I still think Paul Pierce is the best player and true heart and soul on this team , and without KG paul never sniffs the finals (and vice-versa) ...so we should be thankful for what KG brought, ..
I think Garnett actually is a bit overrated, I know its blashphemy to say that but deep down I think most of us realize it...doesnt mean we dont love him... I also find it annoying how he's used as the face of the team around the league, when our captain and best player is pierce
Well... how is he "rated"? I think most Celtics fans see he and Pierce as "1" and "1A", or "1A" and "1". KG was the catalyst for the championship, but if it was KG who had been here, and Pierce was brought in, I think people would be saying the same thing about Pierce. They're co-equals, and I think most Celts fans share that opinion.
Garnetts rated high enough to be the highest paid player in the league, i think most casual viewers or fans get the idea that hes by far our best player just from a marketing standpoint and in the same league as the Lebrons and Kobes of the world...maybe it has to do with people thinking KG is still in his 2004 form, when people who watch him everyday realize he can get pushed off his spots by a strong shooting guard and floats further away from the basket the closer it gets to crunch time
A few points.
1) KG is the highest paid player in the NBA due to what he did in Minnesota. Pre-2007, there is no question that KG has the best resume of any player currently on the Celtics so I'm not sure how his salary factors into this discussion.
2) Why many non-Celtics fans view KG as the leader of the team: Gorman said last season that great teams take on the personality of the leader. If someone asked you to describe the 2008 Celtics without naming any names, I don't think it's a stretch to say that the most common words would be: outstanding defense, efficient but not overpowering offense, intense, unselfish, edgy, team-above-individual, etc. I would think that almost every response would contain some combo of the above words. And I don't think it is unreasonable to point out that those words fit almost verbatim on KG pre-2007, and don't really fit in entirety on anyone else on the team pre-2007. Said briefly, this Celtics' team just LOOKS like KG.
3) Pure on-court play from 07-08. Leaving all intangibles aside, Garnett was universally ranked as the best player on the Celtics by every advanced basketball stat that I've seen. I know some don't love advanced basketball stats, but when ALL of them agree that generally suggests that the position may have some merit. Those same stats, by the way, DID rank KG as on par with the LeBrons and Kobes of the world last season.
4) I was the one that Roy mentioned above, that went through and looked at all of the 4th quarters from the playoffs last season. And yes, KG was the leading 4th quarter scorer for the Cs across the playoffs last year. He was also the leading 4th quarter scorer in playoff games decided by 10 points or less...or decided by 7 points or less...or decided by 4 points or less. Bottom line, in last year's playoffs KG was the leading scorer and rebounder on the team, he was their leading clutch scorer, and (just for icing) he also hit the only game-winning shot for the team.
Bottom line: this Celtics squad is built on team-not-me. KG had a historic resume coming in, but Pierce has been here a decade and each are vital to the team. You want to say they're co-leaders, great. You want to include Allen and say the team lead is shared among the Big 3, fine. You want to say that it is true UBUNTU, and every player on the team is just as important as every other...it's a stretch, but I like the good-feeling theory so I won't argue with you. But these "KG is overrated so that Pierce can be the best" themes that have no basis in reality...kinda suck.
Topic: I want people to stop whining about Garnett's barking and start appreciating... (Read 5575 times)