The Playoffs - Moving Forward : Can KG will us to the Finals again?

[raynman]

Last year, after being sidelined by knee injury, Kevin Garnett came roaring back in the playoffs and shut down the opposing PFs to lead us to the Finals. He demolished Beasley, Jamison and Lewis to help us win the East before losing steam against Pau Gasol, thus the eventual game7 debacle. Pierce might have been a steady offensive force and Rondo dominated even Lebron, but the real key for us getting that deep in the playoffs was KG's defense! This season, we'll (most likely) be facing the Knicks, Heat, Bulls and the Lakers/Spurs/Mavs on the hellish road to Banner18. Which means KG will have to deal with Amare, Bosh, Boozer and Pau/Duncan/Nowitzki. Certainly a very tall order! These are all key players to their team and if KG can nullify their production, our chances really look good. They maybe much better than the opposing forwards last year, but at least KG has a little more help now. JG, BBD and Murphy may not be as good defensively, but they can spell Garnett so he can be well-rested come crunchtime. He may be a year older, but KG still looks strong and ferocious! We should forget about these recent struggles in the regular season. In the playoffs, KG is the key. If he can destroy the opposing star forwards, Banner18 is ours for the taking!

[GreenFaith1819]

As long as he stays healthy, which he has this season, he will slow down any power forward he faces and help us get back to the Finals once again.

He will be looking for redemption - especially against LA.

[PosImpos]

Will KG will us to the Finals again?  No, I don't believe so, but "anything is possible."

[raynman]

As long as he stays healthy, which he has this season, he will slow down any power forward he faces and help us get back to the Finals once again.

He will be looking for redemption - especially against LA.

Redemption against Pau and Timmy - who he hasn't beaten in a series... Then he can call it a career.
I hope KG's drive will rub off on the rest of the team, especially the new ones.

[ben]

As long as he stays healthy, which he has this season, he will slow down any power forward he faces and help us get back to the Finals once again.

He will be looking for redemption - especially against LA.

Redemption against Pau and Timmy - who he hasn't beaten in a series... Then he can call it a career.
I hope KG's drive will rub off on the rest of the team, especially the new ones.

love the thread but, im pretty sure kg has beaten pau in a series :/

[raynman]

As long as he stays healthy, which he has this season, he will slow down any power forward he faces and help us get back to the Finals once again.

He will be looking for redemption - especially against LA.

Redemption against Pau and Timmy - who he hasn't beaten in a series... Then he can call it a career.
I hope KG's drive will rub off on the rest of the team, especially the new ones.

love the thread but, im pretty sure kg has beaten pau in a series :/

I'm referring to Tim Duncan - KG hasn't beaten the Spurs in a playoff series.
And I'm pretty sure he wants to get back at Pau for last year's finals, because we all know he wasn't 100% when he got outplayed and outrebounded by Gasoft!

[Bahku]

It was the will of the team that got us to the playoffs last year, not just KG. Big Ticket was awesome in the post-season last year, but I just don't agree with placing all the credit, (or blame, for that matter, when it comes to losses), on one key individual.

When this team plays it's best ball, it does so as a cohesive unit, and not because of the will of one guy ... Ubuntu is not about individuals or singular will, it is about the united will of all the players, and KG would be the first to admit that his energy and drive in last year's post-season, was fed by the will of the rest of the team, and vice-versa.

[Papatrichs]

like an old Sage once said... "Anything is Posssibleeeeeee!"

[Roy H.]

KG can't will it on his own.  He needs contributions from this team's other all-stars, and he needs Shaq beside him.

If we go into the playoffs with a focuses and healthy KG, Shaq, Paul, Ray, Rondo, JO, and Delonte, I think we'll be great.  There are some question marks in there, but those seven guys are really all we need. 

[greenpride32]

KG hasn't quite looked the same to me since his injury in DET.  He is no longer the MVP he was earlier in his career and it will take the collective effort from the team.  Our strength is depth, rather than having 1 or  2 elite superstars.

[GreenNote]

The good thing about having KG healthy in the playoffs is that he's always made it to the finals with the Celtics so far. I guess this can be the knew 'never lost a playoff series with Perkins' fact 

I think we are going to see a whole different KG and team during the playoff run, I guarantee that he will show more fire and emotion (i.e. more trash talking ...)

[Mr October]

Although KG can't be the stat carrier he was earlier in his career, he can still have dominant moments. And in the playoffs he has proven that he is willing to mix it up more in the paint (deep post ups in particular), when it is needed.

All the Celtics need to deliver in order for the C's to get to the finals. Rondo needs to spearhead the offense, KG needs to command the defense, and then the rest of the stars and role players need to do their part.

[Chris]

I don't think KG ever "willed" us to the finals.  But his play is certainly going to be critical to any successful playoff run. 

[KCattheStripe]

KG can't will it on his own.  He needs contributions from this team's other all-stars, and he needs Shaq beside him.

If we go into the playoffs with a focuses and healthy KG, Shaq, Paul, Ray, Rondo, JO, and Delonte, I think we'll be great.  There are some question marks in there, but those seven guys are really all we need. 

I wouldn't feel terrible if it was Arroyo and not Delonte for a round.