Simmons/KG (Revisited/Merged)

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

How do you all feel about the following Q & A from Simmons chat session yesterday on ESPN...

"KG (Boston, Mass): Shhh! I'm still the same guy that has never won anything and shrinks away from big moments. Don't tell anyone.

Bill Simmons: Here's the thing, KG - nobody on Atlanta can defend you near the basket. You could score 40 a game in this series if you wanted. In fact, that's precisely what Duncan would have done last night. At some point in your career (and you've only done it once, in Game 7 of the Kings series in 2004), you need to screw the "I'm unselfish" thing, get your ass in the low post and win the game for your team. That's what great players do - they win games that their teams probably wouldn't win unless they were on the team."


I hate Bill Simmons.

IMO it is KG's unselfishness which makes him great.

What do you guys think? (aka RIP ON SIMMONS!)

[Mr October]

I agree with Simmons. KG has a clear advantage in the paint. He can get a 6-10 foot shot off anytime he wants. He should be able to drop 40.

KG's unselfishness is part of what makes him great. It can also hold him back.

[Bankshot]

I agree with Simmons.  I don't think KG would have to play inside in every series (provided we get by this one ), but I think this series calls for it.

[threzd]

How do you all feel about the following Q & A from Simmons chat session yesterday on ESPN...

"KG (Boston, Mass): Shhh! I'm still the same guy that has never won anything and shrinks away from big moments. Don't tell anyone.

Bill Simmons: Here's the thing, KG - nobody on Atlanta can defend you near the basket. You could score 40 a game in this series if you wanted. In fact, that's precisely what Duncan would have done last night. At some point in your career (and you've only done it once, in Game 7 of the Kings series in 2004), you need to screw the "I'm unselfish" thing, get your ass in the low post and win the game for your team. That's what great players do - they win games that their teams probably wouldn't win unless they were on the team."


I hate Bill Simmons.

IMO it is KG's unselfishness which makes him great.

What do you guys think? (aka RIP ON SIMMONS!)

Sorry, I agree with Bill Simmons.

While it's great KG is unselfish, there are times that he really needs to be able to take over. Luckily with our team, though, we have Pierce, who can take over games in the 4th (I'm not so sure about Allen), but in Game 4 he was off and likely injured, so I think it was KG's job there.

[wdleehi]

I agree.  This is KG's series.  No one can match one on one against KG down low on the hawks.  ANd KG is such a good passer from down there in the double and triple teams. 


Simmons is right.  KG needs to take over game 5.

[Roy Hobbs]

I also somewhat agree with Simmons; being unselfish is all well and good, but at times you need to take charge and put a team on your back.  Larry Bird was one of the most unselfish players I've ever seen, until crunch time.  Then, we all knew Larry wanted the ball.

KG isn't wired like that.  It's one of his very few short comings as a player.

[Donoghus]

Honestly, I think its more like constructive criticism of KG.  I don't think he's necessarily rippin' him to shreds.  Basically, Simmons has consistently taken Duncan over KG over the years and is expressing some frustration here.  He watches Duncan and sees that KG has that same exact potential but is lacking in the one department of low post back to the basket dominance compared to Duncan.  This is a series where KG should absolutely be torching Atlanta down low.  It's been expressed on the boards here but I'll reiterate, there is ABSOLUTELY no one who can stop KG down low and if they do manage to stop him, odds are it'll be a foul.  What I think Simmons is saying is that he wants KG to be more assertive, BS recognizes the talent and its probably more out of remark of frustration in that one aspect of KG's game.

IMO, KG's unselfishness is a double-edged sword.  His passing and ability to find his teammates off of double teams in nearly unparallel for someone his size.  However, guys like Bird and Jordan also recognized the need to sometimes take over a game, even if it was the detriment of their teammates because they knew it was the best way they could win. (Before you jump on me for the whole he's a PF vs. SG/SF argument, I'm well aware of that, it's about exploitation)  KG's unselfishness has sometimes prohibited it.  There is an obvious weakness with an aspect of Atlanta's game so BS as well as others just want him to exploit.

[wdleehi]

Honestly, I think its more like constructive criticism of KG.  I don't think he's necessarily rippin' him to shreds.  Basically, Simmons has consistently taken Duncan over KG over the years and is expressing some frustration here.  He watches Duncan and sees that KG has that same exact potential but is lacking in the one department of low post back to the basket dominance compared to Duncan.  This is a series where KG should absolutely be torching Atlanta down low.  It's been expressed on the boards here but I'll reiterate, there is ABSOLUTELY no one who can stop KG down low and if they do manage to stop him, odds are it'll be a foul.  What I think Simmons is saying is that he wants KG to be more assertive, BS recognizes the talent and its probably more out of remark of frustration in that one aspect of KG's game.

IMO, KG's unselfishness is a double-edged sword.  His passing and ability to find his teammates off of double teams in nearly unparallel for someone his size.  However, guys like Bird and Jordan also recognized the need to sometimes take over a game, even if it was the detriment of their teammates because they knew it was the best way they could win. (Before you jump on me for the whole he's a PF vs. SG/SF argument, I'm well aware of that, it's about exploitation)  KG's unselfishness has sometimes prohibited it.  There is an obvious weakness with an aspect of Atlanta's game so BS as well as others just want him to exploit.

Sometimes, when he has establish the position before he gets the ball, he need to shot before the double team.  He almost always wait to see if a pass opens up first

[CelticSteve]

Smart players take advantage of matchups. Smart coaches too. Smart + talented = wins.

[liam]

KG needs to force the issue down low. Get the Hawks in foul trouble and shove the ball down there throats. Go Celtics!

[Redz]

KG did take a lot more interior shots in Game 4.  He just didn't make them.  He, and all of the Celtics, were putting up softies inside and missing at a ridiculous rate.  KG ends up taking a lot of "mini-jumpers" from 3 feet away instead of going up strong. 

[ScoobyDoo]

I think that one of the shortcoming of this team is not real post player in the sense of a banger on offense,  low block scorer. KG is a bit more finesse and fade aways. However, I definately think if KG has his mind set on it, he can put the gloves on and go down there and wreak havoc against almost anyone.

It's just whether he wants to or not.

I'd like to see him down there. It helps our inside out game anyway.

[Who]

What irritates me the most was KG ripped Al Horford apart in the low post during the regular season.

It worked then. He knows it works. Yet he stops doing it. Go down and the block and go to work, there isn't a player on this roster that won't get you the ball if you go down there.

[Redz]

What irritates me the most was KG ripped Al Horford apart in the low post during the regular season.

It worked then. He knows it works. Yet he stops doing it. Go down and the block and go to work, there isn't a player on this roster that won't get you the ball if you go down there.

Absolutely.  Why not?

Another thing:

Heinsohn was on WEEI this afternoon talking about throwing an occasional up fake on Josh Smith.  I really think Josh Smith has gotten into their heads.  Yes, he's blocked a bunch of shots, but how many inside shots have the Celtics put up tentatively because he's in the same area code.

[Who]

What irritates me the most was KG ripped Al Horford apart in the low post during the regular season.

It worked then. He knows it works. Yet he stops doing it. Go down and the block and go to work, there isn't a player on this roster that won't get you the ball if you go down there.

Absolutely.  Why not?

Another thing:

Heinsohn was on WEEI this afternoon talking about throwing an occasional up fake on Josh Smith.  I really think Josh Smith has gotten into their heads.  Yes, he's blocked a bunch of shots, but how many inside shots have the Celtics put up tentatively because he's in the same area code.

Yeah I agree, Johsh Smith got in their heads during the first half of the last game when he blocked 5 shots. They were hesitant going to rim, and hesitant of taking a contested shot at the rim. Nobody more so than Ray Allen.

By the way, he had zero defensive rebounds in that first half while we were killing them on the backboards. Even though he was causing problems the Celtics still held the advantage. Cetlics outrebounded them 25-16 in the first. Second half he had 2 blocks but 6 defensive rebounds. They stopped going at him and Atlanta was able to protect their backboards for the first time that night and outrebounded us 21-11 in the second half as a result.