Basketball Hall of Famer Paul Pierce believes a major lineup shift could improve the San Antonio Spurs’ chances against the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. Speaking on the “Ticket & the Truth” podcast with Kevin Garnett, Pierce suggested that the Spurs should consider starting Dylan Harper.
“If I’m San Antonio, I’m bringing Fox off the bench,” Pierce stated, suggesting a switch due to De’Aaron Fox’s recent inconsistent performances. Pierce acknowledged that Fox’s shooting struggles were a significant factor in the Spurs’ challenges, describing him as a player who needs to make shots.
Despite recent flashes of strong performance, including a 66.7 percent shooting game in a narrow loss, Fox has struggled in other games. His percentages dipped to 23.1 percent in Game 1 and 28.6 percent in Game 3, with low scoring outputs impacting the Spurs’ performance.
Kevin Garnett suggested that the Knicks’ defense hindered Fox, but Pierce disagreed, believing that the Spurs might find greater success with Fox coming in off the bench.
Adding to the complexity, Fox is the team’s veteran presence, experienced in high-pressure playoff environments, whereas Harper brings youthful talent and energy. Harper has stepped in successfully when Fox was unavailable due to injury earlier in the playoffs.
The debate between Pierce and Garnett highlights the strategic decisions facing the Spurs as they aim to even the series.
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