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raven
Posts: 22454
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 9/2/2002
Member: #316
Canada
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what do you guys think about getting paul pierce ?
I have no particular opinion, but after reading the artivle enclosed belo, from cnnsi, i wanted to get some feedback.
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On the Boards
Celtics' youthful, motivated corps need better leader than Pierce
On Saturday night, Chicago's kids took the Celtics pups out behind the shed, leading by as many as 18 before finishing with an 11-point win, but there was more to that game than a generic matching of talents.
Boston's reserves dominated a Chicago bench that has routinely outscored its opponents this season. It wasn't until Celtics coach Doc Rivers put the ball back in the hands of his "superstar," Paul Pierce, that the Bulls pulled away. Thirty-four games into the season, and it has become apparent that the Celtics' leading scorer and second-leading rebound/assist man may be the player holding this group back. Usually, we here at OtB regard trade suggestions and rumors as an affront to our senses, but Boston boss Danny Ainge should actively court offers for his maxed-out albatross.
Pierce began his habit of floating through games during the 2002-03 season and hasn't stopped, even after Boston has continually attempted to retool itself (trading Antoine Walker, bringing in Gary Payton and Rivers). He remains a talented shooter who scores big numbers when he shoots a lot, but he's never taken that grand "next step" to become a devastating all-around scorer. And don't think about asking him to bring back the defensive touch he displayed his first two seasons in Boston. Pierce is done with all that.
Regrettably, last month's comment about only needing "an In-N-Out Burger and some Popeye's Fried Chicken" to get himself ready for athletic conquest spoke volumes as to the type of leader Pierce is: a self-satisfied, pseudo All-Star who is content to drop 20 a night and collect checks. His reputation alone allows him to take the last shot of the game, but his game hardly merits the honor. Worse yet, Pierce is owed about $45 million from Boston after this season, the biggest reason why Boston has the league's eighth-highest payroll but only the 21st-best record.
The Celtics need to make a move. Not before February, mind you, not with a legitimate shot at the playoffs (they're a game out), which would give Payton a chance to shine and, more important, give the kids a taste of what it's like. But over the summer, Boston needs to move No. 34. What GM wouldn't warm to the idea of trading for a player who can drop 20 in his sleep? NBA personnel bosses can talk themselves into anything over the summer, which is why Antoine Walker has been traded two consecutive offseasons.
Unfortunately, Pierce's somnambulant play has taken away from the wonderful contributions GP has provided and an impressive rookie season from Al Jefferson. If anything, Rivers hasn't used Payton enough, but the former Laker continues to keep his head up and play consistently. Payton is patient with his young, flighty teammates, and he's more than made up for his semi-holdout (which was mostly spurred on by his disgust with Lakers brass) last summer.
Jefferson's been a beast down low. Just a year removed from dominating rural high schoolers in relative obscurity, Jefferson has showed fine footwork, a killer touch around the rim and a knack for the screen/roll game. His rookie shortcomings (porous and undisciplined defense, inability to read defensive rotations) are obvious, but also something you'd expect from a player who spent four years at Duke.
The fact Jefferson isn't a household name this early in his career helps. Remember, Pierce entered this league with a sense of entitlement, basking in the "how did he fall that far?" glow after being selected 10th in the draft. Jefferson started his rookie campaign behind Walter McCarty and Kendrick Perkins, and now he's the first Celtic off the bench. This is the type of player you build a team around.
Trading Pierce and focusing on Jefferson won't fix all of Boston's issues. Rivers still has a lot to prove as a coach, "point guard of the future" Marcus Banks has regressed in his second year, and Ricky Davis is still nutty. But Ainge has the opportunity to make up for the misguided Walker trade (good for the talent base, horrible for the books). Ainge has shown himself to be an astute judge of talent, whether he uses that brain-reading system or not, so he should be trusted to pull off a solid deal involving Pierce.
The next step after that? Updating those ugly uniforms.
[Edited by - raven on 01/11/2005 07:38:12]
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1/11/2005 5:16 PM