Is KG Done?

[BballTim]

there are NBA players who know less about the game of basketball than a majority of the posters on this board.

There is no way this is true. Maybe they aren't the most articulate, but you can't get to the NBA and maintain that level of play without having a great knowledge of the game. You're talking about professional ball players who do this for a living. They are members of the top 500 players in the world. They know likely know more abut basketball then anyone on this board. No one in the NBA knows less about basketball then the majority of people on this board.

  There were plenty of people here last summer who thought the Heat would struggle on offense and knew exactly why. The fact that they struggled on offense came as a complete surprise to James and Bosh and, one would expect, Wade as well.

I seem to remember them saying they knew it would be a work in progress. The fact they didn't doubt their abilities like many others doesn't mean people on Celtics Blog know more about the game of basketball then Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. Their offense was still unstoppable at times and good enough to help them get within two wins of a title.

  So they expected to win 6-7 titles in spite of inherent problems with how well they fit together as a team? Right...

[celtics2]

KG's meat thermometer is getting near that overdone mark. This short season will finish him off because of the pressure to produce now. Not 15 games from now.  The knee was the beginning of the end.

[PosImpos]

there are NBA players who know less about the game of basketball than a majority of the posters on this board.

There is no way this is true. Maybe they aren't the most articulate, but you can't get to the NBA and maintain that level of play without having a great knowledge of the game. You're talking about professional ball players who do this for a living. They are members of the top 500 players in the world. They know likely know more abut basketball then anyone on this board. No one in the NBA knows less about basketball then the majority of people on this board.

Do you honestly think Hasheem Thabeet knows more about basketball than most of the posters on this board?

How about Bismack Biyombo?

Hassan Whiteside?

Semih Erden, even.

Avery Bradley?  I'm not convinced he's got a great mind for the game at this point.

J.R. Giddens certainly didn't seem to have a great grasp of the game when he was in the NBA.

I could go on and on.

There's a big difference between having the athletic ability to go out on a court and do a limited set of things (run floor, grab rebounds, put back misses, block shots etc) and actually knowing how the game works.

[coco]

Is KG done?  I would say he has droped a few layers from being a top player/PF in the NBA.  His good games a far and in-between now. If I am Doc, when KG looks slow, just don't play him as long on that game.  You could probably get more production from fresher legs when he is having one of those "senior" days....and as a side product, get the youngsters much needed playing time.

I do think the KG would probably look better as Center at this point in his carreer, give the bulk of the big man minutes to BBass.  He is a black hole, but not much we can do at this point.  Decrease JO minutes and develop Stiesma/JJJ.
 

[CelticSooner]

Before the playoffs last season he was looking good. Once he got worn down he was what he is now. Give it a month to see if it's just rust or not.

One thing that is definitely gone though is his lift. Age and play has taken that from him.

[dmopower]

No KG isnt done. Yes KG has lost a step.

Kg has always been more of a help defender, rotating to block mid range jumpers and stopping the penetration of guards on switches.
 The switching and stopping the guards penetration and challenging their shots when they pull up was his specialty. Defending the rim he does but not against strong drives.

I have noticed over the years that when tall athletic players age their games drop off fast. Tim Duncan never had the quickness or explosion KG had and therefore will likely be an intrigal part of a team longer than KG.

Tim Duncan cant stop the drive on switches like KG can, at TD's best he couldn't handle the switches out on the peremiter that KG can now, they are differn't players.

The dream went from the best center playing the game to below average and barely useful in two years time.

 Kg is still very useful as a player on a championship team if he is used properly. As long as he can see the floor, hit jumpers and keep the pressure on the switches he will be very useful for any team.

Someone mentioned him in Dallas. How about him in SA? Duncan playing his natural position of center and KG at the 4, even at their ages they would dominate.

KG done, not a chance but Danny better recognize the obvious limitations hes has as an aging player and get him the help he needs to remain healthy.

 I believe If danny can get DH, KG will remain and things will all work out for 2,3 or 4 more years. If we cant get a paint defending center KG will likely retire.

 If KG remains playing many minutes at Center he WILL get hurt and or loose his cool more than he already has.

 JMO.

[Kane3387]

I think someone called Garnett a top 3-4 PF in this league still. Well, for one game, that might be correct. But if I'm about to go into a tough, seven game playoff series and want and need a great consistent job coming out of the PF position, these are PFs I would want on my team before KG, now:
Definitely:

Zach Randolph
Amar'e Stoudemire
Dirk Nowitzki
Blake Griffin
Kevin Love
LaMarcus Aldridge
Pau Gasol

Probably:

Chris Bosh
Anderson Varejao
Josh Smith
David West

Possibly:

Carlos Boozer
Paul Millsap
Luis Scola

I love KG but is there any denying that in the playoffs last year and for most of the end of last year he was hit or miss with what he could give you on any given night? Especially defensively. When the games went to every other day, every third game was a complete dud for KG.

I love the guy, think the world of him and am willing to give him and the team some time to round into shape. But, I think time and a condensed schedule is going to show that he has lost a step, is slowing down, and that there are a lot of PFs out there now playing on the same level as he is.

So you do think he is done or not?

Done...hell no. In decline...hell yes. Is there really any denying that?

Without a doubt I agree he is in decline. Obviously I also agree he is not done. I think were on the same page here. If our pg and sf are both arguably top 5 at their position, our sg is arguably top ten at his, then I have no issue with our pf being arguably top ten to fifteen.

[Kane3387]

there are NBA players who know less about the game of basketball than a majority of the posters on this board.

There is no way this is true. Maybe they aren't the most articulate, but you can't get to the NBA and maintain that level of play without having a great knowledge of the game. You're talking about professional ball players who do this for a living. They are members of the top 500 players in the world. They know likely know more abut basketball then anyone on this board. No one in the NBA knows less about basketball then the majority of people on this board.

Do you honestly think Hasheem Thabeet knows more about basketball than most of the posters on this board?

How about Bismack Biyombo?

Hassan Whiteside?

Semih Erden, even.

Avery Bradley?  I'm not convinced he's got a great mind for the game at this point.

J.R. Giddens certainly didn't seem to have a great grasp of the game when he was in the NBA.

I could go on and on.

There's a big difference between having the athletic ability to go out on a court and do a limited set of things (run floor, grab rebounds, put back misses, block shots etc) and actually knowing how the game works.

That doesn't apply. The speed of the NBA game is such that no matter how much a person knows about the game their ability doesn't allow them to keep up sometimes. I can't judge the young players you mentioned above. Guys that are late bloomers like billups and jermaine have taught me to be patient. A guy like thabeet who spent three years under Jim Calhoun in uconn I would expect to know more about the game then anyone on here yes.

[Kane3387]

there are NBA players who know less about the game of basketball than a majority of the posters on this board.

There is no way this is true. Maybe they aren't the most articulate, but you can't get to the NBA and maintain that level of play without having a great knowledge of the game. You're talking about professional ball players who do this for a living. They are members of the top 500 players in the world. They know likely know more abut basketball then anyone on this board. No one in the NBA knows less about basketball then the majority of people on this board.

  There were plenty of people here last summer who thought the Heat would struggle on offense and knew exactly why. The fact that they struggled on offense came as a complete surprise to James and Bosh and, one would expect, Wade as well.

I seem to remember them saying they knew it would be a work in progress. The fact they didn't doubt their abilities like many others doesn't mean people on Celtics Blog know more about the game of basketball then Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. Their offense was still unstoppable at times and good enough to help them get within two wins of a title.

  So they expected to win 6-7 titles in spite of inherent problems with how well they fit together as a team? Right...

Lbj is about the same age mj was when he won his first title. I can't rule out that he can win six of the next eight titles like mj did.

[dmopower]

I think someone called Garnett a top 3-4 PF in this league still. Well, for one game, that might be correct. But if I'm about to go into a tough, seven game playoff series and want and need a great consistent job coming out of the PF position, these are PFs I would want on my team before KG, now:
Definitely:

Zach Randolph
Amar'e Stoudemire
Dirk Nowitzki
Blake Griffin
Kevin Love
LaMarcus Aldridge
Pau Gasol

Probably:

Chris Bosh
Anderson Varejao
Josh Smith
David West

Possibly:

Carlos Boozer
Paul Millsap
Luis Scola

I love KG but is there any denying that in the playoffs last year and for most of the end of last year he was hit or miss with what he could give you on any given night? Especially defensively. When the games went to every other day, every third game was a complete dud for KG.

I love the guy, think the world of him and am willing to give him and the team some time to round into shape. But, I think time and a condensed schedule is going to show that he has lost a step, is slowing down, and that there are a lot of PFs out there now playing on the same level as he is.

So you would go into the playoffs with virtually no defense at the PF position. Yeah many a titles were won with this game plan.

 Only a couple of the players you mentioned play good individuel or team defense. Yes there are a couple there that I would take over KG, RIGHT NOW. But only the ones that play D.

 Hes not THAT bad!

[chambers]

four games into the season. It's still preseason for our vets.
KG did barely anything over the lockout.
Old guys like this take a good 10 games to get going- probably more this year because they have less recovery time each game.

Notice that Dalls, LA and Boston (older teams) have all gotten off to terrible starts?

Once again I'm dumbfounded by some of the 'sky is falling' replies in this thread.
Here's the fact: KG was voted a top 25 player in the NBA about 2 months ago.
It's as simple as getting his legs back.
Same for Pierce.
Same for JO.

[nickagneta]

I think someone called Garnett a top 3-4 PF in this league still. Well, for one game, that might be correct. But if I'm about to go into a tough, seven game playoff series and want and need a great consistent job coming out of the PF position, these are PFs I would want on my team before KG, now:
Definitely:

Zach Randolph
Amar'e Stoudemire
Dirk Nowitzki
Blake Griffin
Kevin Love
LaMarcus Aldridge
Pau Gasol

Probably:

Chris Bosh
Anderson Varejao
Josh Smith
David West

Possibly:

Carlos Boozer
Paul Millsap
Luis Scola

I love KG but is there any denying that in the playoffs last year and for most of the end of last year he was hit or miss with what he could give you on any given night? Especially defensively. When the games went to every other day, every third game was a complete dud for KG.

I love the guy, think the world of him and am willing to give him and the team some time to round into shape. But, I think time and a condensed schedule is going to show that he has lost a step, is slowing down, and that there are a lot of PFs out there now playing on the same level as he is.

So you would go into the playoffs with virtually no defense at the PF position. Yeah many a titles were won with this game plan.

 Only a couple of the players you mentioned play good individuel or team defense. Yes there are a couple there that I would take over KG, RIGHT NOW. But only the ones that play D.

 Hes not THAT bad!

Oh I don't think he is bad at all. I still think he's a top 10 PF in the league and probably top 3-4 defensive PF in the league. But some of these guys all around game is just consistently better than KG's now. Blake, Randolph, Dirk and Amar'e are all first option offense quality guys. That makes a huge difference. Love, Aldridge and Gasol's and probably Bosh's all around games are just better than KG's now.

But KG is right there after that. Top 10. At his age and with the miles on that body, that's dang good and very respectable. And if Bass continues with the way he has started, that's all we will need from KG because when you consider starter and backup, they might be the best PF tandem in the league.

[greensquirrel]

KG is not in game shape. There was a moment in Toronto when the camera showed him sitting in the bench, soaked in sweat and completely out of breath.
It's too early to write him off.

[Bahku]

This is going to be one of the biggest "eat your words" threads in CB history ... KG is far from done.

[tenn_smoothie]

remember how Cowens missed Paul Silas in 1977 - i think KG misses Perk. not rehashing the trade here, just pointing out that this entire group has not been the same since that trade - for several reasons.