Paul Pierce's Convincing Argument for Why He Could Coexist With Allen Iverson

There are questions--legitimate questions--about how a team that employed both Paul Pierce and Allen Iverson could function. They sort of play the same position; I mean, you can argue that Iverson is a one/two, and that Pierce is a two/three, but their roles have been the same to this point in their careers. They're both ball-dominating finishers. Can that work?

That can work. Here's Paul Pierce's reasoning:

"I've played with the biggest 'jacker' in league history in Antoine Walker, didn't I?" Pierce said.

Point, Paul Pierce.

But still, it's different. Antoine Walker never really dominated the ball, he just launched it at the rim every time it touched his fingers. He's a shooter. He's not the guy has the ball the entire possession, he's more likely to benefit from someone else creating an open shot for him. He's certainly capable of taking his man to the rack and does so on occasion, and he's always been an underrated, if unwilling passer. But Walker's chosen role to this point has been that of a gunner.

And that's different from Iverson. He likes to dominate the ball, from the time his team takes possession, until the time they take their shot, he likes to be the one in charge of where the ball is going. Pierce likes to have his hands on the ball, too.

And this isn't to say that Pierce is wrong, just that the 'Toine comparison might be a little off. But the question's still on the table ... can it work? Can both of them be on the court at the same time?

Yes. Of course.

Great players do not have a problem coexisting with great players. That's part of what makes them great players. In 1992, no one ever asked how Michael Jordan could be on the same Olympic team with Magic Johnson. Those two players cared only about the best way to get the basketball in the bucket. That's part of being great. Everything else fell into place.

So I don't think it's a question of players with similar styles and tendencies being able to coexist. The question is, how great are Paul Pierce and Allen Iverson? Great enough that trivial issues would fade to the background for the sake of doubling the amount of unstoppable weapons that a team has at its disposal? Because that will require greatness.

Maybe, eventually, if they ever trade the guy, we'd find out.