something that has been completely overlooked...

[Chief]

KG might be declining a little physically, but his leadership and basketball IQ are growing every year. It's an even trade.

[incoherent]

I agree with the guy who said "did you see last nights game" in regards to KG declining.

I don't see any let down in KG who gives a **** if hits stats are worse. 

[drza44]

Is there some physical decline?  Absolutely, he's not as explosive as he was and he is more likely to get ouchy injuries than he used to be.  KG does things differently than he used to, though, and it's hard to argue against the effectiveness.  On Boston he isn't used to initiate the offense as he was in Minnesota, he is used as a finisher.  Thus, his assist percentage has gone down but he's shooting (by far) career-bests from the field.  On Boston he isn't used as the only defender AND the only rebounder, as he often was in Minnesota...he's allowed to specialize in specific roles here, consequently his rebounding percentage has gone down but his defensive rating has gone to the top of the league.

And just like in his prime, KG has still been at the top of the league in +/- since he got to Boston.  And KG is also shooting almost 80% from the field during crunchtime this year...a percentage that he wasn't able to approach when he had to be Mr. Do Everything All Game for Minnesota.

So has he declined?  Maybe a bit.  But on the whole, he is still right at the top of the NBA so it doesn't really make a tangible difference.

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

KG might be declining a little physically, but his leadership and basketball IQ are growing every year. It's an even trade.

I dont know about that either....his BBall IQ has always been ridiculously high, and I dont really think its gotten any higher...as for his leadership, thats been there all along as well, and he's got other leaders around him now... KG keeps to himself, and seems mentally unstable alot of the time, and at any time could lash out at teammates...I think his leaderhip is overrated

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

I agree with the guy who said "did you see last nights game" in regards to KG declining.

I don't see any let down in KG who gives a **** if hits stats are worse. 

I never said KG's effort has declined....I think alot of you are kidding yourselves..
KG is still a great player but he's slowly declining, just be realistic, hes been in the league forever, and his peak was 2004 and its now 2009

[Chief]

KG might be declining a little physically, but his leadership and basketball IQ are growing every year. It's an even trade.

I dont know about that either....his BBall IQ has always been ridiculously high, and I dont really think its gotten any higher...as for his leadership, thats been there all along, and he's got other leaders around him ... KG keeps to himself, and seems mentally unstable alot of the time, and at any time could last out at teammates...I think his leaderhip is overrated

I think almost every player's IQ gets higher as they get older. Ask MJ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpfzaqIuR34

[housecall]

I don't base a player's decline on a 30+game rate..it takes a bigger body of work(season) to determine that about a player.Stats can be deceiving,exp.Lebron scores 38plus pts aganist the Heat,still lost the game.The next night he scored 16pts aganist a team,they won.By looking at the stats only,which game would you figured they won?...the one where he has a monster night scoring.So stats are not always a great measuring tool,especially when a team is very defensive oriented like our Celtics are.

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

Is there some physical decline?  Absolutely, he's not as explosive as he was and he is more likely to get ouchy injuries than he used to be.  KG does things differently than he used to, though, and it's hard to argue against the effectiveness.  On Boston he isn't used to initiate the offense as he was in Minnesota, he is used as a finisher.  Thus, his assist percentage has gone down but he's shooting (by far) career-bests from the field.  On Boston he isn't used as the only defender AND the only rebounder, as he often was in Minnesota...he's allowed to specialize in specific roles here, consequently his rebounding percentage has gone down but his defensive rating has gone to the top of the league.

And just like in his prime, KG has still been at the top of the league in +/- since he got to Boston.  And KG is also shooting almost 80% from the field during crunchtime this year...a percentage that he wasn't able to approach when he had to be Mr. Do Everything All Game for Minnesota.

So has he declined?  Maybe a bit.  But on the whole, he is still right at the top of the NBA so it doesn't really make a tangible difference.

Now, he is shooting his best % from the field, but not to be a debbie downer again, but it isnt "by far" considering in his MVP year he shot 49% and the next two years 50 and 52% respectively....which is actually more impressive than doing it on a team with other hof talents, taking more shots and playing more minutes

[housecall]

Seeing that most of the allegedly decline of KG is based on stats,how does anyone really know if he is not playing through injury at this point?I find he wouldn't make a big deal out of being hurt,just play through it.Also,ive seen many nights where he deferred shots to Perk or another player.I think if KG wanted to pad or keep a 20/10 stat sheet up,he could  maintain it.

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

Seeing that most of the allegedly decline of KG is based on stats,how do anyone really know if he is playing through injury at this point?I find he wouldn't make a big deal out of being hurt,just play through it.Also,ive seen many nights where he deferred shots to Perk or another player.I think if KG wanted to pad or keep a 20/10 stat sheet up,he could still maintain it.

Maybe its the fact that I consitently see KG not being able to take advantage of smaller, lesser players guarding him , maybe its the fact that he has nights where he only has 1 rebound, I know all of the intangibles he brings off the stat sheet, but he hasnt had an eye popping stat line once this season...Hes just not the elite elite player he once was, still very good nontheless

[housecall]

Seeing that most of the allegedly decline of KG is based on stats,how do anyone really know if he is playing through injury at this point?I find he wouldn't make a big deal out of being hurt,just play through it.Also,ive seen many nights where he deferred shots to Perk or another player.I think if KG wanted to pad or keep a 20/10 stat sheet up,he could still maintain it.

Maybe its the fact that I consitently see KG not being able to take advantage of smaller, lesser players, maybe its the fact that he has nights where he only has 1 rebound, and I know all of the intangibles he brings off the stat sheet, but he hasnt had an eye popping stat line once this season...Hes just not the elite elite player he once was, still very good nontheless

I think we will see when it really counts(playoffs), the player we all know he really is,a superstar.

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

Seeing that most of the allegedly decline of KG is based on stats,how do anyone really know if he is playing through injury at this point?I find he wouldn't make a big deal out of being hurt,just play through it.Also,ive seen many nights where he deferred shots to Perk or another player.I think if KG wanted to pad or keep a 20/10 stat sheet up,he could still maintain it.

Maybe its the fact that I consitently see KG not being able to take advantage of smaller, lesser players, maybe its the fact that he has nights where he only has 1 rebound, and I know all of the intangibles he brings off the stat sheet, but he hasnt had an eye popping stat line once this season...Hes just not the elite elite player he once was, still very good nontheless

I think we will see when it really counts(playoffs), the player we all know he really is,a superstar.

I hope so, but considering he didnt take advantage offensively in the Atlanta series when noone on there roster should be able to contain him whatsoever, was bullied by Anderson Varejao in the Cleveland series, and was nowhere near to being finals MVP, i have my doubts

[housecall]

Seeing that most of the allegedly decline of KG is based on stats,how do anyone really know if he is playing through injury at this point?I find he wouldn't make a big deal out of being hurt,just play through it.Also,ive seen many nights where he deferred shots to Perk or another player.I think if KG wanted to pad or keep a 20/10 stat sheet up,he could still maintain it.

Maybe its the fact that I consitently see KG not being able to take advantage of smaller, lesser players guarding him , maybe its the fact that he has nights where he only has 1 rebound, I know all of the intangibles he brings off the stat sheet, but he hasnt had an eye popping stat line once this season...Hes just not the elite elite player he once was, still very good nontheless

Each year a player comes into the season with a mindset,sometimes its to score more,some times its to be a better rebounder,etc.etc...from listening to some of KG's  comments he made this season,the only stat that is imp. to him is the W.

[chief3233]

I followed KG closely during his career in Minnesota, where KG had to do basically everything for his team. I think its safe to say the Celtics have brought out the true value of Garnett- his leadership, tenacity, and strong will to win. Even thought he may be half a step back, he still is one of the top overall players in the league.

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

Seeing that most of the allegedly decline of KG is based on stats,how do anyone really know if he is playing through injury at this point?I find he wouldn't make a big deal out of being hurt,just play through it.Also,ive seen many nights where he deferred shots to Perk or another player.I think if KG wanted to pad or keep a 20/10 stat sheet up,he could still maintain it.

Maybe its the fact that I consitently see KG not being able to take advantage of smaller, lesser players guarding him , maybe its the fact that he has nights where he only has 1 rebound, I know all of the intangibles he brings off the stat sheet, but he hasnt had an eye popping stat line once this season...Hes just not the elite elite player he once was, still very good nontheless

Each year a player comes into the season with a mindset,sometimes its to score more,some times its to be a better rebounder,etc.etc...from listening to some of KG's  comments he made this season,the only stat that is imp. to him is the W.

He's said that since he was a rookie, he said that when he scored 40 pts in a game and averged 24/13/5 for a season... all hes ever cared about is winning, hes just now on a good team, but that took until he was 30 and no longer in his prime