It's hard to watch Paul Pierce

[d-train]

Bonzi Wells had all the physical talents Pierce has. Too bad, he was insane.

[BigOrangeBalls]

Lol

Paul Pierce is a great example of how important basketball intelligence is.

[taufblazers33]

i don't get the point of this thread

[jeffhardyfan52]

for D train to complain more

[d-train]

I've been following the Blazers for a long time. Many people here don't remember what a great young player Bonzi was. When I see Paul Pierce play, it feels like I'm watching the type of player Bonzi could have been if he wasn't insane. The team had a lot invested in Bonzi and he was a big cause of the franchise tanking. It all could have been so different if Bonzi was mentally able to play up to his physical potential.

[Charcoal Filtered]

Um, no. No way Bonzi would have ever had an outside shot that compares to Paul Pierce. That is like saying you or I did not measure up to Einstien because we were lazy doing homework. I can personally vouch for Bonzi busting his ass to make the pros.

You can also say that the team could have made a better decision than to make Bonzi and Rasheed voices of the franchise. Both were good players that never met expectations. Instead of expecting more, it could have been accepted what each could do for the team.

[d-train]

Um, no. No way Bonzi would have ever had an outside shot that compares to Paul Pierce. That is like saying you or I did not measure up to Einstien because we were lazy doing homework. I can personally vouch for Bonzi busting his ass to make the pros.

You can also say that the team could have made a better decision than to make Bonzi and Rasheed voices of the franchise. Both were good players that never met expectations. Instead of expecting more, it could have been accepted what each could do for the team.

There's a lot more separating me from Einstein than my laziness. Bonzi was as good a young player as Paul Pierce, Kobe, and Tracy McGrady. According to rumors from back then, the Blazers tried to trade O'Neal for McGrady and no trade happened because Raptors wanted Bonzi instead. A few years later after Bonzi's major knee injury and some slower than expected development, MJ offered Rip for Bonzi and the Blazers said no. Bonzi was a truly great prospect that didn't live up to the physical potential he had.

Rasheed is a completely different case. Rasheed did play up to his potential on the court but he wasn't a marketable personality. The game is basketball and not a popularity contest. Although Rasheed did some stuff that wasn't desirable, ultimately he has enjoyed the type of success you would expect from a player with his talent. Insiders and knowledgeable fans only recognize most of his accomplishments but I doubt he cares.

[Charcoal Filtered]

IMO, there is a big difference between Rip Hamilton/Tracy McGrady and Paul Pierce. As said, I can personally vouch for Bonzi putting in the time before makine the NBA and he never had an outside shot like Pierce.

Who had more physical talent? Rasheed or Kevin McHale?

Who is in the HOF and who is going to be known as just a good player with alot of technicals?

[d-train]

IMO, there is a big difference between Rip Hamilton/Tracy McGrady and Paul Pierce. As said, I can personally vouch for Bonzi putting in the time before makine the NBA and he never had an outside shot like Pierce.

Who had more physical talent? Rasheed or Kevin McHale?

Who is in the HOF and who is going to be known as just a good player with alot of technicals?

The Rip trade rumor was after Bonzi's peak value. Bonzi lost some quickness and hops with his knee injury and I believe Bonzi’s craziness started affecting his development. And, Bonzi was a better shooter his 3rd and 4th year than he was at the end of his career, whereas Paul Pierce improved his shooting each year.

McHale had more basketball talent than Rasheed. Rasheed has one inside move, his turnaround jumper. Rasheed doesn't have the skill to control the ball with one hand and that takes away many of the moves that McHale had. Plus, McHale's career was enhanced by the great teammates he was lucky enough to play with. Rasheed spent most of his career as the best player on his teams.

[Myth]

I thought this was going to be about how often the refs whistle in his favor.

[Charcoal Filtered]

I can remember Bonzi having a huge advantage posting his defender up, but can never remember him taking someone off the dribble on the perimeter. I cringed, just like with Darius, every time he shot the ball. Since it is too difficult to determine shot demographics this late in careers, let us just use the 3 point shot for comparison. The best Bonzi could muster was 66-172 for 38% on what was probably wide open looks. The worst Paul has done outside of his rookie year was 292 attempts for a similiar percentage with a high of 502 attempts. Also note that the Celtics hardly had the talent that the Blazers had.

Using your line of reasoning, Bonzi could have been just as good of shooter as Paul if he put his mind to in. However, Rasheed never could have taught himself to use only one hand? Rasheed also played on some really good Blazer teams. McHale might have a better HOF resume on the Blazers since he would have been the focal point.

[Walton'sBeard!]

I think comparing Bonzi to Pierce is pretty random, they don't even play the same position. But Boniz did disappoint as you have said. It's a cautionary tale and one KP might be able to learn from. Bonzi came in and showed great promise, but he peaked early. I've seen coworkers get stuck in mediocrity after getting involved in the cronic and I would wager a guess that the same happened to Bonzi.


PS: What I meant with KP learning was that sometimes you need to cash is on the potential guy by trading him for a more proven commodity.

[d-train]

Paul Pierce was a better shooter than Wells from the beginning but Pierce improved every year and Bonzi regressed. Pierce started out a horrible defender that couldn’t guard his shadow and now he is a great defender. Bonzi started out as a great defender and ended up being a fat slow guy. Before Bonzi’s knee injury, he could get to the rim any time he wanted and explode to the rim for easy dunks. After the knee injury, he lost some quickness and explosiveness but he could still use his strong body to get easy shots around the basket. The point is that Bonzi started out at the same level as Pierce, Kobe, and McGrady but he regressed. Those other guys got better every year, particularly Kobe, who was not a good shooter early in his career. Now he is as good a shooter or better than Paul Pierce is.

I don’t know if Rasheed could have learned to control the ball with one hand. Maybe his hands are too small or not strong enough but I have watched Rasheed since his 2nd year in the league. He has always been hampered around the basket by his inability to control the ball with one hand. I know I can’t learn to hold a basketball like Kiki Vandeweghe because I can’t learn how to have huge strong hands. I also know if Kiki didn’t have huge strong hands he would have never been more than just a jump shooter. Since he had huge hands and a quick first step, he was a dynamic scorer.

McHale might have a better HOF resume on the Blazers since he would have been the focal point.

Or, more likely had he been a focal point, his resume wouldn’t be as good because defenses would have been geared to stop him rather than Bird. And, without all the hardware on his fingers, he might not get so much attention.

[d-train]

I think comparing Bonzi to Pierce is pretty random, they don't even play the same position.

Bonzi and Pierce played the exact same position. Obviously, Pierce has done it better and longer. The similarities in their physical talent are almost identical. Pierce is a quick big strong wing and so was Bonzi. The difference is the completeness of their skills and I believe Wells was capable of the same skill set.

[Charcoal Filtered]

Bonzi also only topped 17 points max once and that was his fourth year. Pierce averaged that his rookie year and was far better every year after that. Kobe did not have the benefit of four years of college and was averaging a tick under 20 points in his third year.

Has there been another player that became a superstar after four years of ok play in the league in addition to already playing four years of college ball?

And to clarify, are you blaming Bonzi not becoming a superstar on his knee injury or his supposed insanity? I would question the insanity claim, but would probably agree with poor parenting being an issue with him.