What's Wrong with Kevin?

[footey]

I know he is coming back from knee surgery. But am I the only one who wonders if we will see the ol' KG again, ever?  He is not 90% back, or even 80% back. He is losing jump balls to much smaller guys.  He rarely can finish the alley oop pass any more.  He has trouble creating space in the post, and getting off his jumper. His rebounding has dropped precipitously.  At some point, calling it rust is not going to fly. 

The incredible thing is, I don't think he has to be his old self for us to win the championship.  We may have enough bullets, and a strong enough bench.  This team is alot less dependent on KG as an offensive facilitator, compared with the 2008 team.  Getting Rasheed Wallace is the best insurance policy we could have hoped for.

[Roy Hobbs]

His rebounding has dropped precipitously. 

I'm not sure about this one.  It's down a bit from last year, but not by much.  His rebound rate last year was 16.6% (or all available boards), this year it's 16.2%.  Per 36 minutes, he's down 0.6 rebounds from last year.  It's a decline, but not a precipitous one.

I'm fine with the "playing his way into shape / strengthening the leg" reasons.  I don't think any player is 100% immediately after surgery.  Ray Allen said it took him half of a season to recover from his bone spurs (in his ankles), and I would expect that KG will have some minor limitation, as well.

[Fafnir]

I thought KG looked great last night. He was seeing the floor and passing out of doubles well, he also was running hard and very active on defense.

He obviously has lost some lift, hopefully most of that will come back. But he looks solid to me right now. It takes time to recover from surgery, especially at KG's age.

[Rondo2287]

Did anybody see him take over in the fourth quarter last night.  He was key on several stops towards the end of the game as well as scoring some big buckets at the other end.  I thought he really turned it on at the end of the game.  

[celticinorlando]

i think he looks good...not 100 percent but he is getting there....it is going to take him some time to get his wind and legs back...i do think he is progressing mentally...he was really looking for his shot last night

[Kwhit10]

Did anybody see him take over in the fourth quarter last night.  He was key on several stops towards the end of the game as well as scoring some big buckets at the other end.  I thought he really turned it on at the end of the game.  

Were we watching the same game?  He didn't make a shot in the 4th quarter, and clanked his patented 18 footers.  He played good defense yes, but his offensive game was off in that last quarter.

[ma11l]

Did anybody see him take over in the fourth quarter last night.  He was key on several stops towards the end of the game as well as scoring some big buckets at the other end.  I thought he really turned it on at the end of the game.  

Were we watching the same game?  He didn't make a shot in the 4th quarter, and clanked his patented 18 footers.  He played good defense yes, but his offensive game was off in that last quarter.

Agreed.  He was not or has not at any point this year been close to what he was before the surgery.  I don't think he ever will be.  I also agree that we can with a title with the KG we have this year.  I think he has some room for improvement and that will be enough with the rest of the team to be the best in the NBA.

[Onslaught]

I feel that many of the alley oop pass misses aren't because hes still out of shape but because he wasn't ready for them. I recall a few that he didn't see them coming until it was too late and didn't get there in time. And one pass that was a little too high in the air.
He has missed a few good one but lets face it, he's older and has had surgery. It's going to take a long time before he's back to himself. And at this age "himself" probably won't be what you're used to seeing.

[Reyquila]

He is a year older.......

[rav123]

I think Garnett will be fine after playing 5 or 6 weeks. IMO, he is at 80% now (apart from a lack of hops and a little tentativeness, he seems okay).

The problem is that KG maxes out at 110% (because he is so passionate about the game) , unlike other mere NBA mortals who can only play at 100% on a good day. That's why it seems he isn't close to his peak, and why it may be a while before he gets there.

The incredible thing is, I don't think he has to be his old self for us to win the championship.  We may have enough bullets, and a strong enough bench.  This team is alot less dependent on KG as an offensive facilitator, compared with the 2008 team.  Getting Rasheed Wallace is the best insurance policy we could have hoped for.

In any case, this is true. It'd still be better if we could see a rejuvenated KG though.

[Redz]

Did anybody see him take over in the fourth quarter last night.  He was key on several stops towards the end of the game as well as scoring some big buckets at the other end.  I thought he really turned it on at the end of the game.  

Were we watching the same game?  He didn't make a shot in the 4th quarter, and clanked his patented 18 footers.  He played good defense yes, but his offensive game was off in that last quarter.

Agreed.  He was not or has not at any point this year been close to what he was before the surgery.  I don't think he ever will be.  I also agree that we can with a title with the KG we have this year.  I think he has some room for improvement and that will be enough with the rest of the team to be the best in the NBA.

He did have a couple of key assists down the stretch.

[moiso]

I feel that many of the alley oop pass misses aren't because hes still out of shape but because he wasn't ready for them. I recall a few that he didn't see them coming until it was too late and didn't get there in time. And one pass that was a little too high in the air.
He has missed a few good one but lets face it, he's older and has had surgery. It's going to take a long time before he's back to himself. And at this age "himself" probably won't be what you're used to seeing.

At some point Rondo is going to have to stop throwing them if KG isn't finishing.  That wouldn't be cool.

[Roy Hobbs]

I feel that many of the alley oop pass misses aren't because hes still out of shape but because he wasn't ready for them. I recall a few that he didn't see them coming until it was too late and didn't get there in time. And one pass that was a little too high in the air.
He has missed a few good one but lets face it, he's older and has had surgery. It's going to take a long time before he's back to himself. And at this age "himself" probably won't be what you're used to seeing.

At some point Rondo is going to have to stop throwing them if KG isn't finishing.  That wouldn't be cool.

I think it's as much of a timing issue as it is a physical one, personally.  By the end of the year (when it matters), he'll be back in sync.

[cargomaniac]

Guys....KG might be half a step slower recovering from his
injury and to be honest...it seemed the most of the Celtics couldnt buy a basket last night (when do we see PP miss from his sweet spot? Much less several times during the course of the game). KG was H U G E down the stretch with key rebounds, a couple of great passes to the completely open Rajon Rondo to finish. You dont always needs to score 20 to be a contributor. If my memory serves...KG did have a double double last night.

Rust...that is all it is....rust. Doc, play him back slowly please. We dont want him to be hurt again down the stretch!!!!

[ma11l]

I feel that many of the alley oop pass misses aren't because hes still out of shape but because he wasn't ready for them. I recall a few that he didn't see them coming until it was too late and didn't get there in time. And one pass that was a little too high in the air.
He has missed a few good one but lets face it, he's older and has had surgery. It's going to take a long time before he's back to himself. And at this age "himself" probably won't be what you're used to seeing.

At some point Rondo is going to have to stop throwing them if KG isn't finishing.  That wouldn't be cool.

I think it's as much of a timing issue as it is a physical one, personally.  By the end of the year (when it matters), he'll be back in sync.

Yeah I put as much of the blame for those misses on Rondo as I do KG.  He seems to be forcing the alley a little too much.  It's one of his favorite plays and he is anxious to get it back working consistenly.