More on Lance vs. Pierce..+ zone thoughts.

[GuyClinch@xxxxxxx]

> My criticism of Pierce has changed, sir.  Last year he was a ball hog but
> shot at a better percentage than Twan.  This year he's a lousy shooter,
> still shooting plenty, and even though his assists are up, so are his
> turnovers.  He's a freakin' ALL-STAR for gosh sakes, don't you expect
> ANYTHING from the arrogant, coach-bashing, self-promoting guy?  He was the
> focus of TEAM USA for the entire series.
> 

Lance,

It is very likely his shooting percentage will rise during the course of the 
year. 
The guy has been slumping..if you take a abbrieviated sample you can make 
anyone look bad.

Switching criticism...makes it look like you have something against the 
player. If PP starts to shoot well... (and he is) people expect that you will 
find something else bad to say about the guy. Actually, last year you had a 
valid criticism of him..that he didn't pass well enough, and tried to do to 
much. 

Now personally I wouldn't consider this to be "selfish" he just didn't have 
enough faith in his teamates..who really COULDN'T hit many shots. Now with 
gunners like Shammond on the team, and a revatilized T. Buckets... he will 
pass more and have more assists.

Most NBA scouts and coaches think PP is a great player..

What is good about him is that he is addressing his weaknesses..that he didn' 
t pass well, and tried to do too much himself. This year his assists are up, 
and I expect they will stay that way. And one can expect his shooting 
percentage to rise.

Furthermore, its pretty clear that PP really cares about just winning..

He didn't have to play for the US..he could have been like all those other 
stars who save themselves for the added glory of the Olympics. No one in the 
US cares about the World Championships..so the fact they he played there 
makes him..more unselfish in my eyes. The other "stars" come out for the 
glory of the Olympics...

Where you see a selfish player..I see a guy trying to do his best to win.

He is a good offensive player and he can hit a jump shot..so it makes sense 
that he shoots alot..but I think that he would defintely pass up a shot to 
give to an open shooter who is better then him like Shammond or Delk. If he 
had better players to pass in the World Championships he would pass to them 
as well..

Truth of the matter is that the international game is ALOT like college 
ball..

They have a real zone defense, and you need outside shooters.. "Studs" like 
Ben Wallace and Shawn Marion are largely neutralized there..what you need is 
guys like
Walker..who can go inside and shoot the DEEP threes to break down the zone.

I think sooner or later then NBA writers will catch on..with the new rules 
the college style of "threes or dunks" really pays off. Some coaches have 
already figured things out. 

The "low-post" inside game is basically dead with only Shaq able to perform 
in it. None of the top ten scorers in the NBA are even tall..for chrissakes. 
PP had to be a ball hog..they surrounded him with brick laying role players 
then the should have surrounded him with deep gunning role players.

That's right Andre Miller can't shoot either..thats why he was yelling at 
that JKidd wannabe.

Poor guy. If they had added AW to the team they would have easily won it all.

As a side note...on zones.

The Celts are WAY ahead of the curve..and we should be thankful...
They know how to break a zone...ya hit threes.

I just can't for the life of me figure out why they overpaid for Baker. He 
doesn't fit the Celtic mold of  "Athletic and can shoot threes" This deal 
just kills us.. I don't get it.

If Shammond or Brown really break out we can't resign em!
If we draft some Celtic types (athletic gunners)...then we can't keep em...or 
pay them..<g>

Funny thing I read a scouting report about that big Argentina guy on our team 
who rides the pine Ruben W...or whatever his name is. Says he is a leaper who 
can hit a jumper. Maybe he should get some PT instead of Vin. Perhaps he 
isn't a Vitaly clone after all.

Also said he and Bruno can't play a lick of defense. Oh well.

Pete