You actually had me confused but, luckily, there's basketball-reference.com. Garnett's Timberwolves have missed the playoffs only once (his rookie year) during KG's run in Minnesota. Very impressive. Pierce's Celtics have missed the playoffs 5 out of the past 9 years before their championship 2 seasons ago (including the lotterybound season before the Celtics got KG and Allen that had Pierce missing most of the season due to injury). Nothing to write home about but still not bad considering Pierce's Celtics made the playoffs 4 straight years (including the ECF and a Semi-Finals appearance) AFTER Rick Pitino got fired. But I'm not going to blame it all on the coach. But lets also look at this statistically at the championship year. Garnett's win shares that year was 12.6 in the regular season Pierce's win shares that year was 12.2 in the regular season Garnett's win shares in the playoffs that year was 4 Pierce's win shares in the playoffs that year was 2.9 So am I totally off base in saying that Pierce was just as important as Garnett was? Not really. People can say Garnett anchored that defense and I'll agree with them but to say he made a "much bigger" impact than Pierce is questionable.
Did he think McDyess was soft? Or maybe he was sticking up for his teammate that was just thrown to the ground?
He, apparently, did not judging by the spin and velocity of the basketball he threw at McDyess and the footspeed he displayed as he kept backing up after his cheap shot attempt at McDyess.
You can call it idiocy. I say he does it to get himself going. If he is an ******* on the court, he is an ******* that gives 100% heart and effort, every single time that he steps on it. Which is much more than you can say for 95% of the players in the league. He has messed with Duncan, McDyess, Amare, Zaza and other bigs, yet people want to say he only picks on little/soft guys. I disagree.
I didn't see a cheap shot attempt. He barely even swung at the guy before he went into his Cassius Clay boxing footwork.
I have never questioned Garnett's heart. Look it up if you're curious. But you can have and display heart and passion for the game without being/acting ridiculously stupid. You don't think Duncan has a soft image? You don't think Zaza is just another scrub player in Garnett's eyes? As for McDyess and Amare, he barked and when those two guys wouldn't back down, that's when Garnett went into retreat mode. Like I said, Garnett's heart is unquestioned but this tough guy persona he tried or is trying to build is appalling and disgraceful.
I watched every damn game in the Finals and I find your logic extremely hilarious. Defense is ALWAYS a major part of a championship run. So is offense. Being the best defensive player doesn't make you the most valuable player in a championship team. When Celtics won the championship, KG is their best defensive player. When Pistons won the championship, Ben Wallace is their best defensive player. When Heat won the championship, Udonis Haslem is their best defensive player. When Spurs won the championship, Bruce Bowen is their best defensive player. When Lakers won the championship, Trevor Ariza is their best defensive player. When Bulls won the championship, Scottie Pippen is their best defensive player. 'Nuff said. Kobe riding of Shaq? You are damn right. Kobe riding on Gasol? Wade riding on Shaq? Pierce riding on KG? Gimme a break. OK. Let's talk about the defense. Celtics beat Cavaliers to win their championship. What is the most important defensive assignment against the Cavaliers? Obviously it's about guarding Lebron. Now tell me who guarded Lebron most of the time. Now ask yourself if you actually watched the damn game.
1. I think all Garnett wants to do is win. Getting tossed and/or suspended would not help him achieve that goal. 2. I can agree with that. I do think he is tough dude though. Not as a person that is going to throw down, but mentally and in a JVG type of way. He will not let personal battles distract his vision of winning. I think he can distract his opponents from that vision though, while he is smart enough to piss people off and continue to play his poised, unselfish game. Know what I mean? I also think he feels that he needs to fill that role for the Celtics, because they have no one else that is capable of playing that way. The Celtics beat the Lakers for this reason imo. Mental toughness and intimidation were large factors.
I guess I can agree with that. SOMEbody gotta be the jackass. As for the Lakers, we all know that team is all kinds of Charmin
Oh yeah, we almost took them out for the same reason. It really is a shame that the Rockets/Celtics/Spurs were not healthy last season.
Well apparently watching games didn't increase your b-ball knowledge all that much. Bruce Bowen the Spurs' best defensive player? What's Duncan, chopped liver? Individually speaking Bowen might be the best defensively, but Duncan on the Spurs has a bigger defensive impact than Bowen on the Spurs. Just look at our team, Battier has better individual defense but we'll miss Yao more on this team defensively than if Battier was the one injured. Defense means more than individual matchups, a good defensive system is dynamic and involves a certain methodology, the most basic of which is funneling opposing players straight where your big man is waiting. Just because I was praising Garnett's defensive prowess doesn't mean you can lump him with Wallace. Obviously Garnett has great offensive skills as well, but its his defense which makes him special. you can't find that blend of ability, will and brains just anywhere.
