Mike Woodson: Celts just as good without KG

[Cyclical]

Wow.

We appreciate the praise buddy but the assessment is a bit off. Must make the losses feel more justified.

Also, Joe Smith with nice words for Baby and the team. thanks Joe.

That's what Hawks coach Mike Woodson said following his team's 104-92 loss to the Celtics Friday night.

“They’re not that much different," said Woodson. "KG, he’s just a double-double guy, and I think Big Baby and Perkins are filling up that void of him not being in there, I think they’re doing an excellent job. A lot of that has to do with the fact that they’ve won the title so they’ve been through the ringer, they’ve been through big games last year in the playoffs so they don’t shy away from it."

Hawks forward Josh Smith said he thinks Garnett's absence actually helps the Celtics.

“I think it is kind of a gift for them to have KG out of the lineup because they are going to need guys like that to come in and step up," said Smith. "Big Baby has been doing it all season, I’ve been watching the Celtics play and he’s been able to make an impact for their team, not just tonight but for the whole season.”

Despite Smith's praise, Davis said he still expects teams to dare him to shoot during the playoffs.

“Most definitely," said Davis. "They don’t believe in me yet, but I just got to keep working hard, make sure I keep doing what I have to do for my team.”

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/

[BRUNiNHO91]

J Smooth is a beast..and he is not in denial like the rest of the pidgeons..I agree with him partially, but then saying we are just as good without KG is a bit off...we are really good without KG, and we are bananas with him...KG pushes us over the edge for the Championship...

[SuigintouEV]

when he says KG's just a double double guy, i think he means it in a good way IE

"KG, he's just a former MVP and DPOY" and that "Perkins and davis etc are managing to fill that void admirably"

[greenbeans]

Seems like a backhanded compliment directed at Garnett to me. Maybe it's just going over my head, who knows

[kmgarnett21]

Mike Woodson is an idiot. How can you say a team is better without their leader...without your defensive mvp...without your anchor?

Yes, it is a little good KGs been out so players can get some run and gain some experience, but we are NOT anywhere near as good of a team without him. No KG in Boston=5th best team in the East, AT BEST.

[Al-Haqq]

We would have a hard time getting out of the 2nd round without KG. 0 chance against the Cavs without KG.

I agree it helps our back-up players step up and learn, which should help us in the playoffs, but no way we're better without KG.

[Bad-Thoma]

Mike Woodson is an idiot. How can you say a team is better without their leader...without your defensive mvp...without your anchor?

Yes, it is a little good KGs been out so players can get some run and gain some experience, but we are NOT anywhere near as good of a team without him. No KG in Boston=5th best team in the East, AT BEST.

Sheesh, how can you call Woodson an idiot? Obviously we are better with KG, but the guy was just being sportsmanlike after getting owned by the C's, giving credit to some underrated players in Perk and BBD. Give him credit for having class and getting great effort out of a young and tempermental team (would you really want to coach J Smooth and Horford?). He's being overly generous, but to call him an idiot is pretty unfair.

[Kefa461]

Being in shock can effect the thought pattern, which then effects the speech pattern. He gets a pass from me for that comment. What he meant to say was " Damn..When KG gets back we have no chance, hope we play somebody else."

[celticfan42487]

Last night we played like we had KG on defense. The guards were scraping, the help defense was intense.

KG makes sure that's there from everyone 95% of the time. Last night was on of the 10% of the time it was there without him, and we appeared almost as good as with him. That says a lot about our team and a lot about the lack of abilities of Josh Smith.

[Scalamental]

Maybe he meant to say "We played just as bad as we do when KG's in the line up."

[BoricuaBoi]

HEEEEELLLLLLL NOOOOO THERE NOTTTT! LOL