Why does Pierce continually guard best players?

[Change]

As an older go-to scorer you can't have him guarding best players on defense. Doc has to do a better job protecting Pierce on defense similar to how Lakers protect Kobe. Put Pierce on non-shooters so he doesn't have to exhaust his energy on that end. Have the Lee's, Green's, and Avery's of the world guard those guys. At this point Pierce offense means more to to Celtics than his defense.

[pearljammer10]

Who else is going to guard the other teams best player?

Last night Terry had to guard Wallace. It was either guard Wallace and pray or guard Johnson and get pummeled. There are a lot of great SFs in the league. That happens to be Pierces position so he is going to be guarding them.

[Change]

Who else is going to guard the other teams best player?

Last night Terry had to guard Wallace. It was either guard Wallace and pray or guard Johnson and get pummeled. There are a lot of great SFs in the league. That happens to be Pierces position so he is going to be guarding them.

Then change the lineup. Put $9 million they are paying Green to good use.

[pearljammer10]

Who else is going to guard the other teams best player?

Last night Terry had to guard Wallace. It was either guard Wallace and pray or guard Johnson and get pummeled. There are a lot of great SFs in the league. That happens to be Pierces position so he is going to be guarding them.

Then change the lineup. Put $9 million they are paying Green to good use.

And bench Pierce?

My favorite lineup is Pierce and Green on the court together, so Im with you on changing the lineup. Id like to see more of it. But that would just make Pierce have to guard quicker 2's.

[Who]

I like Pierce defending top players. He is a really good defensive player.

His all-round game is needed for the team to be successful. Not just his offense. Not a dominant enough offensive player anymore for the team to revolve around like that on the offensive end of the court.

[Change]

Who else is going to guard the other teams best player?

Last night Terry had to guard Wallace. It was either guard Wallace and pray or guard Johnson and get pummeled. There are a lot of great SFs in the league. That happens to be Pierces position so he is going to be guarding them.

Then change the lineup. Put $9 million they are paying Green to good use.

And bench Pierce?

My favorite lineup is Pierce and Green on the court together, so Im with you on changing the lineup. Id like to see more of it. But that would just make Pierce have to guard quicker 2's.

No, start them together on certain match-ups. For example if back-court is a big one like the Nets start Green. Or if you play a team like the Bucks that have quick guards start Lee. Just whatever as long as you are saving Pierce's energy on that end. 

[Chris]

I like Pierce defending top players. He is a really good defensive player.

His all-round game is needed for the team to be successful. Not just his offense. Not a dominant enough offensive player anymore for the team to revolve around like that on the offensive end of the court.

While I agree with this, I also think his defense and rebounding have taken a real hit this year.  It shows up in spurts (much like his offense), but they are fewer and fewer each season. 

If we are talking an end of game situation, then yes, I want Pierce on their best wing scorer.  However, I think getting him rest earlier in games might not be a bad thing.

I also think I am done with the Terry (and Bass for that matter) starting experiment.  It helped get them on track as Sully and Lee got more comfortable in the system, but I think its time they go back.  That will give them more defense, rebounding, and overall grit in the starting lineup, and more explosiveness off the bench.

[Fafnir]

I think Pierce's rebounding has been good, if anything he's looked bad more often because he's blocking out bigs more due to poor pick and roll defense forcing more rotations.

I do think it'd be good to have Terry on the bench so we could hide him without giving Pierce the wing burden every night.

[scaryjerry]

Because green and lee are not that good.

[Celtics18]

I like Pierce defending top players. He is a really good defensive player.

His all-round game is needed for the team to be successful. Not just his offense. Not a dominant enough offensive player anymore for the team to revolve around like that on the offensive end of the court.

While I agree with this, I also think his defense and rebounding have taken a real hit this year.  It shows up in spurts (much like his offense), but they are fewer and fewer each season. 

If we are talking an end of game situation, then yes, I want Pierce on their best wing scorer.  However, I think getting him rest earlier in games might not be a bad thing.

I also think I am done with the Terry (and Bass for that matter) starting experiment.  It helped get them on track as Sully and Lee got more comfortable in the system, but I think its time they go back.  That will give them more defense, rebounding, and overall grit in the starting lineup, and more explosiveness off the bench.

I agree that I'd rather see Lee starting over Terry.  Bring the Jet in off the bench.  I prefer Bass over Sully in the starting lineup, though. 

[GreenEnvy]

Because when he is matched up with a scrub he usually strays away from him to help on the better player, leaving said scrub player to take wide open shots and/or offensive boards.

[Kane3387]

Because when he is matched up with a scrub he usually strays away from him to help on the better player, leaving said scrub player to take wide open shots and/or offensive boards.

Lol did you see him guard Mo Harkless for Orlando?

[Celtics4ever]

Small forwards tend to be the best players on a team.   They are mid sized so they have good athletic ability, a lot of them can shoot, you play the position you have to guard it.

[dysgenic]

If it were me I would try to get Pierce's minutes down by around 5-7 minutes a game.  I believe it would make him a lot more effective.  Even at this stage of his career, we need his defense.

[Chris]

If it were me I would try to get Pierce's minutes down by around 5-7 minutes a game.  I believe it would make him a lot more effective.  Even at this stage of his career, we need his defense.

Me too.  But in order to do that, I think Jeff Green needs to really step up his game.