Did Za Za just punk KG?

[GreenFaith1819]

KG's age has caught up with him. I remember when he was younger with Minnesota, he would go high up to recover a missed shot and slam it. Now he tips the ball and is tentative taking it strong instead he shoots that 20 footer w/c if missed he's nowhere near for a rebound.

You are right - KG is older, but he is still an elite player. Don't forget that our KG just dueled the venerable Tim Duncan to a standstill - and was very instrumental in that win in San Antonio just a few nights ago.

Za Za got one in. He won that battle. But not the war.

[Roy H.]

hate him or not we need him on the Celtics...if we had him this year, we win the title.

We could use ZaZa's size, but the guy is averaging 4 points and 4 rebounds per game.  Unfortunately, he's had two good games against the Celts this year (along with one poor one), but he's not that good of a player.

[housecall]

Zaza whacked KG in the head, raked him across both arms, threw his elbow and hip into him, ripped the ball from his hands, and got away with it ... if that qualifies as getting "punked", then the answer would be "yes".

TP and as we all know if KG had come close to doing anything like ZaZa pulled he wouldve gotten a tech.or ejected.No,KG did the right thing by not reacting to the point of getting himself a tech,especially this late in the season.If the league doesn't take a look at the tape and correct their officials then its the same old problems that people complain about,the players are not deciding the outcome of games but the officials bad calls are influencing them.

Also it would be frontpage news/stories around the country today the saga continues of how much of a dirty player KG is.Funny thing when someone else does worst things on the court than i felt KG ever did they aren't treated like the villian as KG has been this season.

[mgent]

If by punk you mean foul.  He had to also grab KG's arm to grab that rebound.

[j804]

We should have had JO on Zaza to close the game instead of Baby who bricked like 2-3 in a row closing the game 

[Cman]

hate him or not we need him on the Celtics...if we had him this year, we win the title.

We could use ZaZa's size, but the guy is averaging 4 points and 4 rebounds per game.  Unfortunately, he's had two good games against the Celts this year (along with one poor one), but he's not that good of a player.

He'd be a very nice player off the bench for the Cs.

[mmbaby]

Zaza whacked KG in the head, raked him across both arms, threw his elbow and hip into him, ripped the ball from his hands, and got away with it ... if that qualifies as getting "punked", then the answer would be "yes".

TP and as we all know if KG had come close to doing anything like ZaZa pulled he wouldve gotten a tech.or ejected.No,KG did the right thing by not reacting to the point of getting himself a tech,especially this late in the season.If the league doesn't take a look at the tape and correct their officials then its the same old problems that people complain about,the players are not deciding the outcome of games but the officials bad calls are influencing them.

Also it would be frontpage news/stories around the country today the saga continues of how much of a dirty player KG is.Funny thing when someone else does worst things on the court than i felt KG ever did they aren't treated like the villian as KG has been this season.

TP to both of you. The officiating last night was terrible and that's a problem Stern should take seriously. When game wins or losses are determined by refs arbitrary calls or non calls and inconsistent calls, it is an easily rigged game.

[wahz]

KG is a great player, but I absolutely can't stand the way he rebounds.  He doesn't block out his man, he tips the ball, rebounds with one hand, isn't strong when catching the ball, etc.  These are all correctable problems, why aren't they being corrected?
Now someone is going to chime in with KG's rebounding average and claim that I'm being unfairly critical of him, but I'm not buying it.  He is tall enough and athletic enough to rebound effectively MOST OF THE TIME, but his fundamentals suck; so when the game gets close and guys start to crash the boards more aggressively than normal, he costs us way too many posessions...p---es me off.

Random "Im frustrated with KG post" coming. Stop reading now if you don't want to hear it...again:

KG is an enigma. He acts like he is very focused and determined, then lets guys fly by him on d, doesn't box out, doesn't jump high enough or fight laterally hard enough to grab 50/50 balls consistently.He doesn't like the post, and freely admits not wanting to play down there. Pretty tough guy? Is it his knees? No idea. He was like this even before his injury. He inconsistently goes all out back on d. Or hustles down on the break. Talks a huge game though.

There is something about his looks that make him look ferocious. If he acted like he does, and looked goofy like Sheldon Williams, or Popeye Jones or something like Scal, I wonder what his rep would be?(If I could be born again, Id ask to look like KG so this isn't an insult about his looks)

I have been saying this stuff for 4 years. To me he STILL has as much ability to dominate as anyone. It ain't happening, almost ever. Maybe if he was surrounded by scrubs we'd see more of the Minny version, but we aren't going there.

We soon will be starting 5 Hall of Famers and 4 sure ones, but we aren't a sure bet to win it all. PP and Ray and Rondo are all not so different at all from their absolute peak so far.There just is something wrong and imho its all about the lack of low post offense and also easy buckets that we could get from KG if he went in the post and ran the floor. He doesn't go all out but he has sure convinced everyone he does.

I feel like Ray and PP and Perk and Rondo were all showing up more nights than KG. Rondo just a little more often than KG. Perk probably the one who stood out as an every day max effort guy. Bad trade? Im not sure but oh boy does it suck to make a decision to get rid of guys like Perk.

Its hopeless that anyone is going to change him. He IS soft in his own way.My only theory is the following. I'll tell you what its like but if you aren't a track and field guy this won't be a great metaphor. Ive coached high school cross country. Once in awhile there is a guy who is best in practice, and is a great example and leader for that but has no additional gear in the race. His practice times and race times are the same while everyone else, even some of the lazy guys step it up. Maybe thats what it is.

[More Banners]

hate him or not we need him on the Celtics...if we had him this year, we win the title.

We could use ZaZa's size, but the guy is averaging 4 points and 4 rebounds per game.  Unfortunately, he's had two good games against the Celts this year (along with one poor one), but he's not that good of a player.

True, but he's been punking Celtic big men for a decade now...

...and that should tell us something about him as a player.

[dysgenic]

KG is a great player, but I absolutely can't stand the way he rebounds.  He doesn't block out his man, he tips the ball, rebounds with one hand, isn't strong when catching the ball, etc.  These are all correctable problems, why aren't they being corrected?
Now someone is going to chime in with KG's rebounding average and claim that I'm being unfairly critical of him, but I'm not buying it.  He is tall enough and athletic enough to rebound effectively MOST OF THE TIME, but his fundamentals suck; so when the game gets close and guys start to crash the boards more aggressively than normal, he costs us way too many posessions...p---es me off.

Random "Im frustrated with KG post" coming. Stop reading now if you don't want to hear it...again:

KG is an enigma. He acts like he is very focused and determined, then lets guys fly by him on d, doesn't box out, doesn't jump high enough or fight laterally hard enough to grab 50/50 balls consistently.He doesn't like the post, and freely admits not wanting to play down there. Pretty tough guy? Is it his knees? No idea. He was like this even before his injury. He inconsistently goes all out back on d. Or hustles down on the break. Talks a huge game though.

There is something about his looks that make him look ferocious. If he acted like he does, and looked goofy like Sheldon Williams, or Popeye Jones or something like Scal, I wonder what his rep would be?(If I could be born again, Id ask to look like KG so this isn't an insult about his looks)

I have been saying this stuff for 4 years. To me he STILL has as much ability to dominate as anyone. It ain't happening, almost ever. Maybe if he was surrounded by scrubs we'd see more of the Minny version, but we aren't going there.

We soon will be starting 5 Hall of Famers and 4 sure ones, but we aren't a sure bet to win it all. PP and Ray and Rondo are all not so different at all from their absolute peak so far.There just is something wrong and imho its all about the lack of low post offense and also easy buckets that we could get from KG if he went in the post and ran the floor. He doesn't go all out but he has sure convinced everyone he does.

I feel like Ray and PP and Perk and Rondo were all showing up more nights than KG. Rondo just a little more often than KG. Perk probably the one who stood out as an every day max effort guy. Bad trade? Im not sure but oh boy does it suck to make a decision to get rid of guys like Perk.

Its hopeless that anyone is going to change him. He IS soft in his own way.My only theory is the following. I'll tell you what its like but if you aren't a track and field guy this won't be a great metaphor. Ive coached high school cross country. Once in awhile there is a guy who is best in practice, and is a great example and leader for that but has no additional gear in the race. His practice times and race times are the same while everyone else, even some of the lazy guys step it up. Maybe thats what it is.

On one hand I think you are being a little unfair to him, on the other there is truth in your post.  Here is my take on KG: in his prime, an all world defensive player and a very good offensive player.  Good passer for his size, great athleticism.  Always in great shape.  High basketball IQ, good decision maker.  Easily, a hall of famer and probably one of the 50 best players of all time.
BUT, like the great practice cross country guy you talk about, doesn't consistently elevate his game in the biggest moments.  Seems unwilling at times to take the big shot or take over a game when it is needed regardless of his capabilities.  Bottom line: I believe his make up is such that he is not best suited towards the role of primary leader on a team.  He is probably the greatest 2nd banana of alltime, kind of along the lines of Scotty Pippen who was a fantastic player and never got his due IMO.  I don't think it's fair to question his heart, he has heart...just not the type of heart that a leader of a championship team needs to have.  I think a team with KG as its best player and leader doesn't win a championship.  I think a team with KG as its 2nd best player wins tons of championships (keep in mind he is no longer in his prime and has definetely lost a step, probably 2).

Another BUT- the guy has no excuse for his shoddy rebounding anymore.  He doesn't have the athletic ability he used to and he has refused to adjust.  He still has plenty enough size and talent to be a great rebounder, but he hasn't shown he is WILLING to be one imo.