Kobe's FG% really isnt nearly as bad as some people might think.I just noticed Kobe has higher career FG% than Pierce...
Pierces FG% IIRC is a little lower in large part to being on some AWFUL teams leading to poorer %'s a few years.
He with only the help of antoine freakin walker was enough to be a perennial 2nd rounder back in the day IIRC. Versatile scorer and solid defender in his younger days. Master of using his body and positioning to get the exact shot he wants, and of course as previously mentioned clutch. Wouldn't put him ahead of Pippen though.
1. Bird
2. Lebron
3. Pippen
IMHO.
That's what I love about his game. He just finds ways to create space without needing to use much athleticism.
A local sportswriter said that, even when he was young, Paul Pierce still played an old man's game. I thought it was fitting. I'm going to miss all the times he pulled up, then headfaked/tricked his defender into leaping, then created contact for the foul/and-1.
dude's hardiness is what i like most bout this guy tbh, dude is tough as and if you disagree please name one other player who could survive 11 knife cuts inflicted by a bunch of gangstas, and would return to game only a few months later
Stretch is right about both ...plus Pierce has to take a lot of 3's especialy on those Pierce Walker teams, where they were both the best post and perimeter players on the team.
Stretch with the goods.
I've always rated Pierce highly, he's a rare player that had zero weaknesses in his game. He was a scorer, a playmaker, a shooter, really good defender, and clutch as . You look back through history, you wont find alot of guys with that combination.
Pippen and Pierce is probably a tossup, i dont know if there is a clear cut answer on who i would take. If i was starting a team, probably Pierce. As a second option, probably Pippen. As an all timer, Pippen's 6 rings probably give him the edge, but rings can be overplayed especially when one guy played with Jordan.
TS%
Kobe: .556%
Pierce: .569%
PP took a higher portion of 3's hence his FG% would naturally be lower and his TS% higher. Not only was PP a great scorer, he was a pretty efficient one aswell.
28-10-8 today.. winding back the clock tbh.
In a win vs a good team too
Add to that 3 steals and 2 blocks
I'll never forget him hittin up al horford with the big "B" in that playoff game
Hold your horses guys. Pierce is really good but he's not that great. For people to even put Pierce in Pippen's level really shows the age of the posters in this thread.
Pippen absolutely destroys Pierce in almost any basketball conversation you'd like to bring up. Pippen has the accolades and he was also the better overall basketball player. Pippen was an All Time great defender and an excellent playmaker, while Pierce was a really good scorer. You can pick your poison but I'd take the guy who can run the offense and defend extremely well.
Pippen would absolutely be a Top 10 player in todays league. I can see him easily putting up 25ppg 8apg 7rpg 2spg. Those are MVP numbers tbh.
^And in pierce's prime he put up very similar numbers to those while being a legitimate go to #1 guy on offense and being clutch as . Let's not forget pierce was a solid defender as well. While I agree and already stated that I'd personally take Pippen, they're definitely "on the same level." Saying otherwise puts you in that category of "ignorance" you just spoke of.
Why are you bringing Chauncey Billups into the discussion? Billups is nowhere near either Pippen or Pierce's level. Way to prove your point I guess?
All I know is pierce outplayed lebron and kobe both head to head en route to winning a championship and finals mvp. You make an argument for pippen by saying if Pippen played today, he would put up numbers very similar to what Pierce HAS done. Not a very convincing argument tbh.
That was one argument Paul Pierce fans used to say. Finals MVP=Greatness., there was a huge discussion on RealGM about these two a year or two ago.
Anyway, please proceed and tell me how Paul Pierce is on Pippen's level.
Not true.
Kobe had the better Finals #'s.
Didnt say that.
Try again boss.
It's already been laid out for you. Go to guy in the clutch, can get any shot he wants when he wants it. Incredibly efficient, evidenced by his outstanding true shooting percentage. Solid defender in his day, really played both Kobe and Lebron tough en route to winning that championship in 98. Paul Pierce's resume really speaks for himself. Just because you aren't a big fan personally doesn't take away from what he's accomplished, don't confuse personal bias with the facts.
I don't know why you're doubting those numbers considering Pippen rounded up more or less the same numbers accross the boards in 94-95, the same era where scoring was pretty rough for perimeter players.
My problem with your argument is you're obviously exaggerating Pierce calling him "extemely efficient" when in reality his numbers almost mirrors Kobe which happens to be one of the least efficient perimeter player of his era.
Also, I wouldn't credit Pierce in Kobe and Lebron's subpar numbers in those series. Boston was just that good defensively as a unit. tbh KG deserves more of that credit. While Pierce was in fact a good defender and can hold down the forth on short occassions, he was never in Scottie's level defensively.
Offensively, yes, he had his bright spots but again, in the Finals, Pierce came out flatter than Kobe Bryant ( Don't believe me? Check out both stats on both NBA Finals encounter) Additionally, Ray Allen came though more for the Celtics in the clutch than Pierce evident by Ray Allen's excellent games 4 & 6 in the 2008 NBA Finals, coincidentally, Pierce had a poor game on both games.
I don't know what world I am in, but I agree with CR again. I think Pierce is great but like I said I think he is properly rated many on here see him as underrated I disagree. He is great without being the swiftest, or a great leaper but you don't get "bonus" points for that either.
As for Pippen I do think he was better but not THAT much better like ... I said I think Pip and Pierce, are a "notch" below Bird and Lebron. And no he is not extremly efficent he has two HOF'ers at his side without them he was very inefficient, but in his defense he didn't have much choice.
I'm not a numbers guy, but I think I would take Pip. Sure Pierce is more clutch ...but Pip carried a Bulls team minus Mj and Horace Grant almost to the Finals ...
I do think 25 and 8 is a bit of a stretch though not saying he could not but he never was a volume shot guy even when MJ left. I think 22 6 and 6 are very realistic ...
Chris Richards just proving why he's a gnmf tbqmfh
Always liked Pierce a lot, he really matured a lot through the years.
I remember in 07, I hoped the Mavs would pull a deal to get him to Dallas. The Celtics had a horrible season, did not get a great pick in the lottery, and would probably undergo a huge rebuilding with Al Jefferson and Rondo as centerpieces, or so I thought. The rest you is history as you guys know, but unlike ChrisRichards here I just wanted to say that I have always appreciated his game quite a bit. And the way he kept fighting in Boston even when it got rough is what I rate the most.
I am not sure I'd pick him in front of Pippen, Dr. J or even Elgin Baylor, and arguably Rick Barry and Bernard King had a higher ceiling though not the long career that Pierce has. But that is mostly due to the advancements in sport science. But he's somewhere in the top 10 of SF I'd think, probably ahead of guys like Nique and Havlicek. By the end of their career, LeBron and Durant should have overtaken him.
Not Melo though, that guy's career has taken a wrong path since the 09 WCF.
T-Mac... well he'd have been something special if his back would allow it. I really thought T-Mac would be an historic player and he had all the tools to do so. What a wasted chance!
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