Celtics are missing leadership. (why they need KG back soon)

[wdleehi]

Lack of rebounding.

Lack of defensive effort.

Lack of energy on offense.

Settling for jumpshots to often.

and so on and so on.



These are all the issues the Celtics have shown.  It is imposible to point to any one Celtics as being the only one guilty of these basketball crimes.  All have had their good and their bad efforts.


What we can point to is the leadership.  No one seems to be stepping up leading this team through this slump.  No one has put this team on their back and pulled out the highest effort from all the teammates.  No one is being the vocal leader.


It has been shown time and again that leadership matters.  Look at Billups.  He is a good leader.  The trade transformed Detroit from contender to sneak in team and Denver for a sneak in team to a contender. 


So, who is not pulling the leadership weight.

Coach Doc.  He is not the "strong leader" coach.  He is the "let the players lead" coach.  He facilates that.  There is nothing wrong with that in the NBA when the team has a strong player leader.

Pierce.   He has never been the strong vocal leader.  It was either Walker or KG.  And there is nothing wrong with that.  He leads by example.  Unfortunatly, the team needs more.

Ray.  I really am not sure what leadership qualities he has since he has never had to be in that position on the Celtics. 

Rondo.  Too young for the older vets to follow.  Has some reported lockerroom issues (not the type that hurts a team but the type that limits leadership potential)

Perk. A future leader.  He has the right attitude for it.  He is just to young to lead this team.

Wallace  He is just a reserve on this Celtics team.  I do not think he is in position to lead and I am not so sure if he is that type of leader.  (see Billups)




The missing leadership is KG.  This team is not only better because of the physical skill and technical skills KG bring to the court, but also the leadership KG brings. 

KG is the emotional center of this team.  KG's efforts and energy on defense feeds this team to greatness.


That's what has been missing ever since the Celtics lost KG last year.  Even when KG has played this year, we have only seen glimpse of that leadership potential.  That is why we have only seen glimpses of how great this team can be. 


This team is the title favorite if and only if that KG returns to the Celtics healthy and prepared for the playoffs.

[EJPLAYA]

I agree across the board. Especially about PP. He has never been a leader and doesn't really want that role. He was thought by many to have grown into the leadership role but all he really did was be mature and let KG take that over. In a way that is leadership to some degree, however really he was just happy to push that towards KG and some degree Ray.

I am not convinced though that PP has been leading by example. He hasn't shown the energy and effort that we have needed during much of the stretch. I may give him a bit of a pass due to the knee, however his career shows he never really was good about leading by example. It was more a "let me take over" role when things were running poorly. You are right though. KG is the glue that makes this work. I'd rather have him sit until he is totally healed though because without him we are not going anywhere.

[wdleehi]

I agree across the board. Especially about PP. He has never been a leader and doesn't really want that role. He was thought by many to have grown into the leadership role but all he really did was be mature and let KG take that over. In a way that is leadership to some degree, however really he was just happy to push that towards KG and some degree Ray.

I am not convinced though that PP has been leading by example. He hasn't shown the energy and effort that we have needed during much of the stretch. I may give him a bit of a pass due to the knee, however his career shows he never really was good about leading by example. It was more a "let me take over" role when things were running poorly. You are right though. KG is the glue that makes this work. I'd rather have him sit until he is totally healed though because without him we are not going anywhere.

I think it is the knee that has slowed Pierce down during this stretch. 

[vinnie]

Maybe they should start practicing a little more and maybe have game day shoot arounds rather than worry about who is going to be the leader. I agree Garnett is the vocal guy, but 10-15 year veterans should be able to win basketball games, especially at home. Maybe this whole sleep later thing they are doing this year on the advice of some quack doctor has totally screwed this team up. Bottom line though is they are 11-7 at home, and KG or no KG, that is not getting it done in the NBA.

[wdleehi]

Maybe they should start practicing a little more and maybe have game day shoot arounds rather than worry about who is going to be the leader. I agree Garnett is the vocal guy, but 10-15 year veterans should be able to win basketball games, especially at home. Maybe this whole sleep later thing they are doing this year on the advice of some quack doctor has totally screwed this team up. Bottom line though is they are 11-7 at home, and KG or no KG, that is not getting it done in the NBA.

I would say what is really needed is for someone else to step up and fill the leadership void till KG returns. 

That new sleep and practice routine wasn't an issue when the Celtics were winning.

[fanofgreen]

There is no need for a "leader" on this team of veterans, the leadership role should be done by committee. Everyone should be accountable for their own actions, and level of play.

The only players who aren't veterans are JR and Walker. they are the only ones on this team, who would need a leader, but they dont play, so this whole thing of whose the leader, is irrelevant.

Everyone else is a seasoned veteran.

[wdleehi]

There is no need for a "leader" on this team of veterans, the leadership role should be done by committee. Everyone should be accountable for their own actions, and level of play.

The only players who aren't veterans are JR and Walker. they are the only ones on this team, who would need a leader, but they dont play, so this whole thing of whose the leader, is irrelevant.

Every great team needs a leader. 

[ScoobyDoo]

Major, massive TP for the OP. Great post and 100% on the money.

I was going to post something somewhat similar but I'll just add it here.

When Bill Russell interviewd KG in 2008 he told KG "that if he didn't win a ring he would give KG one of his own. He said it was because KG always played the game the way it was meant to be played."

Russell then told KG something else. He said to KG, "but I'm not going to have to give you one of my rings beacuse you're going to get one of your own. BUT...if you want one of your own, you're going to have to put your arms around the rest of these guys on your team and carry them with you."

Russell said this because he knows there are only so many players out there like him, or KG. They don't come along very often. And if they want to reach the mountain top, they are going to have to be willing to bear the weight of carrying everyone else with them.

The names of some of the guys who have been willing to carry that weight through the course of the NBA are:

Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James etc...( Kobe is there too but he just lacks the class and character of these other true leaders IMHO. he is fierce though).

They combine the unique qualities of great skill, great heart and passion and an incredibly intense competitive desire.

I call them "the engine of the team", they make the team go. Without them, the team is a shell of what it is with them. They drive the team to greatness. Everyone feels stronger and more confident with them on the floor and feel like anything is possible. They elevate everyone's game by their presence and fire.

You can't replace it. And that's why taking KG off the Celts would be like taking Kobe  or LeBron off their teams. KG may not put up the numbers of those two guys, but his imporatnace to the team is the same. And his loss is similar.

Take Kobe or LeBron off their teams, they struggle to make the playoffs. It's the same for the Celts and KG.

And there you have it in a nutshell as the OP stated.

It doesn't matter if every guy on the team is a 10 year vet, you can't replace or fake what KG brings. It's irreplaceable and very unique and there are only a few players like them. maybe 10-12 in the history of the league. Maybe that many...

It's not a knock on Pierce or Ray. They're both hall of famers but what KG is about, you can't learn it or aquire it. You either have it it or you don't.

KG comes back healthy, truly healhty?...and everyone is healthy?

Pierce's legs will look younger...
Ray's shot will look sharper...
Perkins will look bigger and meaner...
Rondo will look better in his good Rondo place...
Rasheed will look more Rasheed...
so on and so forth...

and we will win another ring...

No KG? we're out.
 

[RAcker]

TP for the thread.  I couldn't agree more.  There is an obvious X Factor missing on this team and that is KG.

[PLamb]

From the moment of the trade this has been Kevin Garnett's team

He is their defensive quarterback, emotional leader and general kick in the pants tough love leader from opening tip to final shot of every game we have played that he has been in since he arrived

His missing takes away both a second low post option and a long range shooting, space the floor player at the same time

He is also the guy at the back of the defense that directs traffic and runs, stabilizes and extols the other players from a defensive perspective

I don't think people are realizing just how much leadership and intangibles he brings to this team that transforms this team from a pretty good playoff team to a championship contender

Get KG back and healthy and be patient, that's what I say

[moiso]

Yep, KG is the emotional leader.  Pierce and Ray seem to go about their business more than inspire others.  And Wallace can't even lead himself, so there is no way he's going to lead others.  Things will change when KG gets back.

[ScoobyDoo]

Agreed Plamb. When KG got here he transformed the mentality of the team on day one. This franchised hadn't looked like this since Bird was here.

KG comes in and helps complete the biggest turnaround in NBA history AND they win the championship. That wasn't just because Paul , Ray and KG were together. It wasn't just the talent. It was KG's spirit, intensity and leadership that got them the ring.

And what does the league do? Give the MVP to Kobe...

1. The same Kobe who was video taped in a parking lot 8 mths earlier in Irvine throwing his teammates under the bus.

2. The same Kobe who walked off the court in Boston while his teammates were bringing the ball up the court with 8 seconds left...But that's another rant

As you say, Relative health on the team and 100% for KG = #18.  

[PosImpos]

I want to believe this is all that's wrong with this team.

I want to be persuaded that things will all get better when KG is back and healthy.

I'm just not sure.  Plus, who knows if KG will even be back at 100% ever?  As long as he's out I keep dreading the announcement "KG has MRI on knee, out for the season."

Time will tell I guess.  Meanwhile, watching the Celtics will be painful and embarrassing.

[Celts17Pride]

Celtics are not missing leadership, they are missing a productive bench.

[RAcker]

Celtics are not missing leadership, they are missing a productive bench.

While I agree that our bench has been unproductive since Sheed is now having to start and TA is back to being TA, I have to say that I feel you are wrong on the 'missing leadership'.  It was not our bench that got smoked in the 3rd quarter last night.  That was Paul, Ray, Rondo and Perk.