The Truth

 Still got it and people hate it. Lol

Offensively, he’s still the most complete small forward in the game in my opinion. Yes… Over Kevin Durant, LeBron James and even Carmelo Anthony.

That doesn’t mean he’s the best scorer or the best overall… I just think he has the least amount of holes in his offensive game.

Yes I agree with your assessment, Paul Pierce is the truth in the clutch, hence his nickname. I could have done without the Tebowing with 2 minutes left, but if you are destroying your opposition practically single handedly like he was in the 4th quarter, then I’ll let it slide.

as a fan of the sport, im glad to see superstates be superstars and step up and lead their teams. Pual aint gonna do it for 82 games at this point of his career and he probbaly aint gonna have too many back to back elite games in the playoffs, but when the time comes he can still show up.

I thought tonight was a big test for atlanta. If they want to be taken seriously as a team, they had to capitalize on boston without rondo. The fact they didnt leads me to stick with my pre series prediction boston would take this series.

 Carmelo Anthony and Pierce are very similar their game mirrors each other.

I think Pierce is a better and more willing passer than Anthony. Plus, I think he moves better without the ball and can play off of other superstars better.

I’d rather play with Pierce.

@for never ever, i dont think i agree with that assesment too much. There are some defenite similarites, but also enough differences to not want to say "mirror each other". Melo is quicker and stronger and will lower his shoulder into opponenets and punish them. Paul is more crafty in how he gets shots and not as good a scorer overall since he doesnt flat out beat guys off the dribble too moften at this point any more. BUt i also beleive paul is a little more well rounded and will find ways to stay involved more when the ball isnt in his hands.

What can’t Paul Pierce do as an offensive player?

He can play in the low post. You can’t defend him with smaller players. He can still draw a double team and find the open man. His footwork is great. He can shoot over either shoulder, plus has plenty of up and unders, fakes, etc on the block. He also still has enough craftiness to get around bigger players and get to the rim. He can play the mid or high post. He STILL has one of the best mid-range games in the league and has a go-to move nobody seems to know how to stop yet. He shoots the three-ball. He can still get to the line and make 85% of his free-throws.

He has very little holes in his game as an offensive player.

 Pierce deserves his respect he has been playing ball for a long while and is still playing at a high level. lets see if melo can play at a high level after his prime. We can definitely find some good similarities in their games. Pierce has later in his career become the better defender .. Melo is the better scorer and maybe later in his career will be more motivated in playing Defence.

I was never a fan of Pierce but, I have to acknowledge his skill, clutchness and heart. I doubt that he can do this as frequently as people would want to though. It’s just one of those games where a great player knows he’s being doubted and goes on to prove everyone wrong

@indiana, not sure if that question was directed at me for saying melo was a better scorer. We agree pierce is better without the ball and passing and i agree he has more skills on offense. But i dont think he is a better scorer then melo. Melo can get by his man easier and finish around th erim better and is just as good a shooter from the perimter with a slightly quicker stop and pop motion. BUt i think you and i are on the same page here, just wasnt sure if you were addressing me with that question.

No, I posted that in response to all of the negatives I got lol.

I don’t think he’s a better scorer than Anthony, Durant, LeBron, etc either. Obviously, I don’t think he’s a better player than those three. He’s older and past his prime, so he can’t do it for 82 games like he used to. He’s not as quick or athletic and relies mostly on craftiness, etc.

But as far as having a complete offensive game, I think he’s at the top. He barely has any holes in his offense game. He’s a complete player.

 Melo is a pure scorer who uses his physical attributes to score….likewise with Lebron and KD.  Pierce is almost ALL IQ as he doesnt have the physical attributes as either of them.  If Pierce did have some of the attributes as those guys, he would be the Celtics all-time leading scorer easy.  Pierce is not a bad athlete, but all 3 of those guys have best him in every physical catagory.

Paul Pierce is one of those players that you probably wouldn’t start a franchise with right now, but if you had to pick one go-to scorer for a series he is up there with anyone. 

I think Lebron is better all-around, generally offensively, but I see the arguement for Truth.  And is Pierce really that far out of the top 10?  I’d argue no, but then this forum loves ignoring defense.

He was no holes in his skills but is not a good athlete, he kind of reminds me of Jordan with the Wizards at 40 years old.

 Lebron is way more of an all around player than Pierce, last time I checked Lebron gets 8 + assists a games, can get triple doubles, can play all 5 spots.

People are failing to recognise the difference between skillset and production. Pierce does have a pretty flawless offensive arsenal, certainly more complete than Lebron, KD and Melo I’m not sure about.

If i’m taking a guy to win me a 7 game series i’m taking PP.  Love Kobe but as quick as he’ll shoot you in he’ll shoot you out.  Lebron folds in the 4th and I don’t find that KD makes his teammates better as much as Pierce.  Pierce will ALWAYS take what the defense gives him and that’s what makes him harder to defend than those other guys in the playoffs.  He rarely forces bad shots and makes the right reads and right passes.  Give him midrange he’ll take it, back up on the 3pt line he’ll bang it.  He’s the reason Boston even has a title because in that series he completely outplayed Kobe.  He’s just way to unpredictable with the ball in his hands and that’s what makes him so dangerous.

It’s looks like people don’t know the difference between having a complete offensive game and better overall game.

LeBron has been a great overall player from the moment he stepped in the league, but that doesn’t mean he had a complete offensive game. He’s still not comfortable in the low, mid or high post areas. I’m still not 100% sure what LeBron’s go-to move is, especially down the stretch of games. And Durant isn’t either… I watched Delonte West and Jason Kidd have success pushing Durant out damn near to the three-point line while he was trying to post up. He’s still too weak and hasn’t figured out how to exploit his defenders in certain areas of the floor.

As far as Pierce’s offensive skillset, I don’t think another small forward is better. Melo is close, but he can be such a ball stopper and doesn’t really play well without the ball. The same goes for Rudy Gay.

They’ll tell you. Paul Peirce is one of the toughest they faced their whole career. A threat everywhere. Been a good defender for a while it just wasn’t noticed. I count D a lot too. Luo Deng guards Peirce the best.