul Pierce doesn't have it anymore.

lol

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

PP says refer to Shaq's quote to KoMe after he won his 4th ring (even though KoMe one up him lol), "tell me how..." (you know the rest)!! Pierce played well once again! 19pts, 7 assist, and 5 rbs... that's all on a b2b after having the big game vs. the Wiz the day before (we had to travel to WAS and then back home all in 3 days after having a game on Friday at that)!

[cletus1985]

PP says refer to Shaq's quote to KoMe after he won his 4th ring (even though KoMe one up him lol), "tell me how..." (you know the rest)!! Pierce played well once again! 19pts, 7 assist, and 5 rbs... that's all on a b2b after having the big game vs. the Wiz the day before (we had to travel to WAS and then back home all in 3 days after having a game on Friday at that)!

TP for that!

[Celtics4ever]

I think PP 's game has declined some with age.   But he still has "it" and can play at a high level.

[BASS_THUMPER]

i dont think he has declined he can still get to the free throw line, run the floor and hit threes

still the same paul to me

[chambers]

i dont think he has declined he can still get to the free throw line, run the floor and hit threes

still the same paul to me

\

exactly.
Biggest test is going to be how he handles back to backs and B2B2B's...

[kozlodoev]

Why is everyone so giddy about Pierce forcing shots left and right? We've all seen that pre-Big 3, and that wasn't a particularly competitive strategy at any point.

[CelticsFanNC]

Why is everyone so giddy about Pierce forcing shots left and right? We've all seen that pre-Big 3, and that wasn't a particularly competitive strategy at any point.

  These past few games kind of reminded me of that as well.

 Still he is in a situation that he has to force his offense because Ray and Rondo are out and that's not in KG's nature.  These guys have become so accustomed to running their offense, getting to their spots and being delivered the ball on time. That's not going to happen with Bradley(who has played darn well) or Moore running the point.  With Rondo out someone has to force the offense and Pierce is the best candidate.

[kozlodoev]

Why is everyone so giddy about Pierce forcing shots left and right? We've all seen that pre-Big 3, and that wasn't a particularly competitive strategy at any point.

  These past few games kind of reminded me of that as well.

 Still he is in a situation that he has to force his offense because Ray and Rondo are out and that's not in KG's nature.  These guys have become so accustomed to running their offense, getting to their spots and being delivered the ball on time. That's not going to happen with Bradley(who has played darn well) or Moore running the point.  With Rondo out someone has to force the offense and Pierce is the best candidate.

Right, but it was pretty much the same even with Rondo on the floor. Our distribution on the offense was pretty much a one-and-done jump shot for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, or dumping the ball to Pierce who would dribble around in circles and throw a horrible layup.

And while Orlando was just horrid yesterday, our offensive problems still persist, because the team shot .423 or so from the field. If we hold any team to .423 shooting, I'm typically thinking we're having a pretty good game.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Why is everyone so giddy about Pierce forcing shots left and right? We've all seen that pre-Big 3, and that wasn't a particularly competitive strategy at any point.

  These past few games kind of reminded me of that as well.

 Still he is in a situation that he has to force his offense because Ray and Rondo are out and that's not in KG's nature.  These guys have become so accustomed to running their offense, getting to their spots and being delivered the ball on time. That's not going to happen with Bradley(who has played darn well) or Moore running the point.  With Rondo out someone has to force the offense and Pierce is the best candidate.

Right, but it was pretty much the same even with Rondo on the floor. Our distribution on the offense was pretty much a one-and-done jump shot for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, or dumping the ball to Pierce who would dribble around in circles and throw a horrible layup.

And while Orlando was just horrid yesterday, our offensive problems still persist, because the team shot .423 or so from the field. If we hold any team to .423 shooting, I'm typically thinking we're having a pretty good game.

You also had Bradley, Moore, and Pavlovic shooting 30% of our shots last night, for 35% rate. Also, don't ignore we were 19 for 19 from the free-throw line.

I'd also take Pierce "forcing shots" while dishing 17 assists, and going to the line 21 times over the last 2 games any time.

And for all intents and purposes, Pierce forcing shots in the past was not the problem with our losing years, but having mediocre rosters.