Los Angeles Clippers: How Paul Pierce Fits

Over the next few weeks of this dead time during the NBA calendar, I will be dissecting each new addition to the Clippers roster on their strengths, weaknesses, role, and if they’re capable of filling that role.

After more than a year of rumors that Paul Pierce and Doc Rivers would be reunited in Los Angeles, those rumors turned into reality when Pierce finally signed with the Clippers. Pierce opted out of the final year of his contract with the Wizards which would’ve earned him $5.5 million to sign a three-year deal with the Clippers for $10 million.

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The 37-year old Pierce is projected to enter the season as the team’s starting small forward. The small forward spot was a bit of a weakness for the team last season. Last season’s starter Matt Barnes wasn’t terrible, but was forced to play a bigger role than a contender would ideally have Matt Barnes playing. At age 34, Barnes had career-highs in starts and minutes per game.

The journeyman Barnes was inconsistent throughout the season despite ending with respectable numbers of 10.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, on a .444/.362/.779 shooting line.

Pierce doesn’t have to be the 25-points per game All-Star he once was for the Clippers. All Pierce has to be is better than Matt Barnes was last year. Here’s how they stacked up against each other last year with eerily similar numbers in most categories.

Player	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PTS
Matt Barnes	29.9	3.6	8.2	.444	1.8	4.9	.362	1.0	1.3	.779	0.7	3.3	4.0	1.5	0.9	0.7	1.1	10.1
Paul Pierce	26.2	4.0	9.0	.447	1.6	4.2	.389	2.2	2.9	.781	0.6	3.4	4.0	2.0	0.6	0.3	1.3	11.9

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Pierce’s shooting percentages were slightly better, but not by much. If you want to see how Pierce will fit, common sense would say to take a look at the shots that Matt Barnes was getting in the Clippers offense and see how Pierce fared with those kind of shots.

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According to NBA.com/stats, a whopping 58 percent of Matt Barnes’ shots last season were in catch-and-shoot opportunities. Since Barnes is a wing who doesn’t do much in isolation and played with players who demand constant attention like Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, it’s easy to see why catch-and-shoot opportunities took up the bulk of Barnes’ shot attempts.

Barnes shot only 37.3 percent on those shots, including 37.2 percent on three-point attempts.

In comparison, Pierce took 47 percent of his shots in catch-and-shoot opportunities and made 41.2 percent of those and 39.1 percent on threes. Pierce and the Clippers should benefit mildly by getting those same kind of shots for Pierce instead of for Barnes.

It’s hard to imagine Doc Rivers adjusting his offense that has ranked first in offensive efficiency much to incorporate a larger role for an aging Pierce. Instead, expect Pierce to assume the position that Barnes had played for the past couple of years. The offense will be run through Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, as it should be.

Pierce will find often find himself this season in a place he’s not been familiar with throughout his career, in the corners. As the main player for the Boston Celtics, Pierce found himself often located in the middle of the floor, where stars often get more room to create for others or for themselves. Pierce is no longer that guy.

Instead, Pierce will be one of the guys creating space for Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to work within. While J.J. Redick remains the team’s designated shooter, he typically does his damage from the wings or at the top of the key, leaving the bulk of the corner opportunities for Matt Barnes.

Barnes took a whopping 180 threes from the corners last season. Pierce took only 59 shots from either corner but made an impressive 42.3 percent of them. Although Barnes shot around league average from the corners at 37 percent, opponents could be content with themselves letting Barnes shoot as opposed to the other deadlier weapons that the Clippers have.

With Pierce, opponents will no longer feel OK with themselves for letting Pierce take what statistics tell us is the best jump shot in the league.

Pierce being a better shooter than Barnes also will have an impact that goes beyond what will show up on any stat sheet. Having wings who can space the floor makes it more difficult for defenses to cheat over or double team.

Pierce’s superior shooting will also allow more space for the rest of the offense to operate and we’ve learned through the last few years just how important spacing is to an offense. If you haven’t been paying attention to the importance of spacing, watch some tape of last year’s Golden State Warriors team and check how they fared.

If the Clippers simply replace Barnes with Pierce, expect the Clippers to be even deadlier offensively this season.

If the Clippers are to be a bit more creative with Pierce and carving out a new role for him, Pierce as a small-ball power forward is intriguing. Pierce has dabbled at power forward over the years but he really showcased how he can succeed in that role during the playoffs.

The sample size for Pierce as a power forward is small, but could be promising for the team and for Pierce to prolong his career. Pierce isn’t a terrible defender, but he lacks foot-speed at this point in his career. His commitment to defense and his ability to know where he needs to be can only carry him so far on defense.

Allowing Pierce a rest on defending some of the league’s more athletic wings is best for Pierce at this point in his career. The key to being a small-ball power forward is the ability to spread the floor on offense without giving up size on defense.

We already covered Pierce’s ability to spread the floor and know that could lead to mismatches against bigs who aren’t able to defend someone like Pierce. At 6’7″ and 235 pounds, Pierce is a bit shorter than the average power forward but the weight and strength is there to avoid being abused defensively.

Pierce won’t be stealing minutes from Blake Griffin anytime soon and the addition of Josh Smith tells us that Smith will be the one in backup duties at power forward, but this doesn’t mean there won’t be opportunities for Pierce to play at the 4. Smith has spent time throughout his career as a combo-forward.

Smith is athletic enough to defend small forwards and play on the perimeter, but lacks the skill set to actually play on the perimeter. Smith’s ability to play both forward positions will make it easier for Pierce to defend power forwards while being a match-up problem offensively.

There aren’t too many backup power forwards in the league that will be able to abuse Pierce in the post or chase Pierce around the perimeter. Smith’s positional versatility will be key in Pierce’s time as a small-ball power forward with the bench unit.

The positional versatility of Pierce, Josh Smith, and Lance Stephenson will be a welcomed addition to the Clippers after last season’s lack of depth and versatility caused serious issues with lineup creativity.

Pierce provided excellent commentary on what he brings to the table as a power forward to NBA.com.

"“With me at the four,” Pierce said after Game 1, “I think it really opened it up for Brad and John. I think when I spread the floor or be a 3-point, drive threat, we get in the lane a little bit more, find the roll man, and if they help, I’m there for an open three. It’s a little bit different for us having two bigs when they pack the lane and wait for us to drive.”"

Off the court, Pierce brings a different type of attitude and confidence to the team. Pierce has been known for his confidence throughout his career that has appeared to multiply over the last few years. Quite simply, Paul Pierce isn’t afraid of anyone. He’ll pick a rivalry with LeBron James, questions his teammates’ will to succeed, or even call game.

Teams often use the term “veteran leadership” to basically say, “Hey, this guy has played in the NBA before. He’s an older guy who works hard but won’t do much on the court so we’ll use something as intangible as leadership to measure his success with the team.” Paul Pierce provides actual leadership.

His confidence is the type that rubs off on teammates, something that could’ve been valuable for the Clippers in their Game 6 collapse against the Houston Rockets. In that game, the Clippers were up 19 points late in the third quarter before being outscored 40-15 in the fourth quarter.

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If you remember, the Clippers looked like deer caught in headlights when the Rockets started that comeback, passing up open shots and looking like they were afraid to miss a shot. Pierce isn’t afraid of the key shot. He thrives on those shots.

Whether it’s a potential game-winner, a dagger, or a much-needed shot to end a drought, Pierce is always more than willing to take the shot that matters.

Father Time is still undefeated, even though Tim Duncan has him up against the ropes, but Pierce seems poised to remain a solid player as he moves into a new role at this stage of his career with a new team. Like another aging star in Los Angeles, Pierce has never lacked motivation or confidence.

The difference between Bryant and Pierce has placed himself in a much better basketball situation and is aware of his own decline.

On paper, Paul Pierce appears to fit right in with the Los Angeles Clippers. Expect Pierce to continue to transition gracefully from star player to role player and be an improvement at the small forward position over last year’s starter Matt Barnes.

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