KG is no longer living up to "Big Three" status

[greenpride32]

Pierce and Ray have shown they can still bring it.  Maybe not as consistently as in the past, but they have their fair share of good games.  

Now KG on the other hand no longer intimidates anyone on the defensive end.  On the offensive end he is strictly a jump shooter now as he cannot beat anyone on the post.

Through 8 games 30.4MPG, 7.0RGP, 2.9APG, 1.0BLKG, and 12.9PPG.  This just puts him in the middle of the pack or lower for staring power forwards in the league.

It's always been the big three that were our key guys in the contending years, and that is still going to be true this year.  JO, the bench, and even Rondo are just complimentary pieces in the equation.  If we're going to compete KG needs to pick it up.

BTW - Brandon Bass' stats are just as good as KG's while logging a few less minutes per game.

[xmuscularghandix]

The Celtics Big 3 right now is Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Brandon Bass.

KG and Rondo are too passive and inconsistent.

[perks-a-beast]

The Celtics Big 3 right now is Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Brandon Bass.

KG and Rondo are too passive and inconsistent.

This.

[Inside-Out]

This year's team is an ensemble cast with Ray, Paul, KG, Bass, JO, Rondo, Wilcox, and hopefully another guy.

We need great games out of at least 3 of them, and solid minutes from the other 5.

Wilcox is pretty much only solid at best, and KG and JO are pretty much in that boat most of the time, too (solid, but not star-great), that leaves it up to some combination of 3 of Rondo, Ray, Paul, and/or Bass playing at star-level for us to really have a shot.

See how much better our chances would have been with JGreen?

[Tgro]

I think KG started out horribly this season and has slowly gotten better. He has looked very old at times and at other times he has shown flashes of his old self. Where he peaks at this season remains to be seen. I don't expect he'll be that dominating presence he once was but I think he's still a leader on this team even with his fading talents. I think he still has great games in him, just not every night. For the most part I think Doc has done a good job resting him. He does need to pick it up, but I also think he's getting there too. He's adjusting. I think this just might be his last rodeo at least as a starter and he'll be giving us his all as the season progresses. KG still has a ton of heart and I'm sure we'll see that as the year continues. 

[P2]

The Celtics Big 3 right now is Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Brandon Bass.

KG and Rondo are too passive and inconsistent.

This.

Not.

[coco]

I think the statement applies to RA and PP as well.  The old fellas can't create their own shot anymore.  

[Tone]

Yeah KG looks tired and worn out

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I think the statement applies to RA and PP as well.  The old fellas can't create their own shot anymore.  

Ray is playing better than everyone, every game (except maybe Bass)! He's even driving and finishing at the hoop rather well in this early season. His only slight slippage is in his fts (lol). Ray shouldn't even be discussed, he is a cyborg!

[Spilling Green Dye]

To me, the "big 3" refer to the big 3 leaders.  And KG is definitely one of them.

As much as I love Ray's shooting start to the season, he's been getting burned on defense.  And we know he struggles to create his own shot.  

KG is playing better defense than Ray, and contributing in ways that Ray never does (i.e. rebounds, steals, etc).  While I agree that KG is not playing to a level we need him to, he's still one of the big 3.  

In terms of who we most need to "bring it" to succeed, I think Rondo & Pierce are the two that primarily fall in that category.

[TheReaLPuba]

It's hard to put up numbers when you're only playing in 5 minute spurts.

It's not like they run plays for KG on offense.

The's C's run offensive sets more so now than ever.

KG has never been a dominant low post player.

He's obviously lost a step due to injury and age but KG can still score. He just needs more time to get into a rhythm.

[pearljammer10]

KG is just getting old and he's got too many miles on his engine. I hate that he never goes down in the post but he never really has so thats not my biggest thing. He cant back up his intensity and his "intimidation" anymore. He's a lot of talk but his game isnt at a level to back it up, ezpecially with the minutes he's playing. I think even 25 minutes a game is too much for Garnett at this point in his career.

[GreenFaith1819]

Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VQVYrtnYzs

A few of those were even while he was in Green

As for the thread? At least defensively, KG is still living up to "Big Three" status, to me.

Checking Basketball-reference.com, the only PFs in the NBA that rank above him are Boozer and Bosh.

Check for yourself, under the "advanced" tab, "Drtg" column. His current Drtg for this yr is 102, which is rather higher than the last few yrs of his career, but at 35 years old is still very good.

ESPN's highlight reel participant Blake Griffin checks in at 107 - same as last year. No improvement (thus far) at all.

At least Kevin Love is seemingly improving defensively.

To me, KG is still bringing it defensively. Of course he is a step slower and he is in his twilight, but I refuse to believe the thread.

Trust me - if Danny trades him or if he gets hurt, The Boston Celtics' championship aspirations, while slim regardless, go away completely.

Who out there can we bring in to replace his leadership? No one.

As bad as last night was, KG (and the team) will do better. This team will have some ups and downs this season, and last night was an example of one.

[ejk3489]

The Celtics Big 3 right now is Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Brandon Bass.

KG and Rondo are too passive and inconsistent.

Um, I'd still add Rondo to this list...he may have been passive for a few games but he's still averaging 14.8/10.5/5.1 and shooting .52% from the FG. And he's arguably been our best player this year alongside of Ray.

[green7]

if worst comes to worst bass should start the big 3 era is over after this season anyway