The Pressure on KG

[GreenFaith1819]

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.

Bingo - they aren't playing Celtics Ball.

[Redz]

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.

This is all true, yet from what I can see it has to be at least one of the many reasons why they are playing the way they are.  I'm actually hopeful that this is the case to a large degree, because if it is, the solution is easy.

[KungPoweChicken]

The biggest problem with the Celtics right now is that Pierce and Rondo are the only real scoring threats. Ray Allen hasn't been showing up. You need more than two guys who can score the basketball. And, no, Rasheed, Perkins, Tony, House, and Baby are not scoring threats (not real scoring threats anyway). If Ray Allen comes to play, then we will have three scoring threats (assuming KG is still hurt), and we will probably win. You can't win with only two scoring threats. The C's go through periods where they just can't put the ball in the hole. Last night, for example, I think in the third quarter, the team scored a total of less than 8 points in 10 minutes (not sure if that's completely correct, but it was something like that).


The last thing we want to be doing, which we have been doing as of late, is giving the ball to Perk in the post, treating him like he is a scoring threat. Because when he gets the ball, he can only score when there is single coverage. When a double team comes, there is a probability over 60% that he will turn the ball over; he refuses to pass out. Usually, he'll travel with it, or try and pass when it is too late and throw the ball to the other team.

[PierceMVP08]

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.

Of course it matters if he is sitting on the bench.  It's not like KG is taking games over when he is in the game, but clearly his vocal presence is a big factor.  If he can fire up the team with his words on the court he can do it on the bench.  I've never understood how him not being on the bench is anything but selfish.  I understand not going to road games, but at home that's inexcusable.

From what I recall they say that he has trouble sitting on the bench because he wants to play too bad.  Well tough, suck it up and be there for your team.  When I played high school ball I made all games when I was injured and was still part of the team.  So did the other guys.  It's about being a team.  You are together whether you're playing or not.  Name me any other guys in the HISTORY of this league that have ever pulled anything like this.

[PierceMVP08]

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.

I'm with you with all of them except wilt, lol.  Wilt was very unpopular with teammates, cared more about stats than winning and even milked an injury in GAME 7 OF THE NBA FINALS and sat out about half of the fourth quarter and they lost.  He was a great player but to put him in the category of the other guys in regards to emmotional leadership is an insult to those guys. 

Not really meaning to attack you, but i just found that kind of funny 

[BballTim]

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.

  Second best record in the conference and only two games back in the loss column meets every possible definition of staying afloat.

[ScoobyDoo]

I have no worries about KG's mental ability to handle the pressure and bring some intensity back to this team. But sometimes while the mind is willing, the body isn't. I'm just hoping his health can match his unquesitoned mental toughness and relentless comptitiveness.

[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.

  Second best record in the conference and only two games back in the loss column meets every possible definition of staying afloat.

I am talking about recently.


Yes teams go into a funk. 

And no, this team is not burried by some terrible record.


But the way they have been playing recently is going to get KG to feel more pressure to "save the team"

[PierceMVP08]

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.

  Second best record in the conference and only two games back in the loss column meets every possible definition of staying afloat.

I am talking about recently.


Yes teams go into a funk. 

And no, this team is not burried by some terrible record.


But the way they have been playing recently is going to get KG to feel more pressure to "save the team"

I really don't see that happening honestly.  I've never really seen KG force the issue during his time with the celtics.  I didn't see him much while in Minny but considering his rep as an unselfish star I would venture to guess he didn't really do that there either. 

KG does what he does and he does it better than most.  That's what you will continue to see.  He will play outstanding defense if his knees are willing and he will continue to hit open shots, finish plays close to the bucket and have the occasional post play.  KG will not come in looking to score more than his average and he won't do anymore on defense; there really isn't anymore he can do.

If there is anyone to worry about putting too much pressure on himself it is probably Pierce.  He's really the only guy who can creat his own shot and capable of carrying the team on the offensive side.  Unfortunately his knees won't allow him, he's not in shape after his injury, or, as much as it hurts to say, he might be too old.  Regardless of what it is, Pierce's body doesn't do what his mind tells it to do like it once did.

[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.

  Second best record in the conference and only two games back in the loss column meets every possible definition of staying afloat.

I am talking about recently.


Yes teams go into a funk. 

And no, this team is not burried by some terrible record.


But the way they have been playing recently is going to get KG to feel more pressure to "save the team"

I really don't see that happening honestly.  I've never really seen KG force the issue during his time with the celtics.  I didn't see him much while in Minny but considering his rep as an unselfish star I would venture to guess he didn't really do that there either. 

KG does what he does and he does it better than most.  That's what you will continue to see.  He will play outstanding defense if his knees are will and he will continue to hit open shots, finish plays close to the bucket and have the occasional post play.  KG will not come in looking to score more than his average and he won't do anymore on defense.  There really isn't anymore he can do.

If there is anyone to worry about putting too much pressur on himself it is probably Pierce.  He's really the only guy who can creat his own shot and capable of carrying the team on the offensive side.  Unfortunately his knees won't allow him, he's not in shape after his injury, or as much as it hurts to say he's too old.  Regardless of what it is, Pierce's body doesn't do what his mind tells it to do like it once did.

That's more dealing with the pressure vs folding to the pressure.


I think KG will feel presure, but I do not think that will effect his game.

[BballTim]

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.

  Second best record in the conference and only two games back in the loss column meets every possible definition of staying afloat.

I am talking about recently.


Yes teams go into a funk. 

And no, this team is not burried by some terrible record.


But the way they have been playing recently is going to get KG to feel more pressure to "save the team"

  We're not getting killed every game. We don't need a savior, just a little lift at certain points. He doesn't have to do any more when he comes back than he did before the injury.

[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.

  Second best record in the conference and only two games back in the loss column meets every possible definition of staying afloat.

I am talking about recently.


Yes teams go into a funk. 

And no, this team is not burried by some terrible record.


But the way they have been playing recently is going to get KG to feel more pressure to "save the team"

  We're not getting killed every game. We don't need a savior, just a little lift at certain points. He doesn't have to do any more when he comes back than he did before the injury.

The Celtics need him to be the player/leader he was before he was injured last year.


I think that is a reasonable goal at this point.

[PierceMVP08]

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.

  Second best record in the conference and only two games back in the loss column meets every possible definition of staying afloat.

I am talking about recently.


Yes teams go into a funk. 

And no, this team is not burried by some terrible record.


But the way they have been playing recently is going to get KG to feel more pressure to "save the team"

I really don't see that happening honestly.  I've never really seen KG force the issue during his time with the celtics.  I didn't see him much while in Minny but considering his rep as an unselfish star I would venture to guess he didn't really do that there either. 

KG does what he does and he does it better than most.  That's what you will continue to see.  He will play outstanding defense if his knees are will and he will continue to hit open shots, finish plays close to the bucket and have the occasional post play.  KG will not come in looking to score more than his average and he won't do anymore on defense.  There really isn't anymore he can do.

If there is anyone to worry about putting too much pressur on himself it is probably Pierce.  He's really the only guy who can creat his own shot and capable of carrying the team on the offensive side.  Unfortunately his knees won't allow him, he's not in shape after his injury, or as much as it hurts to say he's too old.  Regardless of what it is, Pierce's body doesn't do what his mind tells it to do like it once did.

That's more dealing with the pressure vs folding to the pressure.


I think KG will feel presure, but I do not think that will effect his game.

Really in that case it's all semantics.  There is no point in even asking if he will pressure in that case.  The opinion remains the same though.  He understand the team concept more than most and I doubt he would ever think he could or would ever have the need to "save the team."  He understands he's part of a unit that wins together and loses together... all the more reason why I'm baffled by his reluctance to sit on the bench lol

[BballTim]

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.

  Second best record in the conference and only two games back in the loss column meets every possible definition of staying afloat.

I am talking about recently.


Yes teams go into a funk. 

And no, this team is not burried by some terrible record.


But the way they have been playing recently is going to get KG to feel more pressure to "save the team"

  We're not getting killed every game. We don't need a savior, just a little lift at certain points. He doesn't have to do any more when he comes back than he did before the injury.

The Celtics need him to be the player/leader he was before he was injured last year.


I think that is a reasonable goal at this point.

  I'd have to think back on that. All he really needs to be is the player he was inDecember before he got kicked in the knee. But the point is he doesn't have to come back and try and do everything by himself and carry the team. We're not that far from winning almost all of the games we play.

[GreenFaith1819]

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.

I'm with you with all of them except wilt, lol.  Wilt was very unpopular with teammates, cared more about stats than winning and even milked an injury in GAME 7 OF THE NBA FINALS and sat out about half of the fourth quarter and they lost.  He was a great player but to put him in the category of the other guys in regards to emmotional leadership is an insult to those guys. 

Not really meaning to attack you, but i just found that kind of funny 

No worries no offense taken. Surprised to hear that about Wilt.