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[albas89]

At least Green is tearing it up tonight.  Zero shots and two points in 11 minutes so far.

To be fair, I don't think they set anything for him... actually I think I didn't see any sets at all this whole half, just pick&pop play after pick&pop play after pick&pop play...

[Roy H.]

At least Green is tearing it up tonight.  Zero shots and two points in 11 minutes so far.

To be fair, I don't think they set anything for him... actually I think I didn't see any sets at all this whole half, just pick&pop play after pick&pop play after pick&pop play...

Good players don't need plays run for them to have an offensive impact.  The vast majority of the time, our offense isn't going to be running set plays with one specific player.

[mr. dee]

Seriously, Pierce is killing the team right now. It's either reduce his minutes or he should come from the bench. Forcing ill-advised jumpers, sloppy turnover, can't even buy a bucket at the line.

[Mazingerz]

^ I seriously also think that PP is cooked.

[Interceptor]

I don't think we can take many more of those All-Star performances by Pierce. 3 for 15. At least he got rebounds and assists.

Please can we start Green?

[blink]

At least Green is tearing it up tonight.  Zero shots and two points in 11 minutes so far.

I don't see PP as having a much better game than JG.  He played a lot more minutes, was 3-15 for 12 points and shot really poorly down the stretch. 

Clear to me PP needs a few days off.  He is gassed, legs are shot, something.  Just is moving really poorly in general.  He needs a few DNP - Old.  Start JG while PP gets a break, figures out if he is injured or what the heck is going on with him.

[pp34isthe1]

Pierce will work through this slump, everyone is over-reacting. hes probably tired of losing and playing so many minutes because of Jeffs inconsistentcy. No one anticipated the C's to be this bad and honestly I think DA and Docs plan was to let JG play more than Pierce some games or start and rest Pierce.

Things didnt work out that way as we all know

[blink]

Pierce will work through this slump, everyone is over-reacting. hes probably tired of losing and playing so many minutes because of Jeffs inconsistentcy. No one anticipated the C's to be this bad and honestly I think DA and Docs plan was to let JG play more than Pierce some games or start and rest Pierce.

Things didnt work out that way as we all know

So PP's poor play is coming from being emotionally down over losing and having to play more minutes because of JG's bad play??  what???  That makes no sense to me.

Cmon, PP is mentally tougher than that.  I agree he will probably pop back out of his slump.  It is just that these slump(s) are happening a lot more often this year and it is really impacting the team.

The problem is I can't remember PP having such a long string of poor performances on offense.  His own inconsistency is just as big (or more) of a problem for the team than JG's.

[jbaerg]

I think it's just a matter of Paul playing too many minutes in too many games. Gotta cut one of the two out. The guy needs a break. Remember how hot he was coming into the season?

[nickagneta]

Last year, when Ray Allen got hurt and Bradley took his starting position, a definite change could be seen in the play of this team. Bradley relieved Rondo of having to guard the best offensive player in the opponent's back court. His off the ball cuts and ability to run the floor and create turnovers with Rondo, helped make the offense less stagnant. His effect with the starters on the defensive end was staggering. They became one of the best defensive fives for the C's since 2008.

So when Doc sent Ray to the bench and started Bradley for good there was good reason for it. Ray was hurt and struggling, simultaneously. Bradley was playing well and he had obvious defensive advantages over Ray Allen and provided something different for the starting five. Namely, quickness, defense and a running game.

Thing is, as frustrated as some are with the play of this team, the removal of Pierce and inclusion of Green in the starting five isn't going to make this team better. Unlike the Allen-Bradley differences and dynamic that changed the team, the Green-Pierce difference isn't a positive one for the starters. Green brings nothing that Pierce doesn't already supply on a quantitative and qualitative basis. Simply put, you are taking out a great player to put in a mediocre role player.

Pierce is not having a Pierce at his best type of year. But he is still having an All-Star caliber year and benching him gains you nothing for a quality of basketball standpoint. And, it could lose Doc the locker room. Everyone in that locker room knows Pierce is not the problem with this team. Benching him, a stalwart of this era and the captain and locker room leader, for a guy who has a history of passivity and half heartedly giving an effort on many occasions, will not go over well with almost half the team, I am sure.

There is just nothing that shows that adding Green to the starting five will make him play better or the starting five play better. Pierce often plays with 3 or 4 bench players and none of those lineups show stats that make one believes Pierce or the bench will play better with Pierce coming off the bench.

So why risk it?

If you want to shake up a team, you don't bench its captain and one of the players giving a top effort for an overpaid mediocre role player that has a history of not showing up half the time. What you do is play guys giving you great effort the most minutes and have the GM trade one or two of the worst "effort" guys the heck out of town.

[blink]

I think it's just a matter of Paul playing too many minutes in too many games. Gotta cut one of the two out. The guy needs a break. Remember how hot he was coming into the season?

I agree with this as well.  Gotta get PP some rest or something to help him get out of this slump.

[Roy H.]

Last year, when Ray Allen got hurt and Bradley took his starting position, a definite change could be seen in the play of this team. Bradley relieved Rondo of having to guard the best offensive player in the opponent's back court. His off the ball cuts and ability to run the floor and create turnovers with Rondo, helped make the offense less stagnant. His effect with the starters on the defensive end was staggering. They became one of the best defensive fives for the C's since 2008.

So when Doc sent Ray to the bench and started Bradley for good there was good reason for it. Ray was hurt and struggling, simultaneously. Bradley was playing well and he had obvious defensive advantages over Ray Allen and provided something different for the starting five. Namely, quickness, defense and a running game.

Thing is, as frustrated as some are with the play of this team, the removal of Pierce and inclusion of Green in the starting five isn't going to make this team better. Unlike the Allen-Bradley differences and dynamic that changed the team, the Green-Pierce difference isn't a positive one for the starters. Green brings nothing that Pierce doesn't already supply on a quantitative and qualitative basis. Simply put, you are taking out a great player to put in a mediocre role player.

Pierce is not having a Pierce at his best type of year. But he is still having an All-Star caliber year and benching him gains you nothing for a quality of basketball standpoint. And, it could lose Doc the locker room. Everyone in that locker room knows Pierce is not the problem with this team. Benching him, a stalwart of this era and the captain and locker room leader, for a guy who has a history of passivity and half heartedly giving an effort on many occasions, will not go over well with almost half the team, I am sure.

There is just nothing that shows that adding Green to the starting five will make him play better or the starting five play better. Pierce often plays with 3 or 4 bench players and none of those lineups show stats that make one believes Pierce or the bench will play better with Pierce coming off the bench.

So why risk it?

If you want to shake up a team, you don't bench its captain and one of the players giving a top effort for an overpaid mediocre role player that has a history of not showing up half the time. What you do is play guys giving you great effort the most minutes and have the GM trade one or two of the worst "effort" guys the heck out of town.

This guy gets it. Perfectly stated and reasoned.

[EJPLAYA]

I think the thing that frustrates me the most is that he continues to shoot us out of games when he plays like this. You can't take 15 shots when you are that off. It's selfish. Especially when you know you have dead legs. If he isn't willing to realize that he is on the decline and can't do what he could 4-5 years ago then a change needs to be made. When you're off, pass the dang ball. When you are on, then fill it up. Otherwise we will continue to lose like this.

[Roy H.]

I think the thing that frustrates me the most is that he continues to shoot us out of games when he plays like this. You can't take 15 shots when you are that off. It's selfish. Especially when you know you have dead legs. If he isn't willing to realize that he is on the decline and can't do what he could 4-5 years ago then a change needs to be made. When you're off, pass the dang ball. When you are on, then fill it up. Otherwise we will continue to lose like this.

Pierce made mostly good decisions tonight.  He was smart in moving the ball, and most of his shots were open.  He just didn't hit them.

Should Pierce pass up open jumpers?  I don't think that would be helpful, even if he is in a bad slump.

I do think it's time to give him a game or two off, though.

[jbaerg]

I'm not saying bench PP by any means. Just give him meaningful rest. It's clearly worked for Duncan/Manu.