I found this TrueHoop post about the LeBron - Paul Pierce rivalry to be very interesting. Here's how they compare in head to head games, per 48 minutes, before this season: LeBron: 32.6 pts, 6.8 reb, 6.2 ast, 2.5 stl, 1.2 blk, 2.6 tov, 48 fg%, 7 wins Pierce: 33.4 pts, 9.2 reb, 6.1 ast, 2.0 stl, 0.9 blk, 3.8 tov, 41 fg%, 4 wins
whoa pierce is actually winning that battle? well far as Ls and Ws are concerned, its lebron vs pierce, garnett, ray but as far as the statistical battle it will interesting to watch
FG% tells the story to me. That's a huge difference when you're scoring that many points. Pierce had more turnovers, but he was also shooting more if he was scoring the same # of points at a low %age, so the turnovers are understandable
psquare is definitely losing, points is marginal...he has a clear edge on rebounds...assists are virtually the same...but: turnovers, field goal%, and more importantly -- wins, tell the tale for me here.
I remember a game 2 years ago, PP had his career high against LeBron with 50 points. LBJ had a great game too and it went in 2 OTs I think. There is rivalry between them and I think the Cavs-Celtics will be really exciting from now on, the one from last night was awesome, I noticed a bit of trash talk between the 2 All Stars.
Then the "winner" of the rivalry meets Tmac and gets 40/7/5 dropped on them while being held to 17 points on 6/22 shooting.
Haha you're right ! T-Mac has always schooled LeBron and is way better than Pierce. Those matchups will be really interesting to watch.
LeBron: 32.6 pts, 6.8 reb, 6.2 ast, 2.5 stl, 1.2 blk, 2.6 tov, 48 fg%, 7 wins Pierce: 33.4 pts, 9.2 reb, 6.1 ast, 2.0 stl, 0.9 blk, 3.8 tov, 41 fg%, 4 wins Please explain how you see that Pierce is winning that "battle"??? He has like 1 more ppg shooting 7% less in the field while causing one more turnover.. possesion wise Lebron is owning Pierce.. and the defense stats speak for themselves that also Lebron is owning Pierce and further more in the outcome of the game Lebron is owning Piecre maybe not "owning" but is definitly doing better in every catagory: Offense/Defense/Outcome
I don't think anyone in their right mind would think Pierce is winning that battle. But for him to be that close to King James in most of the categories and actually leading in scoring is a feat in itself.
For people who are interested, here's the per 48 minutes stats for McGrady-LeBron head to head matchups before this season: T-Mac: 39.4 pts, 6.3 reb, 7.0 ast, 1.8 stl, 0.3 blk, 2.3 tov, 44.4 fg%, 5 wins LeBron: 29.2 pts, 8.0 reb, 6.6 ast, 1.1 stl, 0.6 blk, 4.2 tov, 44.3 fg%, 3 wins http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/h2h.cgi?req=1&playoffs=N&p1=jamesle01&p2=mcgratr01
That's about right, everytime I see T-Mac play against LeBron, he owns him. T-Mac is just to quick for LeBron, it gives him problems.
I think it is less about quickness (Lebron is plenty quick) but more about Lebron being so horribly unsound defensively. If Lebron was not such a freak of an athlete he would be considered a horrible defender. I'm pretty sure nobody even talked to him about defense until he got to the NBA.
Up until this year. . .didn't PAUL PEIRCE have T-mac disease . . .. er . .. having 'inferior' teammates? Rocket River
Well, he had another All-Star with him for a while (Antoine Walker...remember him?) and actually had a nice run to the ECF once in 2002 I believe. Paul is a very good offensive player, he's just never been really in the 'spotlight' because of how stinky the Celtics have been for the last few years. He also seems to just be the type that's easily overlooked. But yeah, he's always been a terrific talent and one of the top swingmen in the league, and has been one of my personal favorites for a few years now.
