The Pressure on KG

[Redz]

I'm wondering just how much pressure KG is feeling at the moment.  The tenuous status of his knee and the ugly collapse by his teammates in his absence have led to a situation where, short of Ainge pulling a rabbit out of a hat by trade, the only light at the end of the tunnel is his triumphant return.

No, I don't excuse the team for the apathetic play of late.  Laying down like lambs to inferior talent and routinely blowing 3rd quarter leads is really difficult to watch.  KG, or no KG, the effort just isn't there.  I had thought that Pierce, Ray, Doc or someone - ANYONE - would be able to step up and be a leader, but I think this team is searching for the shadow of KG's presence.  His imminent return has only made the effort worse.

Right or wrong, the team seems to have hinged its ability to flick the switch to "ON" when KG comes back.   Clearly the "ON" switch just isn't there right at their disposal right now.  Cruise control is more their modus operandi...auto pilot...snoozeville...whatever you want to cool. 

Whether KG will be the wake up call this team needs and instantly cure all of what ails them is yet to be seen.  We can debate this til we turn blue, but right now it's the best hope we have - and really it's not a bad one to hang our hats on.

I know KG won't crack under the pressure - it's his knee I'm worried about.

GO C's!

[BudweiserCeltic]

No more pressure than usual.

[wdleehi]

His teammates are failing him right now.  They are not doing what is necisary to keep the team afloat.  It creates more pressure for KG to lead this team out of this funk.

[housecall]

I got a feeling there will be some strong language passed back and forth in the locker room in the next 48hours.I don't know KG personally but from where i sit i put my money on KG lighting a fire under a few butts.

[Bankshot]

His teammates are failing him right now.  They are not doing what is necisary to keep the team afloat.  It creates more pressure for KG to lead this team out of this funk.

Failing him?  I don't see him doing anything (like sitting on the bench in support of the team) to help them.

[wdleehi]

His teammates are failing him right now.  They are not doing what is necisary to keep the team afloat.  It creates more pressure for KG to lead this team out of this funk.

Failing him?  I don't see him doing anything (like sitting on the bench in support of the team) to help them.

Looking for reasons to blame an injure player? 

Whether he is sitting on the bench or is somewhere else, it doesn't matter. 


The team on the court are the ones that needed to perform and pick up the slack for him.  They are not doing it right now. 


That's there fault, not KG's for sitting or not sitting on the bench.

[Bankshot]

His teammates are failing him right now.  They are not doing what is necisary to keep the team afloat.  It creates more pressure for KG to lead this team out of this funk.

Failing him?  I don't see him doing anything (like sitting on the bench in support of the team) to help them.

Looking for reasons to blame an injure player? 

Whether he is sitting on the bench or is somewhere else, it doesn't matter. 


The team on the court are the ones that needed to perform and pick up the slack for him.  They are not doing it right now. 


That's there fault, not KG's for sitting or not sitting on the bench.

Nope, not blaming KG at all, just stating that the team is not failing him when he's not doing anything to help them.

[celticinorlando]

i hope Kg is the cure all for the ills....but some of these ills (esp the third quarter choke jobs) were happening with KG.

[Chris]

This is a real worry for me.  KG puts a ton of pressure on himself, and I really hope Doc forces him to take it easy when he comes back.  Regardless of the injury, he hasn't played in a long time, and needs to get back his stamina.  He needs to be pacing himself early on, and not going too hard.

[wdleehi]

His teammates are failing him right now.  They are not doing what is necisary to keep the team afloat.  It creates more pressure for KG to lead this team out of this funk.

Failing him?  I don't see him doing anything (like sitting on the bench in support of the team) to help them.

Looking for reasons to blame an injure player? 

Whether he is sitting on the bench or is somewhere else, it doesn't matter. 


The team on the court are the ones that needed to perform and pick up the slack for him.  They are not doing it right now. 


That's there fault, not KG's for sitting or not sitting on the bench.

Nope, not blaming KG at all, just stating that the team is not failing him when he's not doing anything to help them.

He is doing the rehab to get back on the court.


That is all they him to do right now.

[celticinorlando]

true about the stamina...but we need him next week. they cannot come out of the orlando-atlanta-laker stretch 0-3.

[Chris]

true about the stamina...but we need him next week. they cannot come out of the orlando-atlanta-laker stretch 0-3.

From a fan point of view, no, they can't.  From a team point of view, worse things could happen.  It is January.  They have time to pull out of the slump.  If they put too much importance on games right now, then it could kill them when the games are more important in May.  This team needs to get healthy, and get their focus back one game at a time.

[Redz]

true about the stamina...but we need him next week. they cannot come out of the orlando-atlanta-laker stretch 0-3.

From a fan point of view, no, they can't.  From a team point of view, worse things could happen.  It is January.  They have time to pull out of the slump.  If they put too much importance on games right now, then it could kill them when the games are more important in May.  This team needs to get healthy, and get their focus back one game at a time.

Yeh, standings wise they're another 10 game win streak away from being back at the top again.  Uggh, I hope this recent slump isn't "what they are".

[celticinorlando]

i have stopped with the idea that they will catch the cavs....i have accepted that a 2 or 3 seed is really where they will be. the biggest unknown is the health....but i have seen some ugly habits in the last 11 games from this team that need to be fixed with or without KG

[GreenFaith1819]

No, I wouldn't place the pressure on KG, that's unfair I believe.

This team just needs to gather themselves and play better.

Celtics teams of old imposed their Will on opponents. This year's Celtics haven't done that as much.

For the Celtics to place all of this on KG ain't right, excuse my vernacular.

They played with heart and desire without KG last yr, and came just a few bounces from beating ORL in the playoffs last year - without KG or Powe.

Team needs to step up...emotional leaders that are one in a lifetime come and go...let's see: Bird, Magic, Jordan, Wilt, Jerry, Russell, KG..many of you all can name more.

This team needs to get on without needing KG so much - enjoy his presence while he's here, but play Celtics ball without him, too.

Like they did in playoffs last year, which made me proud.