Prisoner of the moment, or really the best game for a celtic in 5 years?

[scaryjerry]

I thought Sean Grande made an interesting point last night after the game that Kevin Garnetts performance was the best in the last 5 years of ANY celtic, (http://www.csnne.com/pages/celticsvideo?PID=uvXM2-zS0CqY0TDm1QIN4rs2Rx5kknlYQ4udjH )....
  I thought this was clearly a prisoner of the moment claim, and the obvious performance to look at would be Pierces game 7 in the eastern conference semi-finals against Lebron. He debated that wouldnt be it because LeBron went off (my view is its still lebron and pierce did everything to will us to win).  KG was playing against a center who was out all year and another with a bum knee if you take these things into consideration. There are many other games to look at but I thought itd make an interesting debate topic....kevin garnetts performance last night the best of this new big 3 era? what say you

[Celtics18]

It's definitely a top contender.  I would say that Pierce's game 7 against Cleveland in '08 and Rondo's game 4 against Cleveland in 2010 are the other two top candidates.  

[scaryjerry]

It's definitely a top contender.  I would way that Pierce's game 7 against Cleveland in '08 and Rondo's game 4 against Cleveland in 2010 are the other two top candidates. 

Thank you! Rondos game 4 when he was the best player on the floor against the MVP, the team with the best record in the NBA and put up a 29 points, 18 rebounds, 13 assists game that ultimately carried us to an upset playoff series win was the better game by far...We shouldve beat the hawks in the fist round and KG should dominate his hawks counterparts..It however would be hard to argue had he said best KG game in the last 5 seasons

[get_banners]

It was arguably KG's best Celtic game...though I think he had more impressive ones. I will say, if you account for him being older and not quite as athletic post-knee-injury, this one might be. I'd still say Pierce in Game 7 vs. the Cavs (or, quite frankly, any of the Big 3 in various games in the Finals when we beat LA), or Rondo's insane triple doubles (esp. vs. the Cavs in 2010) are more impressive. But this one is up there.

[Roy H.]

Was it even KG's best playoff game in the last five years?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/garneke01/gamelog/2008/

Scroll down for the playoff performances.  I think a lot of us forget how great KG was in 2008.

I'd submit Ray's Game 6 performance against the Bulls in 2009.  Maybe it's disqualified because we lost the game, but his line was 51 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and three steals and multiple clutch shots.  He tied an NBA record with 9 three pointers, and became the first Celtic since John Havlicek to score 50+ in a playoff game.

[Celtic]

It's up there but I gotta give it to Pierce in '08, I remember going to that game and realizing it was one of those games that he was simply refusing to lose. Its performances like that one, last night, and the Rondo game that are so amazing, when you see that one player has in his head already decided the outcome of the game right from the tip off.

[Potapenko Boxout]

It's up there but I gotta give it to Pierce in '08, I remember going to that game and realizing it was one of those games that he was simply refusing to lose. Its performances like that one, last night, and the Rondo game that are so amazing, when you see that one player has in his head already decided the outcome of the game right from the tip off.

Pierce in 08 ve Bron Bron was better.

[Fafnir]

I think Pierce's game 7 against Cleveland was the best. Ray Allen was being guarded by Ben Gordon for long stretches of his big game against Chicago.

Pierce was being guarded by LBJ who previously in that series had beat him up and kept him from playing well offensively 5 out of the previous 6 games of the series.

KGs game last night was roughly equal to his best three performances of his 2007-2008 statwise, which is just amazing.

[BballTim]

  Gotta go with Rondo vs the Cavs. 11 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists more than anyone else on the team in a must-win playoff game against the best team (with the best player) in the league.

[Fafnir]

  Gotta go with Rondo vs the Cavs. 11 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists more than anyone else on the team in a must-win playoff game against the best team (with the best player) in the league.

I'm torn on that game, as amazing as it was how much he dominated the game, it was also largely against Mo Williams with Jamison/Shaq as the "help" defenders.

Edit: I just remember something else that makes me laugh thinking back. Ray didn't have a good game overall, but what shots he did make were when they tried to hide Mo Williams on him and put Anthony Parker on Rondo.

[snively]

I missed the game but what a stat line. 

[scaryjerry]

I think Pierces game 2 performance in this series was as important as KGs last night...On the road, down an important player...Hawks win that game and its a totally different series and he just wouldnt have it

[mctyson]

I think it was definitely the best game I can remember KG playing, considering the stakes and the level at which his teammates were playing.

Was that better than Pierce's Game 7 against Cleveland?  I don't know.  Was it better than some of Rondo's performances against Chicago in 2009?  Maybe not.

But it was definitely KG's best, and Grande knows what he is talking about.  KG's defense last night was SICK.

[twinbree]

For KG I'd agree. But compared to his teammates he has some stiff competition.

Ray's Game 4 in the finals. Noone I know shares that opinion but for me that was an incredible game by Ray. He played 48 minutes, was a steady presence throughout and was spectacular down the stretch. Huge offensive rebound, assist on Posey's 3 and those two beautiful layups. Without him we probably don't complete that comeback.

Paul's 2008 semis Game 7 and Rondo's 2010 semis Game 4. Those two games were so pivotal. Against a very tough opponent. We absolutely needed to win. And they just willed us to win with a superhuman effort. KG was amazing last night but I don't think his performance awed me as much as Paul and Rajon's.

[Junkyard Dawg]

I'd submit Ray's Game 6 performance against the Bulls in 2009.  Maybe it's disqualified because we lost the game, but his line was 51 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and three steals and multiple clutch shots.  He tied an NBA record with 9 three pointers, and became the first Celtic since John Havlicek to score 50+ in a playoff game.

This is the only other one I could think of, still can't believe we lost that game but I think it was 2OT?

I would also go with any Celtic, particularly KG or Ray Ray, in the Game 6 finals win.

Ray Allen: 26 on 8/12. 7/9 3PM-A, 3 steals, 1 TO
KG: 26 pts on 10/18, 14 rbds, 3 steals, 1 block
Rondo had 21 and 8
Pierce had 10 assists

We utterly humiliated the Lakers.  Man that was great.