KG's Message: "I Got Your Back"

[CoachBo]

Rivers is absolutely correct about this issue: Any failure by the league to suspend the instigator of this incident, Richardson, is absolutely unacceptable.

I am unbothered by Garnett's actions, in the midst of a scrum that David Stern's beloved officials once again totally failed to handle.

You do what you have to do.

No worries. Go play defense with the same level of intensity as the second half and Miami has no chance Tuesday night.

[j804]

Rivers is absolutely correct about this issue: Any failure by the league to suspend the instigator of this incident, Richardson, is absolutely unacceptable.

I am unbothered by Garnett's actions, in the midst of a scrum that David Stern's beloved officials once again totally failed to handle.

You do what you have to do.

No worries. Go play defense with the same level of intensity as the second half and Miami has no chance Tuesday night.

TP spot on Bo, in the words of KG "....it is what it is."

[Jaycelt]

Rivers is absolutely correct about this issue: Any failure by the league to suspend the instigator of this incident, Richardson, is absolutely unacceptable.

I am unbothered by Garnett's actions, in the midst of a scrum that David Stern's beloved officials once again totally failed to handle.

You do what you have to do.

No worries. Go play defense with the same level of intensity as the second half and Miami has no chance Tuesday night.

TP spot on Bo, in the words of KG "....it is what it is."

I could also not agree more.  NBA officials FAIL.  Players, coaches and fans reap the consequences. Officials go on to the next game.

[Q_FBE]

Wow. Common sense on Doc's part. That'll be, what, a $50 K fine, right?

I think it will be 100 k. Remember, the NBA front office just loves making an example of the Celtics. Good comment by Doc and by you.

[Bahku]

Tough to have someone's back when they're on the court and you're in the locker-room, but whatever ... he's trying to say he's sorry in his way and give the team some inspiration, so it's all good, I guess.

In reference to some other stuff being tossed around, there's nothing "good" about KG being suspended ... this team plays it's best with him on the floor, and not having your number two, (or one), superstar playing during a playoff game, is just plain detrimental.

If (God forbid) we lose this game, and in turn the series, then almost everyone will blame it on KG, or at least his absence ... that would not only undermine the success of this team next season, but have a very negative effect on KG personally.

I have faith that we'll weather this whole thing, and that we'll win tomorrow night despite KG's absence, but this attitude that I'm sharing with most, that we've done it before without him, (and in fact did it in last year's playoffs), may supply just enough over-confidence to mess us up.

On the other hand, if we can win tomorrow and put this thing behind us, it could be a huge boost to the confidence of our bench players, and that's never a bad thing. I pray that's exactly what happens, so the team, and KG especially, doesn't have to look back on this with regret.

All that said, the league needs to take a long hard look at why Q didn't get a suspension also ... without his taunting an injured player who's lying on the floor, and him grabbing KG's arm, this whole thing would be a non-incident.

No matter what happens tomorrow, I'm praying that the "fates"  will supply some kind of justice and balance to this thing.

[guava_wrench]

Rivers is absolutely correct about this issue: Any failure by the league to suspend the instigator of this incident, Richardson, is absolutely unacceptable.

I am unbothered by Garnett's actions, in the midst of a scrum that David Stern's beloved officials once again totally failed to handle.

You do what you have to do.

No worries. Go play defense with the same level of intensity as the second half and Miami has no chance Tuesday night.

Did Q Rich throw an elbow? Why should Q Rich be suspended? Makes no sense. Doc is just copying Phil Jackson-like posturing.

You talk trash, you get a tech. You don't get suspended. Isn't this obvious? Even if you instigate the trash talking, you just get a tech. Throwing elbows at people gets different treatment, and we should all be aware of that if we are familiar with the NBA.

As far as KG's "I got your back", I think that was a good thing to say. That is pretty much the only positive spin to put on the situation. Saying to your teammates "I won't let anyone mess with you" is a good thing. I would prefer no elbow, but we have to make the best of the circumstances.

[guava_wrench]

Tough to have someone's back when they're on the court and you're in the locker-room, but whatever ... he's trying to say he's sorry in his way and give the team some inspiration, so it's all good, I guess.

In reference to some other stuff being tossed around, there's nothing "good" about KG being suspended ... this team plays it's best with him on the floor, and not having your number two, (or one), superstar playing during a playoff game, is just plain detrimental.

If (God forbid) we lose this game, and in turn the series, then almost everyone will blame it on KG, or at least his absence ... that would not only undermine the success of this team next season, but have a very negative effect on KG personally.

I have faith that we'll weather this whole thing, and that we'll win tomorrow night despite KG's absence, but this attitude that I'm sharing with most, that we've done it before without him, (and in fact did it in last year's playoffs), may supply just enough over-confidence to mess us up.

On the other hand, if we can win tomorrow and put this thing behind us, it could be a huge boost to the confidence of our bench players, and that's never a bad thing. I pray that's exactly what happens, so the team, and KG especially, doesn't have to look back on this with regret.

All that said, the league needs to take a long hard look at why Q didn't get a suspension also ... without his taunting an injured player who's lying on the floor, and him grabbing KG's arm, this whole thing would be a non-incident.

No matter what happens tomorrow, I'm praying that the "fates"  will supply some kind of justice and balance to this thing.

He didn't get suspended because he didn't throw an elbow at someone's head. People do all sorts of things on the court that get them techs. Q Rich got a tech. Everything exploded with the elbow to the head, not with the taunting. The exploding is pretty irrelevant to the suspension anyway.

[Drucci]

I like the quote and the spirit but like Chris said, it's well said and inspirational but on the other hand KG won't play and he let his teammates down in a way so... it's disappointing.

On a kind of unrelated note, I just can't imagine how much blame Sheed would have taken had he been suspended in place of KG for the same incident.

[moiso]

Agree with quavawrench.  People get techs for taunting and suspensions for striking.  It's really that simple.  It's how it's always been.
Should a player get suspended every time he taunts someone on the court?  Of course not.  If so, KG would be suspended every game of every year.

[CoachBo]

Rivers is absolutely correct about this issue: Any failure by the league to suspend the instigator of this incident, Richardson, is absolutely unacceptable.

I am unbothered by Garnett's actions, in the midst of a scrum that David Stern's beloved officials once again totally failed to handle.

You do what you have to do.

No worries. Go play defense with the same level of intensity as the second half and Miami has no chance Tuesday night.

Did Q Rich throw an elbow? Why should Q Rich be suspended? Makes no sense. Doc is just copying Phil Jackson-like posturing.

You talk trash, you get a tech. You don't get suspended. Isn't this obvious? Even if you instigate the trash talking, you just get a tech. Throwing elbows at people gets different treatment, and we should all be aware of that if we are familiar with the NBA.

As far as KG's "I got your back", I think that was a good thing to say. That is pretty much the only positive spin to put on the situation. Saying to your teammates "I won't let anyone mess with you" is a good thing. I would prefer no elbow, but we have to make the best of the circumstances.

Actually, any suggestion that an instigator - which Richardson CLEARLY was - shouldn't get suspended is what makes no sense.

You run your yap, you start trouble. Period. There's NO acceptable excuse why Richardson didn't get suspended. You want to suspend Garnett, fine. I still think it's a gross overreaction by the league, but if you want to land on the elbow, OK.

But don't reward the loudmouth who instigated the entire incident. If the little Napoleon thinks he's controlling a repeat of these incidents with this action, he's not as smart as he thinks he is.

As usual, David Stern and Stu Jackson got it wrong. Again.

[moiso]

Rivers is absolutely correct about this issue: Any failure by the league to suspend the instigator of this incident, Richardson, is absolutely unacceptable.

I am unbothered by Garnett's actions, in the midst of a scrum that David Stern's beloved officials once again totally failed to handle.

You do what you have to do.

No worries. Go play defense with the same level of intensity as the second half and Miami has no chance Tuesday night.

Did Q Rich throw an elbow? Why should Q Rich be suspended? Makes no sense. Doc is just copying Phil Jackson-like posturing.

You talk trash, you get a tech. You don't get suspended. Isn't this obvious? Even if you instigate the trash talking, you just get a tech. Throwing elbows at people gets different treatment, and we should all be aware of that if we are familiar with the NBA.

As far as KG's "I got your back", I think that was a good thing to say. That is pretty much the only positive spin to put on the situation. Saying to your teammates "I won't let anyone mess with you" is a good thing. I would prefer no elbow, but we have to make the best of the circumstances.

Actually, any suggestion that an instigator - which Richardson CLEARLY was - shouldn't get suspended is what makes no sense.

You run your yap, you start trouble. Period. There's NO acceptable excuse why Richardson didn't get suspended. You want to suspend Garnett, fine. I still think it's a gross overreaction by the league, but if you want to land on the elbow, OK.

But don't reward the loudmouth who instigated the entire incident. If the little Napoleon thinks he's controlling a repeat of these incidents with this action, he's not as smart as he thinks he is.

As usual, David Stern and Stu Jackson got it wrong. Again.

By this logic, any player could punch out any player on the court who talks trash to him, and both players would get the same penalty.  Ridiculous.

[2short]

This team needs something like this plain & simple.  A McHale clothesline of Rambis, a Bird tussle (insert many names).  We need fire back for a full game and that word that was used a few years ago...ubuning....can't remember because it really hasn't showed up this year!
Its a team game, I won't blame kg if we loose, his teammates need to step up. 

[Birdbrain]

Rivers is absolutely correct about this issue: Any failure by the league to suspend the instigator of this incident, Richardson, is absolutely unacceptable.

I am unbothered by Garnett's actions, in the midst of a scrum that David Stern's beloved officials once again totally failed to handle.

You do what you have to do.

No worries. Go play defense with the same level of intensity as the second half and Miami has no chance Tuesday night.

Did Q Rich throw an elbow? Why should Q Rich be suspended? Makes no sense. Doc is just copying Phil Jackson-like posturing.

You talk trash, you get a tech. You don't get suspended. Isn't this obvious? Even if you instigate the trash talking, you just get a tech. Throwing elbows at people gets different treatment, and we should all be aware of that if we are familiar with the NBA.

As far as KG's "I got your back", I think that was a good thing to say. That is pretty much the only positive spin to put on the situation. Saying to your teammates "I won't let anyone mess with you" is a good thing. I would prefer no elbow, but we have to make the best of the circumstances.

Actually, any suggestion that an instigator - which Richardson CLEARLY was - shouldn't get suspended is what makes no sense.

You run your yap, you start trouble. Period. There's NO acceptable excuse why Richardson didn't get suspended. You want to suspend Garnett, fine. I still think it's a gross overreaction by the league, but if you want to land on the elbow, OK.

But don't reward the loudmouth who instigated the entire incident. If the little Napoleon thinks he's controlling a repeat of these incidents with this action, he's not as smart as he thinks he is.

As usual, David Stern and Stu Jackson got it wrong. Again.

By this logic, any player could punch out any player on the court who talks trash to him, and both players would get the same penalty.  Ridiculous.

yeah except that wasn't the actual scenario.

I feel like I'm wasting my time with this but..

Paul was hurt on the sideline and KG and BBD were over him checking if he was alright.  And QBall interjected to trash talk while he was still on the ground.  KG nudged him out which he took objection to and got in KGs face (lol jealous FA wishes he was Paul).   Why Celtic (I know why actually) don't understand this is beyond me.  Some Celtic fans have taken the Kelley(extra e) Dwyer/Bill Simmons (blogger for page views) side of things with regard to KG.  I'm taking his.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I don't think anyone doubted that KG had their back, but I do think this was the first leadership move made in awhile.  As a result, I think the team will come together a bit more knowing that it's all or nothing.

With regards to Q-Rich... I ABSOLUTELY agree that he should have been suspended.  Trash talking is something that is done in the media or during play.  He wasn't trash talking, he was instigating a fight as much as anyone possibly could instigate one.  He created a dangerous situation that didn't blow up b/c of Garnett's elbow.  It blew up way before that, and all thanks to Richardson.  The NBA is so backwards on their penalties. 

Hopefully the Celtics don't worry about Richardson because quite frankly he isn't worth letting in your head.  Instead, they need to play fierce defense and attack the rim on offense. 

[Greenbean]

I just want to reiterate that i did not start this thread as a "this is a good thing" message.

I am seperating the incident from the comment. The suspension happened and KG hurt his team by taking the conflict to a physical level. This is a guy that as long as I have seen him on the Celtics has shown tremendous restraint in regards to these situations. For a guy that talks as much garbage as he does he almost always is able to walk away with his hands up. I think this was a special case where he was literally surrounded by the entire heat bench end he just did not think before acting. It is unfortunate but it is over.

Moving forward, I think Kevin, through the media, wants his team to know that he is sorry but also that he would do it again (minus the elbow) if he thought his teammate was in trouble. Keep in mind, this was not Kevin's fight. This was between Paul and Q and KG stepped in. I think this team is gelling right now from a chemistry standpoint. Just from comments I have been hearing out of practices, guys are throwing egos aside. This is not an overwhelming feeling yet but certainly a developing one.

KG has been getting killed in the media for that elbow and alot of people are right. He should not have thrown it. But the principle KG was fighting for I am totally fine with.

You cross this line on ANY of my teammates, and I will take exception.

Next time lets get back at them on the court.