DubaLakers wrote:DorfonCeltics wrote:Sheed definitely came in with the right mentality. I think this team is going to go down as the best defensive team all time beating the 2008 mark.
I still can't get over how Ray & Pierce some of the worst defenders in the L, especially Ray, all the sudden had a commitment to defense, but they proved otherwise.
I am stunned to hear a Laker fan think Pierce is a bad defender after he took on Kobe defensively and turned a 26 point deficit into greatest finals comeback of all time by locking down the MVP.
You cannot engineer the greatest comebacks in NBA history without playing defense and Pierce has been a part of some amazing comebacks in his career and has usually been among the best 1-2 defenders on the court in those games.
But he definitely was asked to do too much for many years offensively and his defense also suffered from never having a big man to watch his back until KG got to town. With regards to Pierce's defense, he is not the best perimeter defender. However, his so strong and such a great defensive rebounder that he can physically make plays and get to loose balls. This is the most underrated aspect to his defensive abilities. People always notice ballhawking defense that Kobe, Lebron, Rondo etc. possess especially on NBA all defensive team because it is flashier.
"I think the criticism's stupid," Stevens said. "So I don't care. I'm with Jaylen (Brown) on that. Those two had achieved more than most 25 and 26 year olds ever had. I'd rather be in the mix and have my guts ripped out than suck."