Paul Pierce sparked debate by saying Jalen Brunson has a more complete offensive game than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, praising his pick-and-roll scoring, mid-range craft, and unorthodox shot-making.
Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce has sparked debate with a bold opinion on Jalen Brunson, comparing the New York Knicks guard's offensive game to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
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Pierce pointed to Brunson's pick-and-roll ability and scoring versatility, saying defenses struggle more to contain him because of his unique style.
"They have to figure out what they're gonna do in this pick and roll with Brunson. Like, you really have to corral him because even though Brunson's a scoring guard and you say, 'well, we have Shai, we defended him well,' Brunson, his offensive package is way better than Shai's," he said on No Fouls Given show. "I don't care what nobody say."
The former Celtics star also broke down what makes Brunson so difficult to guard, highlighting his mid-range scoring, floaters, and unpredictable movement with the ball.
"But the way he gets into the mid-range with floaters and his hesies, it throws you off. His game is kind of unorthodox in a way that it throws you off with his off-balance shots, off the glass, left hand going right, left. And so I think you have to figure out a way to get the ball out of his hands, uh, of that nature."
Pierce's comments come as Brunson continues to deliver on the biggest stage. The Knicks guard scored 30 points in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, including 13 points in the fourth quarter, leading New York to a 105-95 win over the San Antonio Spurs and a 1-0 series lead.
Brunson has been one of the most consistent performers in the postseason, averaging 27.1 points, 6.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game while guiding the Knicks' offense throughout their playoff run.
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