Who is more important to the Celtics RIGHT NOW. Pierce or Rondo?

[BASS_THUMPER]

Doesn't matter because we are in the playoffs and we won't get far if either is missing.

Probably the smartest thing said in this thread.

yep
need them both

thunder and lightning

come on brotha

mine was legit as well

[dark_lord]

they are all pieces to a puzzle.  one no more important than the other bc of the different attributes they bring to the table.

[nickagneta]

Doesn't matter because we are in the playoffs and we won't get far if either is missing.

Probably the smartest thing said in this thread.

yep
need them both

thunder and lightning

come on brotha

mine was legit as well

You're right. I just missed it bro.

TP for an equally intelligent post.

[Celtics18]

This thread is the anti Ubuntu.  I abstained from voting as there wasn't a choice for both.

We have three team MVPs and we'll need all three of them to get where we want to go.

Next season will come, and the one after that, and the one after that.  I'm busy enjoying this one.  
Not picking favorites, and trying to pit the hard cores against each other over our Celtics.

[Carhole]

I guess I am the only one who voted Rondo. 

Pierce is great.  But we are not winning a championship without Rondo.

And we are without Pierce?

We aren't winning a series without Pierce

[BballTim]

I guess I am the only one who voted Rondo. 

Pierce is great.  But we are not winning a championship without Rondo.

And we are without Pierce?

We aren't winning a series without Pierce

  We won't win a title with either of them out.

  FWIW, we're averaging 21 assists and 10 turnovers in the 3 games Rondo played, we had 14 assists and 14 turnovers when he missed a game.

[chambers]

They are both too important. Same with KG.

That's the great and nerve racking thing about this team.
They are a true team of interlocking pieces and if one goes down then the entire ship will slowly but surely sink.

If Pierce goes down we are screwed. If Rondo goes down we are screwed. Ditto KG.

[thirstyboots18]

This is like saying "who is more important in a marriage, wife or husband?"   ha ha ha  On any given day, baby, on any given day.  

[jdz101]

 Rondo is an elite setup guy and passer.  He's range is nonexistent, but he's capable of making layups.

I disagree...He can hit an elbow jumper.

[wiley]

I'm bumping this thread to say I'm not interested in the discussion.
GM hat in closet...

Go Rondo, Go Pierce,
Go Celtics!

[LarBrd33]

Here's a good way to think about this question:

It's game 7 of the NBA finals. You need to choose to not have either Pierce or Rondo for this game. Who do you play?

I think, without question, you play Pierce in this game and leave Rondo out. I trust Pierce to carry the team on his back. Rondo is not a go-to guy. I think we need Rondo in the long-run because he gets everyone easy shots and keeps them from getting worn out. But I trust Pierce to get this team a win any day of the week.

I agree 100%.

Rondo had a great game tonight.  His shot was falling which is rare.  And he had his typical 16 assists.  A lot of those assists were due to Paul Pierce.  Not so difficult getting 16 assists when Paul Pierce is going 10-13 in 17 minutes.  I think what it comes down to, in my mind, is who needs who more?  Rondo needs guys like Pierce, Ray, KG and Bass to hit shots in order for him to get his 15 assists.  Pierce doesn't exactly NEED Rondo in order to put points on the board, though.  That makes him more important, to me.  Pierce is an elite scorer.  Ray is an elite shooter.  KG is an elite big man.  Rondo can pass the ball as well as any point guard in the league including Deron Williams, Steve Nash and CHris Paul (all of which are better offensive players).  I go with the elite scorer over the guy who can pass the ball to the elite scorer.  Definitely a symbiotic relationship, though.  And right now they are both clicking.  Judging by my poll it looks like most agree that right now Paul Pierce is a more important player.  That's good to know... with the amount of opposition I've had "... but, but... Doc said was the best player!", I was expecting Rajon to win in a landslide. 

I agree we can't lose either, though if we stand a chance of making the ECF against the Heat.

[lightspeed5]

i dont like this thread at all.

both players are essential for us period.

[Celtics18]

Here's a good way to think about this question:

It's game 7 of the NBA finals. You need to choose to not have either Pierce or Rondo for this game. Who do you play?

I think, without question, you play Pierce in this game and leave Rondo out. I trust Pierce to carry the team on his back. Rondo is not a go-to guy. I think we need Rondo in the long-run because he gets everyone easy shots and keeps them from getting worn out. But I trust Pierce to get this team a win any day of the week.

I agree 100%.

Rondo had a great game tonight.  His shot was falling which is rare.  And he had his typical 16 assists.  A lot of those assists were due to Paul Pierce.  Not so difficult getting 16 assists when Paul Pierce is going 10-13 in 17 minutes.  I think what it comes down to, in my mind, is who needs who more?  Rondo needs guys like Pierce, Ray, KG and Bass to hit shots in order for him to get his 15 assists.  Pierce doesn't exactly NEED Rondo in order to put points on the board, though.  That makes him more important, to me.  Pierce is an elite scorer.  Ray is an elite shooter.  KG is an elite big man.  Rondo can pass the ball as well as any point guard in the league including Deron Williams, Steve Nash and CHris Paul (all of which are better offensive players).  I go with the elite scorer over the guy who can pass the ball to the elite scorer.  Definitely a symbiotic relationship, though.  And right now they are both clicking.  Judging by my poll it looks like most agree that right now Paul Pierce is a more important player.  That's good to know... with the amount of opposition I've had "... but, but... Doc said was the best player!", I was expecting Rajon to win in a landslide. 

I agree we can't lose either, though if we stand a chance of making the ECF against the Heat.

It's kind of a chicken or the egg question.  One thing I think is pretty certain is that Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen would have a hard time still playing at the levels they are playing at, respectively, without Rajon Rondo.

Sure, we've seen that Paul Pierce can still run the team as the point forward as needed, but if he'd had to do that full time over the past four or five seasons, I don't think he would have held up the way he has.  Splitting his time between being a guy who plays off the ball and plays with the ball in his hands has been extremely beneficial to him and to the team.  It has also helped him raise his shooting efficiency numbers over these seasons.

Not all the credit goes to Rondo for this, but I do think that Rondo should get a large share of the credit.  

You say that "Rondo needs guys like Pierce, Ray, KG and bass to hit shots in order" for Rondo to rack up the assists.  But, I think it's equally valid to say that those guys need Rondo to set them up to get in a good groove as shooters and scorers.  

[BballTim]

Here's a good way to think about this question:

It's game 7 of the NBA finals. You need to choose to not have either Pierce or Rondo for this game. Who do you play?

I think, without question, you play Pierce in this game and leave Rondo out. I trust Pierce to carry the team on his back. Rondo is not a go-to guy. I think we need Rondo in the long-run because he gets everyone easy shots and keeps them from getting worn out. But I trust Pierce to get this team a win any day of the week.

I agree 100%.

Rondo had a great game tonight.  His shot was falling which is rare.  And he had his typical 16 assists.  A lot of those assists were due to Paul Pierce.  Not so difficult getting 16 assists when Paul Pierce is going 10-13 in 17 minutes.  I think what it comes down to, in my mind, is who needs who more?  Rondo needs guys like Pierce, Ray, KG and Bass to hit shots in order for him to get his 15 assists.  Pierce doesn't exactly NEED Rondo in order to put points on the board, though. 

  You keep saying that Rondo needs players like PP/RA/KG to get his assists. Why don't you show us that it's true? Ray was out of the lineup for a good long stretch, why not show us how Rondo's assist totals plummeted during that time?

[clover]

Pierce has been shooting steam or ice, game by game, all series.  Even after last night's tour de force, he's only shooting .429 for the playoffs. 

Unfortunately, two other starters are shooting worse--.414 for Bass and .375 for Bradley.  Among the regular rotation players, only Ray and Stiemer are at .500 or better.