Francis is better on defense than McGrady? Care offering to sell me some beautiful oceanfront property in Alabama as well, while you're at it? McGrady is clearly the best defensive player of the three, although Pierce is tremendous at getting steals. What Pierce does well is get to the free throw line, and that really opens up the game for everyone else. Acquiring Pierce or McGrady for Francis straight up is a STEAL, no questions about it.
No it isn't worse than Steve's. And his rebounding is solid. He is a shooting guard so who cares about his a/t ratio. What I care about is that he is a much better go-to guy and doesn't make bad decisions. As much as you would like to make it, this is not an argument about statistics. Steve has great statistics. But we are trying to trade Steve because he can't play D, makes horrible decisions, can't run a fast break, and is not a good complement to Yao.
So he's a shooting guard who averages more turnovers than Steve and handles the ball less but he makes great decisions. Steve is the Devil.
Say what you want about the East on the offensive end. No, there isn't a lot of big name offensive talent. There are no Sacramento Kings or Dallas Maverick type teams. But on the defensive end, the East is every bit as good as the West, maybe even better. So I don't see how you can discredit what Pierce has been able to accomplish on the offensive end, especially with so little help.
This is ridiculous. What the hell is wrong with the board recently? Francis a better shooter than Pierce? Mobley a better player than Iverson and Rip Hamilton? Pierce is known to be a good shooter, and Francis is NOT. There is absolutely no need to resort to anything else. Do you think teams want to give up the 3-pter to Steve Francis or Paul Pierce? Like I said. He's had no post presence and takes WAY more shots than Francis. The fact that he's better, even barely, than Francis on statistics is a miracle on its own. He shoots around 25 times a game. Francis doesn't shoot anywhere near that much, while having played with Hakeem and Yao in his career.
Oh I forgot Steve played with Hakeem. How many points was the Dream averaging those years? You are just wrong. Pierce and Francis are about the same shooting. The stats prove it. No where is Pierce considered a great shooter. He and Toine have both been criticized for their shot selection. You are just wrong. Get over it. Who cares what his stats show when it is just KNOWN.
The stats have shown that in Pierce's best statistical year, 2001-2002, he averaged 26ppg, 7rpg, 3apg, 2spg, 1bpg, less than 2 turnovers, all on 44% shooting from the field and 40% from the line. That same year the Celtics went to the Conference Finals. In Francis' best statistical year, 2000-2001, he averaged 20ppg, 7rpg, 6.5apg, 1.8spg, and 3.3 turnovers. This was on 45% shooting and 39% from the line. That year the Rockets set a record for most victories without making the playoffs. If Francis and Mobley had gotten hot, the Rockets probably would have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, had they been in the East. Here's the difference: Pierce put up those numbers with Antoine Walker dominating the ball. Francis put up similar numbers dominating the ball himself. I really think, for the Rockets to be successful, we need a player who can put up big numbers off the ball. Pierce would be an upgrade. Ray Allen even better. But Tracy McGrady should be the first choice.
THis is what offseason brings you. PP is definitely a better player than SF. I have watched PP play since his college years at Kansas. His game was off last season after they traded off Walker. If you add another scorer on his team, watch his game blossom again.
Paul Pierce made the 3-pt contest. Twice I believe. Hakeem, even then, was a betetr post presence than anything Paul Pierce has had in his entire career. Your argument is very weak and you know it. If you want to argue overall game, then you MAY have a point. But even that's a reach. But in terms of shooting, Paul Pierce is just plain better. You didn't tell me: who would opponent defenses leave open for a 3, Steve Francis or Paul Pierce?
In a zone defense, you don't have to leave anyone open. But even assuming you did, why would you leave Pierce when you could double off our new PG (Wilks? Mobley?) or J.J. or Cato? Basketball is played 5 on 5, not 2 on 2.
The stats don't lie Sane. Your argument is insane. If there is one stat that doesn't lie, its shooting percentage. Both of these guys are backcourt players and they have shot basically the same percentage for their careers. There is no argument here. You're being silly.
You really like to argue don't you? Yes he's a shooting guard with lots of turnovers. Is that really suprising to you? Michael Jordan averaged 2.7 to per game for his career, Clyde Drexler averaged 2.7. Tracy McGrady is at 2.7. Iverson is at 3.6. Paul Pierce is at 3.1. It is a little bit high but nothing to indicatee he is a boneheaded decision maker and turnover machine. BUT STEVE AVERAGES 3.7 TURNOVERS PER GAME FOR HIS CAREER! This past year Pierce average 0.1 more turnovers per game and you are trying to paint him as more turnover prone than Francis. That is laughable. And you say he handles the ball less? He is the primary scorer and the go-to guy on his team. If he handles it less it wasn't by much.
Yes, but we don't play a zone for 48 minutes in the NBA. We all know that JVG's defense takes away penetration and dares the other team to beat you from 3-pt range. Detroit's defense is similar to this.
How many assists did Jordan, Drexler, and Iverson average. I won't even look that up but I know its more than Pierce.
