Paul Pierce Discusses Spurs’ Potential Lineup Change

Basketball Hall of Famer Paul Pierce believes the San Antonio Spurs could improve their chances in the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks by altering their lineup. Pierce, known as “The Truth,” shared his thoughts with former teammate Kevin Garnett during their “Ticket & the Truth” podcast. The discussion followed San Antonio’s first win of the series.

Pierce suggested that Dylan Harper should replace De’Aaron Fox in the starting lineup. “If I’m San Antonio, I’m bringing Fox off the bench. I’ve had enough. Dylan Harper is playing too good, but on the flipside, Harper is good coming off the bench,” Pierce stated. He noted that De’Aaron Fox’s recent performances have been key for the Knicks.

Pierce emphasized that Fox needs to improve his shooting. “He gotta make shots. I look at Fox as a scorer, bro. He is not hitting shots,” Pierce mentioned. Despite getting good looks, Fox’s shots have not been falling.

Garnett countered that the Knicks’ defense deserves credit, but Pierce disagreed, suggesting the Spurs might dominate if Fox was brought off the bench. Fox’s inconsistency is noticeable. In Game 2, he excelled with a 66.7 percent shooting rate, making 8 of 12 shots, including two 3-pointers, ending with 20 points. Despite his performance, the Spurs lost by one point.

In contrast, Games 1 and 3 were different. Fox shot 23.1 percent in Game 1 and 28.6 percent in Game 3, scoring seven and twelve points, respectively. These games resulted in a ten-point loss and a four-point win for the Spurs.

Fox, a seasoned player, dealt with injuries in previous playoff games, with Harper filling in admirably during his absence. Despite Harper’s strong performance, Coach Mitch Johnson may prefer Fox’s veteran experience over Harper’s inexperience.

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