KG Choked This Game Away

[nickagneta]

Choke is a pretty strong word. He definitely didn't play the smartest game in the world and did miss some important free throws, but every greta player does. Wasn't Kobe like 8 for 15 in a game earlier in this series?

His reach in for his 3rd foul after just getting back in the game was dumb, dumb, dumb. He had to know they were going to go right at him. But instead of denying the position and playing straight up good defense he reached in. Of course they were going to hit him for another foul.

And on that last attempted tip he should have pulled the ball down and gone back up. Its the surer move and his hard tip was not.

Just not his best game mentally. But it doesn't matter. He will be celebrating on the parquet Tuesday night. Only 44 more hours to go.

[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.

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.

yeah i'm with you....no Perk helped get KG in foul trouble and that took him out of the game because it forced him to sit and killed his usual aggressiveness..

[bdm860]

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.

[vinnie]

This simply was a mediocre effort by Garnett tonight and he was abused by Gasol on the defensive end.  I do not think he choked the game away, but he certainly did not play a smart game.

[MVPPierceNoJoke]

I like what he said in his press conference. He knows he didn't do that well.  Pierce is going to make sure KG has a brilliant game six. I think he has a much harder time going playing with out Perk being inside to help him out and shed doubles that come. Perk is a go for game six, so he should have an easier time and he will be able to guard Odom who wont get hyim in foul trouble.

[Chris]

Perk is a go for game six, so he should have an easier time and he will be able to guard Odom who wont get hyim in foul trouble.

Has this been announced, or are you just assuming/guessing?  If you are, I hope you are right (although I hope he is actually healthy enough to play, and not just pushing it).

[bbc3341]

KG gets criticized way too much. He never lets up and plays his heart out every game. It's what makes him a superstar. He is not a "closer" or offensive juggernaut. let's love the guy for the great things he does and not blame him for this loss!!!

[CelticsPrideKG]

Perk is a go for game six, so he should have an easier time and he will be able to guard Odom who wont get hyim in foul trouble.

Has this been announced, or are you just assuming/guessing?  If you are, I hope you are right (although I hope he is actually healthy enough to play, and not just pushing it).

I heard the guy on NBA TV said Perk told him he was 100% definitely going to play next game.  I guess I'll take that for what it's worth.

[Chris]

Perk is a go for game six, so he should have an easier time and he will be able to guard Odom who wont get hyim in foul trouble.

Has this been announced, or are you just assuming/guessing?  If you are, I hope you are right (although I hope he is actually healthy enough to play, and not just pushing it).

I heard the guy on NBA TV said Perk told him he was 100% definitely going to play next game.  I guess I'll take that for what it's worth.

Well, if that's true, I have a feeling Perk is full of....well, you know.  But I am also not surprised.  I think it killed Perk to have to watch this game from the bench, and there is no way he is not going to do everything he can to play, even if he is still dragging his arm.

[wdleehi]

Perk is a go for game six, so he should have an easier time and he will be able to guard Odom who wont get hyim in foul trouble.

Has this been announced, or are you just assuming/guessing?  If you are, I hope you are right (although I hope he is actually healthy enough to play, and not just pushing it).

I heard the guy on NBA TV said Perk told him he was 100% definitely going to play next game.  I guess I'll take that for what it's worth.

Well, if that's true, I have a feeling Perk is full of....well, you know.  But I am also not surprised.  I think it killed Perk to have to watch this game from the bench, and there is no way he is not going to do everything he can to play, even if he is still dragging his arm.

It only takes a couple hard pops early in the game on Gasol (physical play, not fouls) to get him out of his game and being Mr. Softy. 



If the Celtics can at least get that from Perk, they will be fine.

[nickagneta]

If Perk was only at 60%-70% at game time and could have gone, maybe Doc and the trainers decided if this series were continued, it would be in the Celtics best interests to give him 2 more days of rest and treatment and get him up to 85%-90% rather than risk losing him for the rest of the series when he might be sorely needed by reinjuring it in this game.

Just a thought but if you asked Doc and he was truthful, I'll bet he believed he could beat LA without Perk tonight(and they almost did) so he opted for this philosophy which would assist in assuring a game 6 win if the Celtics couldn't close the Lakers out tonight.

[cmoney]

And on that last attempted tip he should have pulled the ball down and gone back up. Its the surer move and his hard tip was not.

think this is hugely results oriented.  He had a high percentage tip.  Don't think him missing it was a choke, just unlucky.

The 2 free throws, though.. gah.

[MoBSTa_69]

It's almost as if when the play-off's started KG was told to tone back his aggression as if it was bad for television or bad for the team.

I don't know what is up man but KG is simply not The Big Ticket.
I know he has matured into a father and may be seeing another vision in life now that he has a child he may try and change his life to the better bye managing his personality and that may include the personality on the court.

I really have no clue but The Big Ticket personality has been on Vacation.

I certainly hope it returns to the court.

[chibi]

I think the definition of choking is allowing one's mentality to negatively impact one's performance.  There were a lot of factors that contributed to Garnett's performance early in the game, specifically the loss of Perkins and early foul trouble.  Still, he put up decent numbers.  You can chalk the missed free throws and putback up to nerves, but for the most part Garnett's performance wasn't affected by his mental state. 

Choking is like what John Starks did in the Finals in 94.  2 for 18, and 0 for 11 in the 4th quarter. 

[tanner]

All about expectations.  We expected KG to dominate the Lakers frontline on both ends.  5 games into the finals and it hasn't happened.  Either he has it in him or not.  Just gotta accept it.   

Tonight was much about stupid fouls. In a game with Perk out, KG had to sit on the bench.  And when he got on court, he lacked his usual aggressiveness on defense, again due to foul trouble.  I don't think we'd be talking so much about his missed free throws down the stretch if he'd stopped Gasol from being so effective in this game.

Actually KG missed 3 crucial free throws down the stretch.  Twice he had a chance to tie the game.  With the score at 90-92, he missed one of two. At 93-95, he missed both.