Kevin Garnett needs to step up.

[Cep]

I know he had nice numbers, and pretty good games in the last two games. Now, he disappears in crunch time. He needs to demand that basketball. If the game is close, we don't want Pierce jacking up threes, we want the ball inside with KG, and he needs to want to be that guy. Tonight, had be kept attacking, he would've been fouled every time, since it was so physical. He wasn't getting calls because his fade aways work when he's jumping out, moving away from the basket, now he'll never get a call when we need it if he shoots the ball fading away when he's 2 feet away from the basket. Sometimes his intensity with the powder, the rah-rah, pisses me off. Dont' get me wrong, I love his poise, but it's useless if he doesn't demand that rock and take it in like a man. We need him to do that, not rely on his jumper when things aren't going for us offensively.

[chakdaddy]

He's been missing shot after shot since game 2.

I felt like this was coming even after the first games - they would have been 40 point wins if we played decent.

[Cep]

It's not about his shots during the first three quarters really. I mean, we need him to take over in crunch time. We can't rely on the outside jumper when we need his inside presence. He's just not calling upon the responsibility.

[TheMartian]

I know he had nice numbers, and pretty good games in the last two games. Now, he disappears in crunch time. He needs to demand that basketball. If the game is close, we don't want Pierce jacking up threes, we want the ball inside with KG, and he needs to want to be that guy. Tonight, had be kept attacking, he would've been fouled every time, since it was so physical. He wasn't getting calls because his fade aways work when he's jumping out, moving away from the basket, now he'll never get a call when we need it if he shoots the ball fading away when he's 2 feet away from the basket. Sometimes his intensity with the powder, the rah-rah, pisses me off. Dont' get me wrong, I love his poise, but it's useless if he doesn't demand that rock and take it in like a man. We need him to do that, not rely on his jumper when things aren't going for us offensively.

What are you talking about? Who was taking the crunch time shots the last two games? Wasn't it KG?

If anything, KG has been the only player the last two games who's been busting his butt trying to win.

KG knows his strengths, and the fadeaway is his bread and butter. You can't take that away from him.

It's Pierce who needs to step up his game more than KG. He's been playing subpar the last two games, and has been more content shooting the three than driving to the basket. He needs to get in the paint more because that is what the team needs from him.

Get off KG's back. A man can only do too much.

[Bleeding Green]

His shot wasn't falling. It happens. It's not like some unclutch thing to have a poor shooting night.

Yeah, he took a few jumpers, but he was also in the paint taking shots there. They weren't falling. He had several dunks I think.

Celtics played well enough to win this game. They just couldn't hit their shots in the paint. Hawks hits some crazy shots and won. It happens. Josh Smith played out of his mind again and Joe Johnson abused Ray Allen. It happens. Who here thinks it'll happen two more times?

People calling for the Hawks to win this thing are beyond crazy. I get it; people get angry after a loss. But if you wake up in the morning and still believe the Hawks are taking this series you're all sorts of wrong.

Celtics missed 9 unblocked layups in this game. 9! They were 4-13 on unblocked layups. Add in 6 blocked layups and they were 4-19 on layup attempts. Celtics hit 56% of their free throws. Who wants to throw down bets on that happening two more times. Because that is what is going to have to happen for the Hawks to win.

Josh Smith needs to block 7 shots, Joe Johnson needs to light up Ray Allen all game long, Celtics have to shoot 20% from the paint and hit half of their free throws.

[return2glory]

KG got outplayed by Josh Smith in the 2 road games. MVP, I think not, especially since he are having a hard time with the worst team in the playoffs.

[cdubbz]

I totally agree. KG needs to step it up. I dont care how much he tries and SHOWS his enthusiasm by pounding his chest and preaching team defense and all that....he needs to put up a tim duncan like playoff performance and TAKE OVER.

It seems just because he joined the celtics his game has declined in my opinion. Yeah he doesnt have to be the main option anymore, BUT HE SHOULD BE in the playoffs. Tim Duncan plays with two other all-stars and duncan takes over when he has to. Kobe plays with gasol and odom and takes over all the time. KG needs to play out of his mind and take over. im a huge kg fan from when he was a wolf, but this year he looks like hes taking a break.

[Relative Autonomy]

Now, he disappears in crunch time.

this shouldn't be news. this has been dogging KG his entire career.

[BobbySura]

KG got outplayed by Josh Smith in the 2 road games. MVP, I think not, especially since he are having a hard time with the worst team in the playoffs.

denver gets the note for worse team in the playoffs.

easily. don't let the win column fool you.

[The Rondo Show]

-= original quote snipped =-



What are you talking about? Who was taking the crunch time shots the last two games? Wasn't it KG?

If anything, KG has been the only player the last two games who's been busting his butt trying to win.

KG knows his strengths, and the fadeaway is his bread and butter. You can't take that away from him.

It's Pierce who needs to step up his game more than KG. He's been playing subpar the last two games, and has been more content shooting the three than driving to the basket. He needs to get in the paint more because that is what the team needs from him.

Get off KG's back. A man can only do too much.

Agreed.

KG had a couple scores in a row down the stretch to bring the game from 6 points to 4 points (and he set a great pick to get Pierce that lay up he missed).

The problem was that apparently those scores went unnoticed by many because Ray Allen could not stop Joe Johnson, the Celtics team D was as bad as it's been all year and they gave Ray no help and Doc made no adjustments on who to have cover Joe Johnson while he was taking over the game like he was MJ.

KG was far from great last night, but it wasn't due to a lack of demanding the ball...he put up 20 shots and went inside several times down the stretch. His shots just weren't falling throughout the game and Josh Smith is just an awful matchup for him due to how athletic he is.

[darrendaye]

-= original quote snipped =-

Agreed.

KG had a couple scores in a row down the stretch to bring the game from 6 points to 4 points (and he set a great pick to get Pierce that lay up he missed).

The problem was that apparently those scores went unnoticed by many because Ray Allen could not stop Joe Johnson, the Celtics team D was as bad as it's been all year and they gave Ray no help and Doc made no adjustments on who to have cover Joe Johnson while he was taking over the game like he was MJ.

KG was far from great last night, but it wasn't due to a lack of demanding the ball...he put up 20 shots and went inside several times down the stretch. His shots just weren't falling throughout the game and Josh Smith is just an awful matchup for him due to how athletic he is.

I agree with your agreeing. KG is one of the best players in the league. He does so many things to help a team win. But, he is and never has been an interior scorer. The Celtics have one guy who has always been one of the most efficient scorers in the league, Paul Pierce. And it IS Pierce who needs to step it up and will the team from a scoring aspect to those critical 4th quarter points.

I've been whining and moaning during stretches of the regular season about how this offense is too perimeter oriented. It is imperative that Paul Pierce regain his driving, contract drawing, mentality, if this team doesn't want to live and die with how well they are shooting from outside on a given night.

Defense has, and hopefully will, get this team pretty far. But especially with having troubles on the boards at times, they'll need to take it to the hole much more frequently and Pierce is the best they've got at doing that.

[Tricky Ricky]

KG needs to step it up or his playoff reputation will be tarnished forever

[UGA Hayes]

I know this a little bit aof a sidetrack, but what the hell was that travel they called on Garnett when noone was guarding him. I think the score was 89-88 or something like that.

[Tricky Ricky]

I know this a little bit aof a sidetrack, but what the hell was that travel they called on Garnett when noone was guarding him. I think the score was 89-88 or something like that.

He picked up his pivot foot, I still cant believe he did that

[Man_Up]

Pierce needs to get going not KG. KG has never been our go too player in the closing minutes. The Ball has always been in Pierce's hands to make the right decision. Ray will always be there to knock down shots and KG will always be there to defend.

Right now Pierce needs to stop being a chucker and drive the lane like the Pierce of previous years. We're simply settling for quick baskets and it's killing us.

Everyone seems to be scared to take a shot in the paint because of Josh Smith, but the Hawks are running through the paint like its a lay-up drill.

[Red2]

we need KG on the blocks not shooting 15 and 18 foot jump shots. that might have worked in the regular season but now we need more of him down low. perk is giving us his usual which is basically nothing and leon and baby have not been able to get going in this series. I would like to see an alley oop or two to garnett or more plays like where he gets his shot early in the shot clock before the defense sets up on him. Perkins could help everyone a lot if he could start converting on some of the bunnies but he is back to his bring the ball down to the ground, wind up move that is easy to block. Childress ,SMith and Horford have really hurt us with their length . Back to Garnett- he seems intimidated by SMith's shot blocking so instead of attacking and trying to get smith in foul trouble he' settling for juimpers and when he does get an O rebound he's just trhowing it at the hoop and not shooting it. the other thing is that Doc is now asking him to play 40+ minutes when all year he's been at 30. He seemed tired in the 4th qtr of both games

[MyInsatiableOne]

[quote="mzepol"][/quote]

Thank you. KG has been incredible for the most part the last 2 games...he single-handedly kept them in those games.

Pierce is the one who needs to step it up, especially from the line.

[tombattor]

They need to step up and tell Doc to sit Cassell. We can't win with this guy killing the team for stretches.

[The Rondo Show]

-= original quote snipped =-



Thank you. KG has been incredible for the most part the last 2 games...he single-handedly kept them in those games.

Pierce is the one who needs to step it up, especially from the line.

He was incredible in game 3 and the only Celtic that came to up...but he was most definitely not incredible last night. He wasn't awful, but not even close to incredible.

[cisco]

-= original quote snipped =-

He was incredible in game 3 and the only Celtic that came to up...but he was most definitely not incredible last night. He wasn't awful, but not even close to incredible.

I agree. KG has not been incredible. He can't even guard Josh Smith!