The Pressure on KG

[jadams5214]

KG is definitely under huge pressure right now.  He knows that his absence is being blamed for the teams recent struggles.  He knows that barring a trade to shake things up, his return is the only realistic hope for the Celtics to get back to playing solid basketball.

I agree that he should be on the bench during games.  He should be able to be a positive influence to the team during timeouts no matter how fired up he gets.

But then I think about him in the locker room watching the game.  You would think he would be screaming at the guys about coming out strong in the second half, about protecting leads especially at home.  He most assuredly is in the ear of Perk, Paul, Rondo about playing with intensity and taking over the game.  None of this has worked however so maybe his motivational abilities aren't overly effective.

The return of KG is of minimal importance to the Celtics championship aspirations.  The continued health of KG is whats of paramount importance.  He needs to come back, work his way back into shape and stay healthy for this team to have any hopes of raising banner #18.

[BballTim]

  It should also be noted that if KG were under huge pressure to save the team we'd have seen him back in the lineup before now.

[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 

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

The book of Basketball, man.... Bill Simmons has some really good information in there

[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.

The book of Basketball, man.... Bill Simmons has some really good information in there

That's the title? I'll have to check that out, thx. My 11 yr old is trying to get caught up on the history of the game, so that'll make good reading for both of us.

[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.

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

Wow - that is so true. One thing we don't want to do is let the doom and gloom cloud our minds, huh?

And if the Lakers bring it tonight (unlike on Christmas) then we'll be only one game behind CLE.

[vinnie]

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.

You are right, but the float is running out of air. they are runniong on the fumes of the first two months of the season and slowly sinking to the third seed in the playoffs.

[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.

You are right, but the float is running out of air. they are runniong on the fumes of the first two months of the season and slowly sinking to the third seed in the playoffs.

  They're sinking very slowly and KG's back this week. Unless we get new injuries or someone pulls off a big trade we're as likely as anyone else to get the top seed if not more likely.

[hpantazo]

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.

The book of Basketball, man.... Bill Simmons has some really good information in there

That's the title? I'll have to check that out, thx. My 11 yr old is trying to get caught up on the history of the game, so that'll make good reading for both of us.

yea, great book. They still have some autographed copies of it on sale at the barnes n noble in the prudential last time I checked.

[Who]

There is only one circumstance where I think this is an important issue and that's if Kevin Garnett rushes back from injury, isn't ready, and re-injures himself. But after last season, and Doc + Danny's caution, I'm not worried about that.

Otherwise, I think this is an irrelevant issue.

[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 

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

The book of Basketball, man.... Bill Simmons has some really good information in there

That's the title? I'll have to check that out, thx. My 11 yr old is trying to get caught up on the history of the game, so that'll make good reading for both of us.

Yeah, its a great read and chronicles just about everything from the beginning of the NBA to present day and pretty in depth as well.  What's cool about it is it isn't just stats but he actually did his research and put a lot of opinion in there that makes you understand what people in their day thought about given players or situations.  Not too mention it's quite funny....

Although I'd caution about two things.  It is 700 pages (I'm on page 430 right now myself) and some of the language may not be appropriate for an 11 year old.  Of course it's your call, but its a great book.  The length is really not much of a problem because it seperated into section that allow you to put the book down and pick it up whenever withou missing a beat.  Hope this helps