For just the fourth time in Paul Pierce's career, he came off the bench. The Brooklyn Nets face his former Boston Celtics team on Tuesday night and after missing time for a fractured hand, Jason Kidd and company opted to let the veteran have limited minutes not as a starter. While Pierce said he is certainly open to being a role playing reserve, Doc Rivers is questioning the move.
"It's all a mental approach and how you approach the game," Pierce said, via ESPNNewYork.com. "If you approach the game looking at the big picture and it's all about the team and it's about winning, if that's what's best for the team, then so be it. I'm willing to do whatever"
Pierce's approach appeared to work as the Nets earned their second-straight win over a team that had just blown out the New York Knicks a few days ago. Kidd is considering making the move permanent and told reporters that he plans to discuss the options with Pierce in the coming days. Pierce has not spent a season coming off the bench since 2006-07.
"I liked what I saw," Kidd said. "I liked him being a leader of that second group. Will I stay that way? I don't know. We'll look at the video tomorrow as a team and coaches, but I'll talk to Paul and see what his comfort level is."
Former Pierce coach Rivers does not necessarily agree that bringing the forward off the bench is the best move. Rivers is questioning the idea by Kidd saying that Pierce can shoot from anywhere and can still play another three years as a starter.
"He can score anywhere," Rivers said, via Bleacher Report. "I think he was more uncomfortable with the short minutes that they were (playing him), like they did with Kevin. And that's not Paul. Paul doesn't work under those type of minutes-at least, in my opinion he doesn't. He's a guy that needs a rhythm to play. In Kevin's case, on a 20-minute restriction, of course his numbers are going to be down. So I think at some point, he probably is going to have to play more minutes to improve, so he can get a better rhythm himself."
The numbers support Kidd over Rivers. The last five games, Pierce has played fewer minutes while scoring more baskets. That trend could continue and might just work.
