Do you believe in Kevin Garnett?

[FatjohnReturns]

Of course. Kevin is the heart and soul of this team.
Unfortunetly KG has been in the NBA since 1995 and will turn 35 on May 19.

If we had a 1998 version of KG right now we would sweep the Heat. Its not about effort I mean he is putting up 14 and 10 after 16 years in the NBA .I think we are just at the point were there is not much tread left on the tires.

The 98 KG will never come back, I´m talking about 2011 KG. Do you believe in him?

I answered your question with the first two words of course.

[angryguy77]

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign team, college, of whom or which I have heretofore been a player; that I will support and defend the Boston Celtics and laws of Ubuntu against all enemies, Californian, Floridian and Sternian; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Boston Celtics; that I will bear arms on behalf of the Boston Celtics when required by Danny Ainge; that I will perform noncombatant service in defense of the Boston Celtics when required by Tommy Heinson; that I will perform work of the team under Doc's direction when required by him; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation, purpose of evasion or bad contract; so help me God."

[jv2764]

got to have 20 and 10 from him or else they are in trouble

[Who]

I believe in KG's elite individual defense on Bosh + elite team defense and rim protection + very strong rebounding (especially defensive rebounding)

And as an excellent complementary scorer / offensive player who moves the ball wonderfully well, sets good screens, is a plus player in transition and a major threat with his jump shot + gives some post scoring.

----------------------------------------------------

Not sure how much I believe in him as a go-to scorer.

As a 16-20ppg threat, sure. As a 20-25+ppg threat? I don't know. 

Against Haslem, yes. Against Big Z, yes. Against Dampier, eh, maybe, yeah probably. Against J.Anthony, yes. I think KG can take all of those guys one-on-one comfortably. I don't think Kevin has gotten many reps against those guys though.

Haslem being out injured has definitely hurt KG's offense. Garnett routinely abuses him in the post with that fallaway jumper of his. Haslem is just too small to contest it.

Against Bosh? ... Bosh has put up more of a fight. Decent enough size/length/strength in the post and good quickness. Harder for KG to create quality shots in one-on-one scenarios ... especially with Miami's quick wings doubling or threatening to double down.

Kevin can still score on Bosh - Bosh clearly not a great defender, just an adequate one - but Garnett is having to work a lot harder to get them. Not sure KG keeps going down into the post to get those points. You rarely see that from him. Repeatedly going down in the post.

I think he is capable but is he willing? I don't know. I just don't know.

---------------------------------------------------

I think KG's best chance for a 20+ point scoring night is off of jump shots created by dribble penetration (Rondo) + ball movement (mainly Rondo) ... rather than one-on-one situations. If he gets those type of shots, I feel very confident in his ability to knock them down.

[mgent]

If I am to build a team to climb from a 0-2 hole, I would most certainly pick Kevin Garnett at #1 in a heartbeat.

If I were to build a team from scratch and I had to pick from active players, KG would be my first pick. Sorry, LeBron and sorry, Kobe, when it comes to the mental, you can't hold a candle to KG's intensity.

So yes, I believe in the Big Ticket.

TP for the thread, Cas.

That's why I can't understand how I lost in the first round of the CB draft when KG dropped to me at like 13.  He only had 3 rebounds and got beat by Gasol in his last game but i still believed.

Voters on the other hand...they didn't even believe KG was still an all star.

[GreenFaith1819]

If I am to build a team to climb from a 0-2 hole, I would most certainly pick Kevin Garnett at #1 in a heartbeat.

If I were to build a team from scratch and I had to pick from active players, KG would be my first pick. Sorry, LeBron and sorry, Kobe, when it comes to the mental, you can't hold a candle to KG's intensity.

So yes, I believe in the Big Ticket.

TP for the thread, Cas.

That's why I can't understand how I lost in the first round of the CB draft when KG dropped to me at like 13.  He only had 3 rebounds and got beat by Gasol in his last game but i still believed.

Voters on the other hand...they didn't even believe KG was still an all star.

That's because - outside of Boston Fans and even some who may follow KG who may not be Celtics Fans - they do not understand his effect on a team - even at this stage of his career.

KG cannot be quantified so much with stats anymore...yes, production is needed out of him - especially over the next few games.

But KG's Heart and presence is why many of us still believe we have a shot here.

mgent - If I was in your shoes, I would've drafted KG at that spot, too.

[GreenEnvy]

I believe in his heart more than any player in the NBA. And to climb out of an 0-2 hole, we are gonna need a heck of it from him and everyone else wearing green.

IMHO, it's up to KG to will this team, whether on the court or in the locker room, to win. You can point at Rondo, Pierce, Ray, Shaq, whoever, but KG needs to be THE presence on defense and hurt them, hurt them again, and then hurt them some more on offense.


This season may ultimately decide his legacy.

[mgent]

If I am to build a team to climb from a 0-2 hole, I would most certainly pick Kevin Garnett at #1 in a heartbeat.

If I were to build a team from scratch and I had to pick from active players, KG would be my first pick. Sorry, LeBron and sorry, Kobe, when it comes to the mental, you can't hold a candle to KG's intensity.

So yes, I believe in the Big Ticket.

TP for the thread, Cas.

That's why I can't understand how I lost in the first round of the CB draft when KG dropped to me at like 13.  He only had 3 rebounds and got beat by Gasol in his last game but i still believed.

Voters on the other hand...they didn't even believe KG was still an all star.

That's because - outside of Boston Fans and even some who may follow KG who may not be Celtics Fans - they do not understand his effect on a team - even at this stage of his career.

KG cannot be quantified so much with stats anymore...yes, production is needed out of him - especially over the next few games.

But KG's Heart and presence is why many of us still believe we have a shot here.

mgent - If I was in your shoes, I would've drafted KG at that spot, too.

Yeah unfortunately it's a draft made up of Celtic fans.  At that point Pau Gasol was considered the only superstar left to build a team around.  Build a team around Pau Gasol over KG?!?!  I was utterly surprised by those opinions, even though the Lakers were champions and KG had a much worse year last year than this one.  Still, I couldn't believe the lack of respect for defense, intensity, and leadership, especially since I think Tim Duncan was a top 10 pick.

[GreenFaith1819]

If I am to build a team to climb from a 0-2 hole, I would most certainly pick Kevin Garnett at #1 in a heartbeat.

If I were to build a team from scratch and I had to pick from active players, KG would be my first pick. Sorry, LeBron and sorry, Kobe, when it comes to the mental, you can't hold a candle to KG's intensity.

So yes, I believe in the Big Ticket.

TP for the thread, Cas.

That's why I can't understand how I lost in the first round of the CB draft when KG dropped to me at like 13.  He only had 3 rebounds and got beat by Gasol in his last game but i still believed.

Voters on the other hand...they didn't even believe KG was still an all star.

That's because - outside of Boston Fans and even some who may follow KG who may not be Celtics Fans - they do not understand his effect on a team - even at this stage of his career.

KG cannot be quantified so much with stats anymore...yes, production is needed out of him - especially over the next few games.

But KG's Heart and presence is why many of us still believe we have a shot here.

mgent - If I was in your shoes, I would've drafted KG at that spot, too.

Yeah unfortunately it's a draft made up of Celtic fans.  At that point Pau Gasol was considered the only superstar left to build a team around.  Build a team around Pau Gasol over KG?!?!  I was utterly surprised by those opinions, even though the Lakers were champions and KG had a much worse year last year than this one.  Still, I couldn't believe the lack of respect for defense, intensity, and leadership, especially since I think Tim Duncan was a top 10 pick.

And mgent - some may think I'm off my rocker with what I'm about to type (and that's ok) - but I'd rather build around KG, in your case.

You look at Pau Gasol...right now..and he is supposedly healthy. But LA is in a 0-2 bind. He is healthy, but struggled vs NOH (minus David West).

Pau had to deal with...Gosh! A 6'10" Emeka and a 6'9" Landry. While those two played valiantly, I cannot imagine how he didn't elevate his game - especially when the pundits picked him to.

After the 08-09 playoffs when he played extremely well vs Dwight, I gained more respect for him.

But he is still cut from a different cloth than KG.

I can certainly understand how our fellow C's fans could make that choice at the time, but as for me I would've went the KG route.

I would've attempted to construct my team even with a hobbled KG.

Sometimes, it's not about winning or going with the flow.

It's about KG - even statistically - playing Pau to nearly a standstill last June..KG being 3 years older than Pau...KG still recuperating from his injury, but yet still fighting vs supposedly the best PF in the game?

And even with that game 7 loss last June...Pau could only manage a 5 for 15 game vs a 70% KG...Pau beat Boston with his boardwork, which I can fully expect him to - when KG could barely jump.

If Boston can get through MIA and CHI or ATL and if LA can overcome DAL and the WCF, then the KG that Pau will have to deal with for potentially 7 games will be significantly different than the one he took advantage of last June.

I hope Pau is ready.

[LB3533]

I believe in KG.

I believe he will give us more than his 11 and 7 on 38% shooting.

[indeedproceed]

Do you believe in Kevin Garnett (ette, ette, ette)
I can feel something inside me sayy, I really don't think he's angry yet, no!
Do you beliiievee in Kevin Garnett (ette, ette, ette..)

[barefacedmonk]

Do you believe in Kevin Garnett (ette, ette, ette)
I can feel something inside me sayy, I really don't think he's angry yet, no!
Do you beliiievee in Kevin Garnett (ette, ette, ette..)

Cher approves!

[indeedproceed]

Do you believe in Kevin Garnett (ette, ette, ette)
I can feel something inside me sayy, I really don't think he's angry yet, no!
Do you beliiievee in Kevin Garnett (ette, ette, ette..)

Cher approves!

I'm just glad someone got it.

[KGDunks]

Yes

[PosImpos]

I believe in Kevin at this point in his career as the quarterback of our defense and as a solid third option with a limited inside game.


Kevin is a serious competitor, and I believe that he believes he can will this team to victory.  I was almost ready to buy into that toward the end of the post-season run last year, when people kept mentioning how KG had guaranteed two more titles for Boston and as long as KG is healthy there's no way we lose.  But then we did lose in game 7, not because KG didn't try his hardest to make sure this team never loses, but because the team simply didn't have enough to make it to the finish line -- including KG. 

If KG were a few years younger, I don't think there's any team in this league who could hold a candle to the Celtics.  But he's old, he's on the verge of retirement, and there's only so much that he can do.