Which sharpshooter is the better option in the clutch?

The game is in the balance and you can put the ball in the hands of either Seattle's Ray Allen or Milwaukee's Michael Redd, both of whom make anyone's short list of the NBA's top shooters, and, moreover, anyone's short list of the league's quickest triggers.

It might seen like a no-brainer at first -- Allen, after all, is a six-time All-Star who is one of the league's elite players, while Redd (who played in the 2004 All-Star Game) is sometimes dismissed as only a shooter. But shooting is what we're talking about.

Redd entered Tuesday ranked third in the league in scoring behind Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony at 29.2 points per game, about four more than Allen's 25.5. He is shooting better both from the field (.472 to Allen's .442) and the three-point line (.410 to Allen's .322). Further, Redd, like Allen, is an ironman (they both play more than 40 minutes a game), and is used to taking his team's big shots down the stretch.

Allen is the better free-throw shooter -- he is better than almost anyone in the league, in fact -- but Redd is much more likely to get to the line, averaging 9.3 free throws to Allen's 5.9. (With his talent, the super SuperSonic should be taking it to the hole more.)

That stat convinces me to go with REDD, even though, over the course of his outstanding 10-year career, Allen has made more big ones.

Here's a sampling of your responses to last week's Choosing Sides between the Celtics' Paul Pierce and the Hawks' Joe Johnson:

Bobby of Atlanta: "Every game for the past three or four years I have suffered watching the Hawks lose to every team. Johnson is a saint, as he might actually get us out of this streak. Even so, I'd still take Pierce because he's just a better all-around player. He can rebound really well, passes pretty well and in games when he feels like hoisting the rock can score 40-plus points. Put him on a more experienced team and you've got an NBA championship."

Ken of Billings, Mont.: "Before I make my choice I want to point out that these two should be playing on the same team right now. The Celtics drafted Johnson and then traded him for vets Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers (both long gone) so they could make a playoff run ... oops. For now I'm going with Pierce, but it could change soon as Johnson continues to improve. The overriding factor is that I've seen Pierce in the postseason and he is one of those special players who takes his game to a whole new level in the playoffs and is consistently good in the clutch. Too bad neither of these guys will probably see the postseason for a while."

Angel Chavez of Phoenix: "Johnson would get the nod from me. He is a leader on the floor and helps make everyone around him better. Pierce is a great scorer who can rebound but he does not have the lead-by-example personality that Johnson possesses."

Brian of Hartford, Conn.: "You have to give Pierce the nod because of his track record. How many games could the C's have won without him over the last five years? Players who keep a would-be cellar dweller in the playoffs deserve to be in an elite group. If Johnson can get and keep his motley crew in the playoffs, he will have proved he is on Pierce's level."

Klyde M. of Mandaluyong, Philippines: "If we talk about one-on-one ability, Pierce is one of the best right now. But I like a Johnson type of player -- low profile and team-oriented yet achieving an All-Star performance."

Blake Webster of Torrance, Calif.: "I'm not even sure how this is close. One of the most important things in this so-called 'debate' is leadership ability, something that Pierce has and Johnson does not. Johnson is simply a good option on a horrible team."

Mark of Boulder, Colo.: "I love that Pierce shoots more free throws per game. In my market I don't get to watch either player that much, but a rebounding, foul-drawing guard is huge. I hope to see Pierce go to a place where we can see if he is a winner."

Evan Brown of Boston: "There's no question. Stats being equal as they are, it comes down to one thing: the gotta-have situations. If you gotta have a big rebound, who's going to get it for you? If you gotta have a bucket, absolutely gotta have one, who do you want isolated at the top of the key or coming off a pick on the inbound? Pierce, Pierce, Pierce."

Dan Hardy of San Francisco: "I'd rather have both. I'm willing to bet the Celtics could figure out a way to make that work. Throw in Chauncey Billups, and you're probably talking about the best backcourt of the 00's. But, then again, Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk did accomplish a lot as Celtics."

Chris of Brooklyn, N.Y.: "Pierce is just an assasian on the court, an amazing scorer who can score in bunches and truly carry a team. His defense has improved and his leadership has come full circle now that 'Toine is not on the team. Johnson is a great young player with tremendous upside. But he is not on Pierce's level as an overall dominant player."