POWER FORWARD: PAUL PIERCE VERSUS CARMELO ANTHONY
Kevin Garnett, Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce (AP. Ed. note: I love this photo.
Paul Pierce: 67 G, 60 GS, 28.3 MPG, 13.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG, .448 FG%, .386 3P%, .835 FT%, 16.9 PER
Carmelo Anthony: 72 G, 72 GS, 38.8 MPG, 28.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG, .454 FG%, .411 3P%, .847 FT%, 25.0 PER
Pierce has brushed aside every opportunity to talk about the Knicks this season, often in amusing fashion. If one thing hasn’t changed about Pierce from his days in Boston, it’s his utter distaste for all things Knicks and destroying them has become a career mantra.
However, he’ll draw Carmelo Anthony in an incredibly tough matchup. Pierce bothered Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Love into poor shooting nights last week, and he’ll hope to frustrate Anthony in the same way. Anthony has an incredible combination of quickness and strength, and he’ll look to get Pierce in foul trouble early. But if Pierce can disorient Anthony into a Dirk-lite game, the Nets should run away with this one.
Advantage: Knicks
