KG Choked This Game Away

[Casperian]

He was also the one who hit an absolutely butter jump shot to tie the game 90-90, and who grabbed some crucial rebounds as only KG can.

Give him a break

He doesn't deserve a break for shooting 25% from the FT line in the fourth quarter. He hasn't been what we needed him to be since the first half of game one. His defense has been there, but he's Kevin Garnett for crying out loud. We need him to make shots and he's not doing that and he's making bad decisions.

...but he does deserve a break for all the other things he did over the course of the whole game.

I take this performance over a 24 win season any day.

Seriously, it´s waaayyy too simple to blame our loss on three missed free throws.

[NoraG1]

I think its a little unfair to say that KG choked the game away but he's not helping his case with all of his critics who say he doesn't show up in the 4th quarter or in big games.

How many times do you think Skip Bayless is gonna say "Kevin Garnot" tomorrow on first take?  I'm gonna put the over/under at 4.

KG needs to not get in foul trouble and he needs to take the initiative offensively.  Defensely, mostly no complaints.

I couls care less what Skip BayLESS has to say. I don't watch that show I find it to be trashy and no resemblence of knowledgable sports analyzing. The less I watch that show the better.

[ManUp]

Paul Pierce is the best player on this team.

I came to this realization a long time ago.

[Knox Harrington]

Paul Pierce is the best player on this team.

I came to this realization a long time ago.

Yeah, I did too.  It's a little annoying how KG's been annointed the star of the team, when PP's the best player.

KG is (usually) a great defensive player and a great rebounder.  But he's really only a slightly better than average offensive player.  With his height, quickness, and jumping ability he should be unstoppable on the offensive end, but for whatever reason he built his game around 18 foot jumpers instead of the low post.

I'm still glad the C's have KG.  I guess I just expect too much of him sometimes.

[Frontierboy]

In the biggest game of the season, the biggest game of your life, your career.... able to tie it with freethrows......

KG chokes...... he choked hard..... Before going to the line, he looked scared..... I honestly think if we end up losing the championship, it will come back to those missed freethrows ( 3-4 )......

You want either Pierce, Ray, or House on the line during those situations.....

I guess the whole world knows and understands why KG isn't the go to guy for his team.....

The refs were bad in this game.... you all know Dick Bavetta wanted to give the Lakers the win to extend the series ( he's been doing it since 2002 ).... and come on, the Big 3 each had 5 fouls, what's up with that?.... but even with that, the C's had a chance to win the game.....

I don't feel confident right now that this team is championship calibur....

[CelticsPrideKG]

Paul Pierce is the best player on this team.

I came to this realization a long time ago.

Yeah, I did too.  It's a little annoying how KG's been annointed the star of the team, when PP's the best player.

KG is (usually) a great defensive player and a great rebounder.  But he's really only a slightly better than average offensive player.  With his height, quickness, and jumping ability he should be unstoppable on the offensive end, but for whatever reason he built his game around 18 foot jumpers instead of the low post.

I'm still glad the C's have KG.  I guess I just expect too much of him sometimes.

Ridiculous statement.  I can't really sit here and defend KG all night after that 4th quarter but that's just a ridiculous statement.  No way "average" offensive ability ranks you among the greats all time to ever play the position.

Rough game or two this series, that's it.  I'm pretty sure he hit a couple of big baskets in the 4th of Game 4 so I think all this jump to the gun stuff needs to quit.  You guys are probably all the same people saying Ray was washed up a few weeks ago.

[Bahku]

Paul Pierce is the best player on this team.

I came to this realization a long time ago.

Yeah, I did too.  It's a little annoying how KG's been annointed the star of the team, when PP's the best player.

KG is (usually) a great defensive player and a great rebounder.  But he's really only a slightly better than average offensive player.  With his height, quickness, and jumping ability he should be unstoppable on the offensive end, but for whatever reason he built his game around 18 foot jumpers instead of the low post.

I'm still glad the C's have KG.  I guess I just expect too much of him sometimes.

Paul has been the best player on this team since he got here, and continues to be. KG is awesome, and I love the guy and how he's turned this season around. However, he's been extremely tentative of late, especially in this series, and his offense hasn't been anywhere near his best, but I have faith that game 6 will be a big one for Ticket, as he thrives when supported by his fans.

[Redz]

KG was out of rhythm all night with foul trouble.  Obviously missing 3out of 4 FTs hurt, but I was more bummed when he missed the tip in.

Is Pierce a choler for getting stripped?

[Knox Harrington]

Paul Pierce is the best player on this team.

I came to this realization a long time ago.

Yeah, I did too.  It's a little annoying how KG's been annointed the star of the team, when PP's the best player.

KG is (usually) a great defensive player and a great rebounder.  But he's really only a slightly better than average offensive player.  With his height, quickness, and jumping ability he should be unstoppable on the offensive end, but for whatever reason he built his game around 18 foot jumpers instead of the low post.

I'm still glad the C's have KG.  I guess I just expect too much of him sometimes.

Ridiculous statement.  I can't really sit here and defend KG all night after that 4th quarter but that's just a ridiculous statement.  No way "average" offensive ability ranks you among the greats all time to ever play the position.

Rough game or two this series, that's it.  I'm pretty sure he hit a couple of big baskets in the 4th of Game 4 so I think all this jump to the gun stuff needs to quit.  You guys are probably all the same people saying Ray was washed up a few weeks ago.

No, it's really not that ridiculous.  I'm taking the natural advantages he has into account, which probably isn't fair, but considering that he's 7' and extremely quick and athletic, he should be able to dominate on the offensive end.  But no one would mistake KG for a dominant offensive player.

His career FG% is .494.  When you consider that a fairly large number of his shots are putbacks, .494 is kind of low.

I'm not denying that KG's a great player.  He's been a huge part of the this team's turn-around.  But his best skills by far are his defense and his rebounding. 

[Chris]

KG tightened up when he got into foul trouble.  Once he picked up those two early fouls (which I don't think he gets if Perk is out there taking a little pressure off him), it was all downhill.

I am not bailing him out here, he played a crap game...but I don't know if I would call it a choke job, I would just call it playing tentative because of a couple stupid fouls.

[CelticsPrideKG]

Paul Pierce is the best player on this team.

I came to this realization a long time ago.

Yeah, I did too.  It's a little annoying how KG's been annointed the star of the team, when PP's the best player.

KG is (usually) a great defensive player and a great rebounder.  But he's really only a slightly better than average offensive player.  With his height, quickness, and jumping ability he should be unstoppable on the offensive end, but for whatever reason he built his game around 18 foot jumpers instead of the low post.

I'm still glad the C's have KG.  I guess I just expect too much of him sometimes.

Ridiculous statement.  I can't really sit here and defend KG all night after that 4th quarter but that's just a ridiculous statement.  No way "average" offensive ability ranks you among the greats all time to ever play the position.

Rough game or two this series, that's it.  I'm pretty sure he hit a couple of big baskets in the 4th of Game 4 so I think all this jump to the gun stuff needs to quit.  You guys are probably all the same people saying Ray was washed up a few weeks ago.

No, it's really not that ridiculous.  I'm taking the natural advantages he has into account, which probably isn't fair, but considering that he's 7' and extremely quick and athletic, he should be able to dominate on the offensive end.  But no one would mistake KG for a dominant offensive player.

His career FG% is .494.  When you consider that a fairly large number of his shots are putbacks, .494 is kind of low.

I'm not denying that KG's a great player.  He's been a huge part of the this team's turn-around.  But his best skills by far are his defense and his rebounding. 

I'll give you the point about rebounding and defense but the guy has shown the ability to dominate offensively in his career - on this team it's kind of been put on the backburner because you have Paul and Ray and KG is as unselfish as they come but he's capable of dominating offensively and I hope he proves me right before this series is out.

[winsomme]

KG tightened up when he got into foul trouble.  Once he picked up those two early fouls (which I don't think he gets if Perk is out there taking a little pressure off him), it was all downhill.

I am not bailing him out here, he played a crap game...but I don't know if I would call it a choke job, I would just call it playing tentative because of a couple stupid fouls.

totally agree. TP. the early foul trouble and no Perk because Perk allows KG to be a TREMENDOUS help defender with that starting unit and it keeps him out of early foul trouble most of the time. that helps KG get off early in games both offensively and defensively.

i don't think people have been giving enough credit to the defense that Perk has been playing on Gasol most of this series and i would feel a lot better if he is healthy enough to go in game 6.

[Discoflux]

He was also the one who hit an absolutely butter jump shot to tie the game 90-90, and who grabbed some crucial rebounds as only KG can.

Give him a break

As a Laker fan, I do not understand the KG hate.  That guy is a warrior and made a lot of great plays, tips, loose balls alive, fighting underneath for every rebound, good post moves.  The guy is Mr. Ubuntu.  

[Chris]

KG tightened up when he got into foul trouble.  Once he picked up those two early fouls (which I don't think he gets if Perk is out there taking a little pressure off him), it was all downhill.

I am not bailing him out here, he played a crap game...but I don't know if I would call it a choke job, I would just call it playing tentative because of a couple stupid fouls.

totally agree. TP. the early foul trouble and no Perk because Perk allows KG to be a TREMENDOUS help defender with that starting unit and it keeps him out of early foul trouble most of the time. that helps KG get off early in games both offensively and defensively.

i don't think people have been giving enough credit to the defense that Perk has been playing on Gasol most of this series and i would feel a lot better if he is healthy enough to go in game 6.

I have been saying for a while that Perk is the most important part of the C's defense.  He is a tremendous defender himself, and he is ALWAYS  in the right place at the right time, which allows Garnett to be so aggressive.  Without Perk in there, Garnett can get himself in trouble defensively.

[CelticsPrideKG]

He was also the one who hit an absolutely butter jump shot to tie the game 90-90, and who grabbed some crucial rebounds as only KG can.

Give him a break

As a Laker fan, I do not understand the KG hate.  That guy is a warrior and made a lot of great plays, tips, loose balls alive, fighting underneath for every rebound, good post moves.  The guy is Mr. Ubuntu.  

TP for that one.


Fans can be really ungrateful at times and it just really sickens me.  KG is probably the only superstar you could have brought into this situation with 2 other superstars and made things work as beautifully as they have.

I suppose most of the other Celtics fans would prefer to be where we were before the Garnett trade.  However, I will sit here and be thankful I will get to see the C's have a chance to close this thing out in Boston.