KG's Shutouts

[FLCeltsFan]

One thing about Gasol and Odom is that physical play throws them off their game. I think that is why Jackson is already out there talking about how KG is too physical etc. 

[jdpapa3]

Perkins will be able to do a better job on Gasol. Bogut had the strength to get good position on Perkins, but Gasol simply does not have that. I anticipate a little bit of trouble with KG covering Gasol. Dwight was able to score almost every time he had KG on him. KG's knee issue gave him problems when a guy backed him down because he didn't have the leg strength to recover and elevate to block or contest the shot in time.

I am very interested in these matchups and I feel the advantages will make themselves known fairly early.

Another great post, drza. I feel that the more minutes Odom plays, the better. KG will bite his limbs off. Again.

[Chris]

One thing about Gasol and Odom is that physical play throws them off their game. I think that is why Jackson is already out there talking about how KG is too physical etc. 

This was absolutely the case in 2008.  However, my worry is that I don't think it is quite as true anymore for Gasol.  He has become a much more physical player, and I question whether he will turtle like he did in 2008 when things get physical.

[Brendan]

Good post.  This really goes to probably the biggest question of the series.  Will KG be able to handle Gasol?

Bingo.  Shutting down those other guys wouldn't be nearly as impressive as shutting down Gasol.  Honestly, I'm not sure how much we can expect.  All 3 PFs that KG faced in the post-season so far are stretch bigs - guys that are almost built like SF's.  KG is at least 2 inches taller and quite a bit longer than all of those guys.  

Pau Gasol is a big, strong, skilled big man who won't be nearly so easy to take out of the game.  He's also at least 2x as talented physically and mentally as Beasley, Jamison, and Lewis.

I think we can expect KG to do a good job on Odom (who is similar to Jamison though more athletic).  Gasol is a question mark for me; it might be the key to the series.

I actually think that like in 2008, Perkins is going to be on Gasol and KG will be on Odom most of the game. Those are the 2 bigs on each team that get the most minutes.

KG will probably end up guarding Gasol for about 12 minutes per game.

I want KG shutting down Odom whenever possible.

I am much more worried about Perkins on Gasol.  He is a terrible matchup.  Perkins is great against guys like Howard and Shaq who dominate by bullying their way to the basket, however, he struggles against guys like Gasol and Bogut, who are very skilled, and have the footwork and touch to destroy Perk.

I think the C's should be really hoping that Bynum plays, because he is a much better matchup for Perk.

Bynum will play - and I'd guess start. Easier to manage the injury when you can get it ready before the game. Play 10 minutes... rest and come back in the next quarter. The repeat in a smaller dose second half.

I think this basically guarantees Bynum and Perk will be matched up for a lot of the Bynum's time. I'm OK with Perk on Gasol - he's not overly mobile or strong, he is very crafty. Perk just needs to body him up and stay at home, and then live with the results.

[Mr October]

One thing about Gasol and Odom is that physical play throws them off their game. I think that is why Jackson is already out there talking about how KG is too physical etc. 

This was absolutely the case in 2008.  However, my worry is that I don't think it is quite as true anymore for Gasol.  He has become a much more physical player, and I question whether he will turtle like he did in 2008 when things get physical.

There is no doubt that Gasol is a load and has gotten better. Ultimately the Celtics need to force LA into jumpshooting. I'll take my chances with Gasol firing away from the outside.

[drza44]

I wonder if the Finals will represent another change in KG's role this postseason.  In general he is both an excellent man- defender and an excellent team- defender, but he seems to tailor his balance between the two based upon the situation. 

Against the Magic, for example, KG's role was clearly to erase Lewis no matter what.  He would still switch and help at times, but when in doubt you could tell that his default was always to get back out to Lewis and prevent him from taking even a deep breath on his own. 

Against the Cavs, on the other hand, he kept a much larger eye on LeBron and did more hedging to help slow down his kamikaze drives to the rim.  He still wrapped up Jamison, but there were several plays over the course of the series when KG was visibly away from Jamison helping out and took poor angles in recovery that allowed Jamsion to drive.  Jamison isn't really any quicker or better off the dribble than Lewis, but KG's defensive priority was different and I think that showed.

Against the Lakers, I could see it being absolutely worth the while for KG to concentrate on taking Gasol completely out of the game.  If KG could defensively remove Gasol, no matter what the cost to KG's own offense, I think it could be worth it.

That said, I don't know that Doc and company agree.  I, too, have heard the rumblings that Perk is going to spend a lot of time on Gasol which leaves KG on Bynum and Odom.  If that's the case, I have to feel like KG will be called upon to play more of the help defensive role than the individual stopper this series.

And honestly, I can understand that strategy as well.  Outside of whoever Fisher guards, the other two Celtic perimeter offensive options will have difficult defensive matchups in Artest and Kobe.  So it's not a given that the Cs can count on outscoring Kobe if he gets hot, so maybe they put more energy (and more KG) into the team defense to make sure that doesn't happen.

The Finals match-up is just tantalizing all the way around.  But back on-topic, I had just wanted to shine a bit of a light on how ridiculous KG's defense has already been because thus far in the postseason that has been primarily what he's been called upon to do.  Against Cleveland he was asked to do more on offense, and he did, and I get the feeling he may be called upon offensively again this series.  But defensively, he's been lights out so far.

[Greenbean]

One thing about Gasol and Odom is that physical play throws them off their game. I think that is why Jackson is already out there talking about how KG is too physical etc. 

This was absolutely the case in 2008.  However, my worry is that I don't think it is quite as true anymore for Gasol.  He has become a much more physical player, and I question whether he will turtle like he did in 2008 when things get physical.

He may have gotten more physical but I want to see him do the same thing against the playoff version of this Celtics team, one of the most physical teams I have seen in recent memory. We are MORE physical than that 08 team.

LA hasnt seen a frontcourt like ours all playoffs. We can send waves of physical players (Perk, KG, Sheed, BBD...even Sheldon) at Gasol for every second he is on the court.

If we can outmuscle Shaq and Howard, Gasol will have little impact on the physicality of the games.

I have a lot of respect for the skills that Gasol posseses. He can play some beautiful basketball at times. I just dont buy the fact that he will be able to suceed and do as much damage against the 4 bruisers he is about to go up against.

[sheldonc]

Good post.  This really goes to probably the biggest question of the series.  Will KG be able to handle Gasol?

Bingo.  Shutting down those other guys wouldn't be nearly as impressive as shutting down Gasol.  Honestly, I'm not sure how much we can expect.  All 3 PFs that KG faced in the post-season so far are stretch bigs - guys that are almost built like SF's.  KG is at least 2 inches taller and quite a bit longer than all of those guys.  

Pau Gasol is a big, strong, skilled big man who won't be nearly so easy to take out of the game.  He's also at least 2x as talented physically and mentally as Beasley, Jamison, and Lewis.

I think we can expect KG to do a good job on Odom (who is similar to Jamison though more athletic).  Gasol is a question mark for me; it might be the key to the series.

I actually think that like in 2008, Perkins is going to be on Gasol and KG will be on Odom most of the game. Those are the 2 bigs on each team that get the most minutes.

KG will probably end up guarding Gasol for about 12 minutes per game.

I want KG shutting down Odom whenever possible.

I am much more worried about Perkins on Gasol.  He is a terrible matchup.  Perkins is great against guys like Howard and Shaq who dominate by bullying their way to the basket, however, he struggles against guys like Gasol and Bogut, who are very skilled, and have the footwork and touch to destroy Perk.

I think the C's should be really hoping that Bynum plays, because he is a much better matchup for Perk.

As a Laker fan, I worry more about Perkins on Gasol than Garnet.  Gasol doesn't do well against physical matchups-- and it tends to make him tentative.  Perkins did a very good job of limiting Gasol in '08.