Paul Pierce VS Ray Allen

[The Rondo Show]

Do you realize you just gave me a link with stats last updated on April 13th, 2006? If your argument is Pierce was as good as Ray in big situations in the '05/'06 season, I have no complaint about that. I'm talking about this year, though.

This year, Pierce' numbers are nowhere near that good. He's got a game winner against Miami w/25 seconds left (assist to Ray) but I believe that's it. He's also missed potential game winners vs. Toronto (I believe he missed two attempted game winners--one at the end of regulation and one with like 20 something seconds left in OT before Ray hit the buzzer beater), Charlotte (where Ray hit the game winner seconds later), Detroit (where Detroit won because he shot too early and T.A. fouled). And despite piling up assists, the only time he's really created a clutch shot for Ray was the game tying shot against Orlando.

Ray creates the majority of his own shots by coming off screens very well and hitting jumpers when guys are just a step late to get through the pick. I used eFG% because I couldn't find TS% for clutch stats and it's a better stat than regular FG%. Even if you use regular FG% which would help Pierce more than Ray since a ton of his clutch shots have been 3's, Ray is at 44% and Pierce is at 25.5%. A massive difference.

Pierce has been a significantly better player than Ray (which is saying a lot, because Ray has been very good) this year, but he has not been as clutch, or close to as clutch really.

I'll do a breakdown of their successes and failures as I recall them, feel free to add to the list:

Pierce success in clutch: Hit two free throws vs. about 5 seconds left against GState, down 2. Baron hits game winner two after. Game winner vs. Heat w/25 seconds left (like Ray's shot vs. Dallas, it's not officially a game winner..but it decided the game whether the stat says so or not). Great play against Orlando to blow past his defender, force Ray's guy to commit and dish it to Ray for 3.
Pierce failure in clutch: Missed 2 shots that could've won it for Boston vs. Raptors, missed a 3 vs. Orlando for the win, missed the shot vs. Detroit, missed vs. Charlotte.

I've got Pierce at 3 of 8 (or 7, if you want to count the 2 missed shots vs. TOR as 1) on game deciding plays. He has been clutch in other situations (like Detroit, dishing to Big Baby in the 4th), but those weren't singular, game deciding plays when there is a ton of pressure on like the rest I've put up.

Ray's success: Game winner vs. Raptors, game winner vs. Bobcats, game decider vs. Mavs, game tying shot vs. Pistons, game tying shot vs. Magic.
Ray's failure: Missed game tying (or was it winning?) shot vs. Washington and missed two free throws vs. Cleveland when all he needed was to hit 1 to give Celtics the lead.

I've got him at 5 of 7 on what ended up being game deciding plays.

I just don't think it can be argued Pierce has been as clutch as Ray, but he's certainly been better and I think the overall difference in their game is worth more than a couple clutch shots, unlike NetsForce.

[WesWesley]

I'll go with Paul Pierce.

He's bigger and stronger. He's the better playmaker. He's got a more versatile offensive game. He's the better defender.

Allen is a smoother player, and has more range and consistency on his jumper. Allen is still a great player, who can slash and finish around the hoop, but he doesn't have the same type of offensive ability to take over the game and get to the line at will like Pierce does.

Pierce also has a significantly better post game, and is a better rebounder.

Edit: Fundamentals are even. Both players demonstrate great fundamentals.

[ponder276]

I'm just reiterating what everyone else said, but Pierce is a much better all-around player. Better defender, better slasher, better passer, better rebounder, much better in the post. It'd take Ray hitting a lot of game winning 3s for him to win finals MVP over KG or Pierce.

[celticfan42487]

Yeah that's the one I was using that hadn't been updated a year or so, then I used your link wich is THIS year. Both links show Pierce as the superior clutch player.

Either way I just felt like arguing. I just feel like everyone has seen Ray's clutch plays but don't know about Pierce's [you and celtic fans aside] so I decided to give a long winded look at the stats to prove Pierce has been clutch this year too, doing everything except for a few game winning shots but doing the other neccessary things [stealing the ball, getting to the free throw line, setting up other players, making the defenders rotate to adjust to his penetration]

I'll conceed that Ray has hit more clutch shots then Pierce offensively this year but I have no life and the link you gave me shows Pierce as the superior clutch player in those 5 minutes they track. The link I gave you shows him as the superior man with the game on the line and the shot clock off.

Ray however is the guy that's been knocking down those shots this year. You have to factor in Ray's turnovers during clutch time as well as the shots he makes though. So I just wanted to point out how Pierce has been clutch as well dispite no ESPN highlights of a steal, or a free throws made, or of him breaking down DET and passing it to Big Baby... so I figured I'd show others that Pierce and Ray have both been clutch this year not just Ray and the stats show it. Pierce just hasn't been sexy while beign clutch.

[eyejayem]

Never bet against Jesus Shuttlesworth.
JJEEESSSSSSSUSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

[Baller 24]

Pierce, he does everything but SHOOT (which is not a bad thing when you compare your shooting to Ray Allen, because he is light years away from everybody).