Garnett wants to move back to PF

[Jon]

I'm curious what KG really thinks.  Most of the articles I've been reading have essentially been the authors paraphrasing other people's thoughts about KG wants, and not really making it clear whether this is something KG has recently said or whether they're just referring to the fact that KG has generally preferred to be a 4.  So I wouldn't put too much stock into all of this. 

Plus, all of this really just is semantics. 

The only truly different thing Doc did this year is start calling KG a 5.  How soon people forget 2008, where KG spent large portions of playoff games playing with a lineup of Rondo or House, Ray, PP, and Posey.  He was a 5 then. 

And then what about playing with BBD, who was all of 6-6 on a good day?  KG was playing the 5 then too. 

So I wouldn't get too caught up on things.  Doc should just start calling Bass a 5 and KG a 4. 

[bucknersrevenge]

I'm curious what KG really thinks.  Most of the articles I've been reading have essentially been the authors paraphrasing other people's thoughts about KG wants, and not really making it clear whether this is something KG has recently said or whether they're just referring to the fact that KG has generally preferred to be a 4.  So I wouldn't put too much stock into all of this. 

Plus, all of this really just is semantics. 

The only truly different thing Doc did this year is start calling KG a 5.  How soon people forget 2008, where KG spent large portions of playoff games playing with a lineup of Rondo or House, Ray, PP, and Posey.  He was a 5 then. 

And then what about playing with BBD, who was all of 6-6 on a good day?  KG was playing the 5 then too. 

So I wouldn't get too caught up on things.  Doc should just start calling Bass a 5 and KG a 4. 

Baby was guarding centers in those occasions though too. Baby was the guy who was on Howard in the playoffs BBD guarded all the big men when he was on the team so defensively he played the 5 actually.

[Celtics18]

If KG wants to be considered a 4, just tell him; "absolutely Kevin, you are a power forward.  No question about it."  Then sign him and play him wherever you need him to play. 

[mmmmm]

Jon has a legitimate point, though.

There are a lot of myths and fud being propagated on this and a lot of this is indeed semantics.

KG played 1/3 of his minutes at PF last year.  But even when lined up at C, the only thing that meant on defense was that he was the primary on the other team's C for man defense.  He still continued to cheat to the high paint, which is where his highest defensive value was.  And whenever it was possible to put our other big on the post player (i.e., when Bass was not clearly too short or whenever we had Stiemsma or Hollins in with KG), KG shifted to out-right PF on defense.

Playing the zone also negates some of this distinction as well.

Offensively, we have often had KG at the '5' in our small, 'Posey' configuration so that was not really anything new.

The net point, though, is that Doc had KG play more at the 5 this year NOT because he was better at that than playing the 4.  He had KG playing the 5 because JO & Wilcox went down and his next best big man on the depth chart, Brandon Bass, was too short to play the 5.   It's really as simple as that.

Some of our _best_ performing 5-man units last year had KG at the 4, along side GS at the 5.  Unfortunately, Greg's foot injury really impaired his ability to supply minutes in the playoffs.

[TripleOT]

I don't think the issue is KG playing center.  The issue is whether KG has to play physical basketball the entire game or not.  KG needs to play next to a wide body who is physical, because KG doesn't like to bump and grind all the time. That's why trading Perk was a mistake.  Perk did the bumping and grinding against the other team's most stout big.  Notice how better Ibaka has played the last 1.5 seasons with Perk doing a  lot of the dirty work in the paint in OKC.

Even a cheap, small big like Reggie Evans or Joey Dorsey would help.  If KG has do use his lower body to ding into opposing bigs too many times a game, it wears him down.  Too bad Ainge couldn't have moved up last draft to get Kenneth Faried.   

[Chris]

KG can want whatever he wants.  But his value in this league right now is a center.  If he wants to play PF, then he better be willing to take a heck of a lot less money than what he would get as a center.

Right now, he is a top 5 center in the league.  But as a PF, he would be in the 20s (if that). 

[Roy H.]

Right now, he is a top 5 center in the league.  But as a PF, he would be in the 20s (if that). 

I don't know.  Among power forwards, KG would have been 13th in scoring, 11th in rebounding, and near or at the top of the league in defense.  Everything considered, I still think he's in the top 10.

[Who]

Right now, he is a top 5 center in the league.  But as a PF, he would be in the 20s (if that). 

I don't know.  Among power forwards, KG would have been 13th in scoring, 11th in rebounding, and near or at the top of the league in defense.  Everything considered, I still think he's in the top 10.

Agreed

[Chris]

Right now, he is a top 5 center in the league.  But as a PF, he would be in the 20s (if that). 

I don't know.  Among power forwards, KG would have been 13th in scoring, 11th in rebounding, and near or at the top of the league in defense.  Everything considered, I still think he's in the top 10.

Except he did that being covered (and covering) centers.

Its not just his numbers that make him a great center, it is the fact that he has a matchup advantage over centers that he doesn't have against PFs anymore.

Unless, of course, KG wants to double-down in the post, and really use his size against smaller PFs...but he has never done that in the past.  He has always been a speed guy, and he only has a speed mismatch against centers these days.  So, unless he is going to change his game, center is where he belongs.

[BballTim]

Right now, he is a top 5 center in the league.  But as a PF, he would be in the 20s (if that). 

I don't know.  Among power forwards, KG would have been 13th in scoring, 11th in rebounding, and near or at the top of the league in defense.  Everything considered, I still think he's in the top 10.

  He's no worse than on the level of a Josh Smith, who I doubt people would put in the bottom 10 for starting power forwards.

[erisred]

I'm cool with KG at the 4, especially if he plays like he did in the second half of last year and the playoffs.

The trick is to not play a glacial dinosaur alongside him regardless of whether it is a 4 or a 5.

I've been digging the Camby idea. He's still mobile enough, very efficient, and can hold down the fort in the paint when KG sits.

Yeah, I would like to see Camby on the C's...if he's still got game.  I think the C's should make a push for Hawes, Hibbert, Asik and Camby. Of the four I think they've got the best shot at Camby.

[erisred]

I like the idea of Camby. I still think we should draft a legit big this summer, but Camby, despite being 38, has been relatively injury-free in recent years and averaged 9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game last season. He's a solid rebounder and defender; start him next to KG, bring back Wilcox and Steamer, get a decent big in the draft, and maybe Sean Williams impresses as well—I think that's a solid frontcourt (and I didn't even mention JJJ, who could possibly become a regular contributor).

+1 That would be an excellent summer!

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

This is tough.
I think it's important to remember that come playoff time we are going to need a starting unit that is strong enough on the boards to negate second shop opportunities but quick and agile enough to defend the likes of Miami and Philly come playoff time.

When Danny formulates a squad for the next five years he's going to be looking for key attributes defensively
1)Interior toughness+rebounding
2)Length and help defense ability/potential
3)Speed getting out to the perimeter and lock down defense.

Brute size and strength are one thing and will be important against tall teams like Chicago in certain situations but our ability to rebound and get out to the 3 point line against shooters like Battier and Chalmers will be a huge factor in who we choose.
Is KG quick enough to get out to Bosh whilst defending the paint? I'm not sure- he didn't look it in game 7, but that was one game.

This is why I don't like the Marcus Camby cat calls- he's great and reliable but he's a bit too slow and limber at this point in his career. Even Pierce is having major trouble getting out and defending the drive and dish.
We'll have Rondo and Avery at the top of the key, but with Pierce and KG out there the Heat are always going to have a big advantage stretching us due to the age/speed factor. (which is why I think we'll see a Rondo/Bradley/KG/Green/new quick big line up ALOT vs the Heat and Philly and NYK, whilst Pierce will be hitting the pine.

A center/PF (complementary big) to KG that can close out quickly while rebounding will be vital to any small chance we have of taking Miami all the way again.

Just look at what Miami is doing to poor Perkins- he's been made redundant for this series. He was great going up against a Lakers squad but against this stretch small ball Heat line up he just can't get out to Bosh/Battier in time and it could cost them the series.

It is pick your poison with any good teams. Would you rather have Wade and James driving for easy buckets all night or make battier and chalmers beat you from downtown?

Odds? Sure you want to contest those shots but you have to reach a happy medium on how to defend both styles best you can.

[SHAQATTACK]

I don't think the issue is KG playing center.  The issue is whether KG has to play physical basketball the entire game or not.  KG needs to play next to a wide body who is physical, because KG doesn't like to bump and grind all the time. That's why trading Perk was a mistake.  Perk did the bumping and grinding against the other team's most stout big.  Notice how better Ibaka has played the last 1.5 seasons with Perk doing a  lot of the dirty work in the paint in OKC.

Even a cheap, small big like Reggie Evans or Joey Dorsey would help.  If KG has do use his lower body to ding into opposing bigs too many times a game, it wears him down.  Too bad Ainge couldn't have moved up last draft to get Kenneth Faried.   

TP


Thanks for FINALLY saying what needed to be said.