Basketball Hall of Famer Paul Pierce believes a strategic change could improve the San Antonio Spurs’ chances against the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. During the “Ticket & the Truth” podcast with former teammate Kevin Garnett, Pierce shared insights following San Antonio’s first win in the series.
Pierce recommends placing Dylan Harper in the starting lineup instead of De’Aaron Fox. “If I’m San Antonio, I’m bringing Fox off the bench. Dylan Harper is playing too good, but on the flipside, Harper is good coming off the bench,” Pierce stated. He noted that Fox is currently helping the Knicks stay competitive due to his performances.
“Fox has always been known as a scorer. He’s getting good looks, too. It’s not like they doing anything in the scouting report to limit Fox … He’s just not making shots,” Pierce remarked. Despite Garnett’s view that the Knicks’ defense should be credited, Pierce held firm that Fox’s benching could give San Antonio the upper hand in the series.
While Fox excelled in Game 2 with a 66.7 percent shooting rate, contributing 20 points in a narrow loss, Games 1 and 3 showcased his struggles. In Game 1, he shot 23.1 percent, and in Game 3, he scored 12 points with a 28.6 percent shooting rate. Notably, Game 3 ended with a Spurs’ four-point win.
Fox had previously dealt with an injury during the playoffs, allowing Harper to step in and perform well in those games. Nonetheless, Fox’s veteran experience seems to influence the decision to keep him in the starting role despite Harper’s potential.