KG Choked This Game Away

[Hrvoje]

We lost because of:

- Rondo

- Foul trouble (KG, PJ, Ray, Pierce)

- Missed free-throws from Kevin

- Numerous easy lay-ups by little Farmar

- Steal by Bryant late in the game

[ACF]

How come we're on page 4 of this thread and no one has mentioned KG had 14 rebounds!?  How can someone have 14 rebounds, which is more than any player on either team and 8 more than the next closest player on the Celtics, and you guys complain about his performance?  He shot 54.5% too, not terrible,, in fact he was the only player besides Tony to shoot over 50%, granted we would like KG to take more than 11 shots but still. KG still contributed alot to this game.  Two missed free throws, and a missed tip in, and you all complain about KG?  I'll take missed free throws as a complaint any day.  Shaq missed a few clutch free throws in his career too, but he's also responsible for a few championships as well.  A narrow loss, on the Lakers floor, where they've been unbeatable all throughout the playoffs against 50+ win teams, and they're lucky to escape with a win tonight.  This is a team loss, just like any other.

Amen, brother and a big TP.

We lost because of:

- Rondo

- Foul trouble (KG, PJ, Ray, Pierce)

- Missed free-throws from Kevin

- Numerous easy lay-ups by little Farmar

- Steal by Bryant late in the game

I was just about to write that.

[Hrvoje]

KG is top-class and he can do better.

He just didn't play smart (foul trouble because of stupid fouls he made early)

He said on press-conference that he played garbage. (not that I agree with that)

Also said that he forced too many one-one with Gasol.

That 2-FT missed was huge for Lakers. And easy tip-in missed late in the game also. He could have just dunk it.

He had lot of rest during the game; and fatigue cant be excuse.

Not to mention poor defensive play by him (except rebounds) - how many times little Farmar made easy lay-up right next to him?

We are yet to see his great game in the series.

C'Mon Kevin!

(btw Cassell had +23 - most in the game, scary lol)

[CoachBo]

It was not Garnett's best night, as have been most in this series. He has not been effective offensively.

But with that said, we've got other problems. Rondo, quite frankly, has been exposed. We cannot get into an offensive flow playing 4 on 5, which is what we've got whenever he's on the floor. There isn't a short-term answer for that in this series.

And I find it fairly chilling for next season. He MUST upgrade his game offensively, or we're going to have to add a scorer at the PG position for next season. Otherwise, we're in trouble at the point.

[crownsy]

It was not Garnett's best night, as have been most in this series. He has not been effective offensively.

But with that said, we've got other problems. Rondo, quite frankly, has been exposed. We cannot get into an offensive flow playing 4 on 5, which is what we've got whenever he's on the floor. There isn't a short-term answer for that in this series.

And I find it fairly chilling for next season. He MUST upgrade his game offensively, or we're going to have to add a scorer at the PG position for next season. Otherwise, we're in trouble at the point.

true to a point, teams did thsi all season, its just that kobe, as much as i dislike him, is an incredible help defender.

yes, rondo needs to continue to upgrade his offensive game (the jump in his shot from year one to two was massive, he keps it up he'll be fine) but most teams don't have a 1st team all defender that they can double off him with.

we do need a better backup PG though.

[Barnabas]

We lost because of:

- Rondo

- Foul trouble (KG, PJ, Ray, Pierce)

- Missed free-throws from Kevin

- Numerous easy lay-ups by little Farmar

- Steal by Bryant late in the game

I really think we need to get a better PG next year.  Too late for this year.  But there's no reason not to consider next year.  Rondo is a huge liability on the offense.  Like someone said earlier, it's like playing 4 against 5 on offense. 

Rondo has trade value.  Maybe we can package him off with one of our other role players to get a veteran PG who can hit the outside shot. 

[connerhenry43]

We lost because of:

- Rondo

- Foul trouble (KG, PJ, Ray, Pierce)

- Missed free-throws from Kevin

- Numerous easy lay-ups by little Farmar

- Steal by Bryant late in the game

I really think we need to get a better PG next year.  Too late for this year.  But there's no reason not to consider next year.  Rondo is a huge liability on the offense.  Like someone said earlier, it's like playing 4 against 5 on offense. 

Rondo has trade value.  Maybe we can package him off with one of our other role players to get a veteran PG who can hit the outside shot. 

to quote the great roger waters, "gotta admit, that i am a litle bt confused."

trade rondo? i am not going to say he is untradeable, but he is the point guard of a 66 win team, a team that is one win away froma  title. yes, he has struggled this series, but he is probably still not 100%. think of how much his jump shot has improved from last season to this season. it is night and day. there is no reason to think he will not get better and better. he could still be a senior in high school, remember.

no one is untouchable, but DA was hesitant to include rondo in any trade for KG, and i do not see him going anywere, barring something mind-blowing coming along the way.

[Bahku]

We lost because of:

- Rondo

- Foul trouble (KG, PJ, Ray, Pierce)

- Missed free-throws from Kevin

- Numerous easy lay-ups by little Farmar

- Steal by Bryant late in the game

I really think we need to get a better PG next year.  Too late for this year.  But there's no reason not to consider next year.  Rondo is a huge liability on the offense.  Like someone said earlier, it's like playing 4 against 5 on offense. 

Rondo has trade value.  Maybe we can package him off with one of our other role players to get a veteran PG who can hit the outside shot. 

Wow ... couldn't disagree more. Rondo is in his second year only, (and played little last year, at that), and has taken on more responsibility than most 5-year PG's, and exceeded expectations. This kid is going to be one of the premier guards of the near future, and if he continues to improve at the rate he has this year, will be a star player very soon. Keeping Rage should be a major priority, and it amazes me how easily people start drawing the "trade" card every time a player struggles a bit. This kid is truly amazing, and we can't afford to make another mistake like Chauncy. No way we lose Rajon.

[Frontierboy]

I would say, if Rondo doesn't get a consistent jumpshot in a year, then we do trade him..... even Tony Parker developed a jumpshot his 3rd year...... and if you think about it, no premier point guard ( as all of you say Rondo will become ) doesn't have a consistent jumpshot.

[Petro]

Without KG we are not ONE WIN AWAY from winning a CHAMPIONSHIP period

[Roy Hobbs]

I would say, if Rondo doesn't get a consistent jumpshot in a year, then we do trade him..... even Tony Parker developed a jumpshot his 3rd year...... and if you think about it, no premier point guard ( as all of you say Rondo will become ) doesn't have a consistent jumpshot.

It depends upon what you mean by consistent.  Gary Payton was a pretty poor outside shooter when he entered the league.  He made a total of 26 three pointers in his first four seasons, shooting 20.9% on them (26-for-124). In his tenth season, he made 177 three pointers (which led the league), shooting 34.0%.  So, people can develop a shot.

We're getting far afield of KG's issues last night, though.

[tuka]

Before we all crucify KG, remember what type of player he is. He's a guy who, from all accounts, has a very structured pre-game ritual.  His strength is his intensity and when you play 11 minutes in the first half I'm sure it throws him off his normal game ritual.

I'm sure he's kicking himself at this point but being a similar type person (very structured) I can completely understand how he was taken out of his game yesterday. That said, I'm sure he'll have a monster game back in Boston.  Go Celts!

[NicaraguanFan]

- Steal by Bryant late in the game

Do you mean the foul on Kobe refs didnt have the guts to call?

NF.

[Bankshot]

Before we all crucify KG, remember what type of player he is. He's a guy who, from all accounts, has a very structured pre-game ritual.  His strength is his intensity and when you play 11 minutes in the first half I'm sure it throws him off his normal game ritual.

I'm sure he's kicking himself at this point but being a similar type person (very structured) I can completely understand how he was taken out of his game yesterday. That said, I'm sure he'll have a monster game back in Boston.  Go Celts!

KG has been saying since game 2 that he planned to play better.  Hasn't happened yet.   He plays decent in game 3, Celtics win, but he doesn't.  He plays well offensively in game 5, Celtics win, but he doesn't.   I wouldn't say he choked, but I am really starting to get worried if he doesn't step up in game 6.

[Kwhit10]

Regarding free throws, KG and Lamar Odom switched places. Lamar made his in the 4th and KG went 1-4, usually L.O. chokes.