Paul Pierce is #17

by Jeff Clark on Sep 24, 2008 12:31 PM EDT in Boston Celtics News & Links

Not sure how I missed this, but Tom Ziller (a superb blogger) is breaking down a list of the top 50 players in the NBA today. Our own Paul Pierce checks in at number 17 (a fitting number), just ahead of old friend Al Jefferson.

Here's a highlight:

Pierce has really had two careers, both strong. Before 2004, Pierce was your prototypical superstar swingman: an elite scorer, a decent rebounder, a good defender, a nice ball-handler with a few passes in him. The shooting wasn't efficient, and the rebounds came more in the flow of the game than because of any talent for the boards within. This isn't a bad place to be -- it did get Boston to the conference finals without much else in the cupboard (save gunner extraordinaire Antoine Walker).

In the '04-05 season, Pierce transformed. His game became so much more efficient -- less shots to get the same points, fewer turnovers, renewed emphasis on free throws over fadeaways. As such, Pierce became a better player ... a much better player.

A quick note about this: For those that didn't pick up on it, 2004 is when Doc Rivers started coaching. If you remember, Doc and Paul didn't see eye to eye at first, but eventually Paul came around. Doc didn't start coaching when Danny got him KG and Ray. He laid the foundation of our championship year by molding Pierce into a cornerstone piece they could build around.

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I noticed that Boozer is #16.

Should Pierce be ranked ahead of him, not only based on number of rings, but clutch play?

by Lucky17 on Sep 24, 2008 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

Not sure if Tom Ziller is a top 50 sports writer but I would not trade PP for Elton Brand, nor Chauncey nor Carlos, Paul is more reliable health wise, better in the clutch and as last year showed he is a premier defender when he wants to be, Nash is more valuable but getting old—who are the other 12—I couldn’t find the list??

by feckless on Sep 24, 2008 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

I think Pierce should be ahead of Brand, Billups and Boozer too.

At least this guy is thinking clearly enough to rank him above Carmello and way above T-Mac.

by Mr October on Sep 24, 2008 2:47 PM EDT reply actions

I have some quibbles with #17 but, the guy sure seems to realize how valuable Pierce is. And he is more efficient than Lebron, Wade, and the Faker.

by Birdbrain on Sep 24, 2008 2:56 PM EDT reply actions

I think we should suspend all blogging until we straighten out the financial markets.

by The Real Large James on Sep 24, 2008 3:39 PM EDT reply actions

Ranked #17 !!!!
the way he dominated lebron and kobe in the playoffs , you would think he would get a top 10 spot.

by perk on Sep 24, 2008 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

pp is a playa- who cares how they get ranked. there’s no objective way to rank players anyway. stay healthy and focused-pp.

by nazzbo on Sep 24, 2008 5:06 PM EDT reply actions

props to #34

jeff said it all…
‘A quick note about this: For those that didn’t pick up on it, 2004 is when Doc Rivers started coaching. If you remember, Doc and Paul didn’t see eye to eye at first, but eventually Paul came around. Doc didn’t start coaching when Danny got him KG and Ray. He laid the foundation of our championship year by molding Pierce into a cornerstone piece they could build around.’

…top notch analysis.

by mcpu40 on Sep 24, 2008 5:28 PM EDT reply actions

I like Al Jefferson as much as the next guy, but I don’t see how him and Pierce can be mentioned in the same sentence, not to mention ranked on back to back spots. Blah.

by kozlodoev on Sep 24, 2008 6:04 PM EDT reply actions

I know he’s only at #13, but Billups and Brand ahead of Pierce? C’mon.

by BrickJames on Sep 24, 2008 7:09 PM EDT reply actions

Even Nash ahead of Pierce is questionable. And Boozer?? Wow.

by BrickJames on Sep 24, 2008 7:09 PM EDT reply actions

Pierce is too low on this list.

by Who on Sep 24, 2008 7:29 PM EDT reply actions

I agree with everyone above, except maybe for Real Large James (still, I assume he was only kidding – this is where we come to get away from things like politics and crashing economies).

by no kidding on Sep 24, 2008 8:39 PM EDT reply actions

Where do you start with this list? Al Jefferson ahead of Deron Williams and Carmelo Anthony, seriously? Rudy Gay on the top 50 at all but Ray Allen not to be found?

by hankfinkel on Sep 24, 2008 9:37 PM EDT reply actions

Can’t say I agree. Does anyone know what he is basing these rankings off of? Stats? Performance? If so Pierce should be ahead of Billups, Boozer, and Brand. 17 is too low for Pierce.

by BigAlTheFuture on Sep 24, 2008 9:44 PM EDT reply actions

this is just an attempt to p!ss paul off and put him off his season.. 17th my @ss

the truth gets no respect.

scoring and defending in the last few minutes of an nba game is the hardest part of playing in the nba. Paul has shown us many times that this is what he exels at.

by 00dc2 on Sep 25, 2008 2:12 AM EDT reply actions

A sidenote, if you don’t already know, SLAM magazine is also doing a top 50 players ranking on their website (http://www.slamonline.com/). At the moment it’s up to #28, Ray Allen was in at #35.

by kw10 on Sep 25, 2008 7:53 AM EDT reply actions