Kenny finally poses the KG question that's been on my mind for years...

He's not really a post player, but is a great rebounder and brings some attitude to the team. Not a bad defender either.

 

Many people say that is Rasheed Wallace but he is too unselfish to show it. I think being unselfish is also Kg's problem too.

 

He's the best second fiddle to compliment a true superstar in the game.

 

KG = a poor man's Tim Duncan

Rocket River

 

I agree but I still think he's a little too unselfish, but I know one thing if they lose to The Hawks tomorrow his Rep is going to dig down even lower. I know he got to the WC finals that one year but if they lose tomorrow the media will be dogging him big time.

 

I disagree with the thought that he's a second fiddle or a complimentary player. What he needs is an aggressive scorer that is going to take over at times during the game, because he seems unwilling to do so. He's always trying to get other players involved - even early in the game - but there are times when it won't work.

I do not think this makes him a second fiddle, because you can't ignore the things he does extremely well. Look at the Celtics - He is the leader of the clubhouse and the emotional center of that team - his intensity and focus really drove that team to their great season. On defense, he's a monster - that Boston team played such ludicrously good defense and it's largely down to his presence. He's a guy who can take over a game defensively, and how many superstars can say that? LeBron James is an undoubted superstar - but how many times have you ever seen him dominate a game from the defensive side of the ball?

So, I don't think he needs to be a compliment to anyone. What he needs is a guy who compliments him - a wing scorer that can put up big numbers and is willing to take over down the stretch. Because he's still going to be the emotional leader of that team, he's still going to be the guy who runs things defensively, he just needs someone who can explode for a dozen points in a couple minutes - or will take over the offense when the game runs down.

 

KG just hasn't be successful in the playoffs, like I said in another thread, are stars like Dominique, Maravich, and O.Robertson....were all pretty unsucessful in the playoffs are the any less of players.

 

You don't have to score 40 to be a SUPERSTAR. KG is most certainly that....

 

Oscar won a ring with the Bucks...

 

I don't think Magic Johnson could score 40 points at will. You don't have to be a dominant scorer to be a superstar if your overall game is clearly among the elite.

I think Garnett is more like Magic than Hakeem type of superstar. And Magic is less than half the defensive player Garnett is.

 

Actually that's been a knock on KG for years here in the Twin Cities that he couldn't take over a game in the 4th.

 

Magic didnt score a lot of points, but when he wanted to score he could score. That is the major difference between Magic and KG. Magic was also a pure point guard, so it was natural for him to look for his teammates. KG isnt even close to Magic in the way he gets other players involved. Like I stated in another thread, I think KG is one of the most overrated/over hyped players in the league.

 

That's a silly measure for a superstar. Tim Duncan can't take over games offensively whenever he wants to, and I think that I can legitimately argue that he's been the best player of the '00s. No one would claim that Timmah D isn't a superstar. KG is a legitimate DPOY, he rebounds as well as anyone, and he's a versatile offensive player who does a lot of things well. What Kenny Smith is trying to claim is that, to be a superstar, a player must be a either a dominant low post threat or able to break down your opponent off the dribble. That leaves out a lot of great players, starting with Bill Russell.

 

I disagree. Maybe at this stage in his career TD can no longer score at will, but in his prime, he was a dominant inside force offensively and defensively. He was not on the same level offensively as Dream, but he was still very good.

KG, on the other hand, has never dominated any playoff games. Can you remember the last time he took over a single game? If you are a franchise type player, there is no question you have to have the ability to carry your team during stretches. In my opinion, KG is a taller version of Pippen.

 

KG just doesn't have the playoff expirience for that.

Personally, I think KG may be the most polished offensive big man in the league now...you guys are seriously underrating him if you devalue him based on the fact that he can't "bring you 40" on a pretty regular basis. There's not many if any low post players these days that can...(Yao for example hasn't scored over 40 in about two years...yet he's the premier offensive center in the league.). Only two come to mind...Dirk and Amare. Dirk has the benefit of having an entire offensive scheme built for him. Amare has the benefit of the best (or now second-best) PG in the NBA.

 

When KG starts getting triple doubles by the bucket load like Magic, then you can start saying he plays more like Magic.

Magic controlled the game in more ways then KG could.