The KG Effect is Spreading to our Youth and Our Front Office

[straightouttabahstun]

Now don't get me wrong, Brad Stevens gets all the credit for what he does with our young dudes. We wouldn't be where we'd be without his coaching. I do think, however, think Kevin Garnett, not only impacted those he shared the floor with, but our GM. KG was workhorse, and an intense one at that. Danny seems to have really liked taking in these types of players. Even with the selection of a coach like BS, he had an idea of what he wanted; rugged defense, unbelievable effort/hustle, intensity throughout the whole game. IMO, this came from having KG for a good while. I mean, look at our youngins- Smart and Crowder are basically the essence of that dude but play different positions, and they get to be a part of our core for the future!! Who'd have thought Kevin Garnett would have such an impact even after being traded.

[LHR]

Some may think this doesn't make a lot of sense, but it does.  It's why it's so important to always keep that competitive culture.  These players now grew up watching KG and the Celts in 08-10 and now they want to replicate that.

[gift]

I don't think it has to do with KG specifically. It's just a trait common among winners so it's a desirable one.

[straightouttabahstun]

....I'm never pulling an all nighter and posting on C's blog again.

[Al91]

....I'm never pulling an all nighter and posting on C's blog again.

Don't be too hard on yourself. Unless your thread is about filling the fifteenth roster spot, a trade that never happened, conjecture, or predicting the number of wins a team can have, people just don't care 

People besides me! I like real conversations, especially those about the inner-workings of front offices, personnel decisions, etc. Like others stated above, perhaps DA saw the winner's mentality in KG and associated that with his on-court persona, his off-court work ethic, etc. Generally, I'd assume that when you put together a team of guys who hustle, then you're going to have a winning team. No offense to guys on the Raptors or Cavs, but I don't hear people league-wide raving about their work ethic and player personnel like others do for the Cs. That tells me something.

Though the best record in the East is only good for fourth place-ish in the West, right now the Cs would still be in the top-8 teams league-wide. Funny to think what separates us and those teams above (especially the Grizz who are mere percentage points above us) is 1-2 "stars". Yet a closer look at those teams would reveal how much of the burden the stars carry, especially among the top-2 East teams. No one's winning an award for hustle on the Raptors or Cavs who's not named Lowry, DeRozan, Scola, or James.

[guava_wrench]

I don't see KG playing any role in this. There have always been intense, hard working players in the NBA. KG didn't invent that. There have also always been teams that outperform their talent by playing well together.

Smart, AB, and Crowder are, at their core, guys who will give it all on defense. IT has been doing this since he entered the NBA. He put up plenty of numbers in Sacramento. DA has had a thing for defensive guys for a long time now too -- or at least pesky defenders -- like TA, West, and Rondo. West was just like AB, except he didn't have the defensive skill that AB has. Still, he tried to get into it like AB. How many times did West get injured trying to make plays on defense? I remember a few.

[Diggles]

I don't see KG playing any role in this. There have always been intense, hard working players in the NBA. KG didn't invent that. There have also always been teams that outperform their talent by playing well together.

Smart, AB, and Crowder are, at their core, guys who will give it all on defense. IT has been doing this since he entered the NBA. He put up plenty of numbers in Sacramento. DA has had a thing for defensive guys for a long time now too -- or at least pesky defenders -- like TA, West, and Rondo. West was just like AB, except he didn't have the defensive skill that AB has. Still, he tried to get into it like AB. How many times did West get injured trying to make plays on defense? I remember a few.

KG has left his mark on guys that played with him.  So I agree with the poster, and disagree with you.   Its like saying a math tutor or high school coach didn't influence you.   I think KG was such an influence that Avery Bradley probably wanted to get a signed jersey by KG...    wink, wink....   That kind of direction, influence and brother hood carries on.   I bet KG, Paul, Rondo even maybe ray have reached out to AB this year via text or something.   

[rollie mass]

Now don't get me wrong, Brad Stevens gets all the credit for what he does with our young dudes. We wouldn't be where we'd be without his coaching. I do think, however, think Kevin Garnett, not only impacted those he shared the floor with, but our GM. KG was workhorse, and an intense one at that. Danny seems to have really liked taking in these types of players. Even with the selection of a coach like BS, he had an idea of what he wanted; rugged defense, unbelievable effort/hustle, intensity throughout the whole game. IMO, this came from having KG for a good while. I mean, look at our youngins- Smart and Crowder are basically the essence of that dude but play different positions, and they get to be a part of our core for the future!! Who'd have thought Kevin Garnett would have such an impact even after being traded.

maybe its you age,russel kc jones,cowens,havilchek, even bird era were gritty teams--you don't win all those banners with just offence -dave cowens was ferocious-maybe kg rekindled defence after the whole of nba stopped playing it untill last two minutes

[guava_wrench]

I don't see KG playing any role in this. There have always been intense, hard working players in the NBA. KG didn't invent that. There have also always been teams that outperform their talent by playing well together.

Smart, AB, and Crowder are, at their core, guys who will give it all on defense. IT has been doing this since he entered the NBA. He put up plenty of numbers in Sacramento. DA has had a thing for defensive guys for a long time now too -- or at least pesky defenders -- like TA, West, and Rondo. West was just like AB, except he didn't have the defensive skill that AB has. Still, he tried to get into it like AB. How many times did West get injured trying to make plays on defense? I remember a few.

KG has left his mark on guys that played with him.  So I agree with the poster, and disagree with you.   Its like saying a math tutor or high school coach didn't influence you.   I think KG was such an influence that Avery Bradley probably wanted to get a signed jersey by KG...    wink, wink....   That kind of direction, influence and brother hood carries on.   I bet KG, Paul, Rondo even maybe ray have reached out to AB this year via text or something.

What do "probabaly" "maybe" "or something" comments add to the discussion?

[guava_wrench]

I don't see KG playing any role in this. There have always been intense, hard working players in the NBA. KG didn't invent that. There have also always been teams that outperform their talent by playing well together.

Smart, AB, and Crowder are, at their core, guys who will give it all on defense. IT has been doing this since he entered the NBA. He put up plenty of numbers in Sacramento. DA has had a thing for defensive guys for a long time now too -- or at least pesky defenders -- like TA, West, and Rondo. West was just like AB, except he didn't have the defensive skill that AB has. Still, he tried to get into it like AB. How many times did West get injured trying to make plays on defense? I remember a few.

KG has left his mark on guys that played with him.  So I agree with the poster, and disagree with you.   Its like saying a math tutor or high school coach didn't influence you.   I think KG was such an influence that Avery Bradley probably wanted to get a signed jersey by KG...    wink, wink....   That kind of direction, influence and brother hood carries on.   I bet KG, Paul, Rondo even maybe ray have reached out to AB this year via text or something.

How significant to you think someone's math tutor is in comparison with the thousands of other people that individual has interacted with? I don't think that analogy helps your position. Nevermind the fact that you just arbitrarily introduced math tutors when talking about the supposed influence of a guy that the majority of our players never played with.

[Csfan1984]

Perhaps if it was the type of personalities/game approach C's now look for in their players it could be true that KG influenced front office. But don't see KG as an influence on the players  themselves.

[mmmmm]

Now don't get me wrong, Brad Stevens gets all the credit for what he does with our young dudes. We wouldn't be where we'd be without his coaching. I do think, however, think Kevin Garnett, not only impacted those he shared the floor with, but our GM. KG was workhorse, and an intense one at that. Danny seems to have really liked taking in these types of players. Even with the selection of a coach like BS, he had an idea of what he wanted; rugged defense, unbelievable effort/hustle, intensity throughout the whole game. IMO, this came from having KG for a good while. I mean, look at our youngins- Smart and Crowder are basically the essence of that dude but play different positions, and they get to be a part of our core for the future!! Who'd have thought Kevin Garnett would have such an impact even after being traded.

maybe its you age,russel kc jones,cowens,havilchek, even bird era were gritty teams--you don't win all those banners with just offence -dave cowens was ferocious-maybe kg rekindled defence after the whole of nba stopped playing it untill last two minutes

Ange himself belongs in that list of "gritty" players.    As a player he was intense, driven and get-under-your-skin aggressive.

I do think that KG's tenure here did help revive that 'intensity' in the Boston Celtic culture, though.

[blink]

I don't think this idea is that big of a stretch ie spreading to our young players.  KG played with AB for a couple years.  AB was seen as a def stopper and that is what got him on the court.  AB also showed a lot of grit and toughness playing through some shoulder injuries when KG was there.  There was def some influence.

Def effort can be contagious, just need to find the right players who will join in.  DA found Smart and Jae who give that same effort and hustle that Avery gives.  I think that is why most fans love those 3 players.  Most fans can identify with just pure hustle and effort.