A little love from the Celtics

[wickerhd]

I know there was a lot of bad feeling in the game thread over the tough play and trash talking of Kevin Garnet and Kendrick Perkins. Thought you might want to check out their comments after the game. Garnet and Pierce mentioned that this is one of the toughest teams that they've played all year and singled out Roy (yes, they did call him Young 'un) as being a special player to have come into his own so quickly. Here are some of the quotes from a hoops hype article, but the actual Post Game Press Conference was much more complimentary:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=6949

Don't be put off by the headline. Its pretty clear that a lot of the trash talking was intended to gain an advantage over a young team. That won't work twice.

Most Celtics fans have been looking for someone to root for in the west, and you guys are most likely to succeed. Somebody has to take the Spurs and Lakers down a peg.

We even forgive you for stealing Roy from us for a used Telfair. If we hadn't had Raef off the books and a point guard available, we never would have gotten KG. Kind of convoluted, but in a way, the trade made us both better teams.

[Papercut]

I think (hope) that a lot of the reaction to KG was just emotional and in the moment. Trash-talking is just part of the game, and I didn't see anything dirty in that game, just physical defense. It's good for Portland to play teams like this, because they've clearly learned to play the game properly but still need to get exposure to the toughness and desire needed to succeed in the playoffs.

[Charlie78]

Kevin mchale was just looking for a reason to make that tradeso i think you would have been alright. Frankly Roy is looking like a top tier player so im not sure that trading 15 years of great play for 5 of great play is really fair but thats cool.

As for Garnett it is not as if this is something new. He was the same way in minnesota. Him and Ricky called us a bunch of cockroaches last year and basically disrespected our team continously. I personally respect his ability but dislike him as a person. You are who you are and it doesnt matter if you say nice things after the game if you act like a 12 year old during. There isnt an excuse for him and frankly Im not sure why he didnt get a tech for all the trash talking. Garnett is just classless and thats okay because thats who he is. Personally I hope he never wins a title because i dislike him as a person.

[SinceClyde]

I disagree about Garnett. There has been a lot of smart players who trash talk who are great guys off the court, they just want that advantage. By the way, it was simply Ricky Davis who called the blazers roaches, not Garnett.

I am REALLY hoping aldridge gets the trash talking down a little bit more. Not so he'll get any T's, but because obviously, it can impact the other team.

It's nice that the celtics are saying nice things, but that "we're better so we can be respectful" stuff won't last long; next year Roy, Oden, and Aldridge will be coming to sweep the celtics, not just compete with them.

[wickerhd]

Charlie 78... Not trying to justify the trade from the Celtics point of view. Portland clearly got the best of the Roy-Telfair deal. Just pointing out that in a weird way, if that trade isn't made, neither of our teams are looking at a home series in the playoff. Celtics would be built around Pierce, Roy, and Jefferson and would be poor defensively and you'd have Telfair riding the pines and no Roy.

From the sounds of the article, the Blazers will be loaded for bear in the rematch and I could certainly see this being an entertaining matchup for the next few years.

[Andre 2999]

Great post, Wickerhd. I think our teams will have a great rivalry for the next 4 or so years, and I'm glad that it seems our teams respect eachother. Good luck with the rest of the season and we'll see in about a month.

[Charlie78]

There is a difference between trash talk and what garnett does. Lobbing basketballs at peoples heads. Constantly bumping guys in and out of time outs, staring people down for the smallest of contact. He is a punk in my opinion and just because after the game he says nice things about us doesnt make me dislike him any less. I am all for some good natured trash talking but the rest of it is garbage. If thats what you want on your team thats fine I dont.

[Fitz303]

There is a difference between trash talk and what garnett does. Lobbing basketballs at peoples heads. Constantly bumping guys in and out of time outs, staring people down for the smallest of contact. He is a punk in my opinion and just because after the game he says nice things about us doesnt make me dislike him any less. I am all for some good natured trash talking but the rest of it is garbage. If thats what you want on your team thats fine I dont.

I totally agree..

As far as the game went, while most of my comments came out of emotion during the game, I calmed down the next morning and knew that we didnt deserve the win regardless of any outside issues. The Celtics were the more aggressive defensive team and they bullied us. It intimidated us and we lost. While I commend the Celtics on a solid win, I will NEVER have respect for KG. He has always been a punk, and continues to be that guy. Hes been up in guys' faces many times (Joel Przybilla anyone?). Trash talking is garbage. Its not "part of the game".. Let me know when Grant Hill or Steve Nash start jawing at people to get into their heads. Give me a classy guy like Roy who keeps his mouth shut and gets the job done, over a guy like KG any day. Hes a punk and I honestly hope he has to retire without a ring. This also puts me a a crossroads because I am a HUGE Ray Allen fan and wish that he could get a ring before its all said and done. So while I root for the Celtics, I root against the Celtics. Its complicated

[Pinot love]

There's the way MJ and Bird talked trash and the way KG does. KG is not a professional. He's playground. Like AI, I do admire him for his heart though.

[Mr Odd]

Thanks Wickerhd.

I cant wait til the Blazers grow up some!!
Once they get more mentally tough we
may be seeing the Celtics in the finals.. .
It will have to be within the next few years
tho if we want to play the Celtics in the finals.



Also as I said before, KG is probably the most
foul mouthed player in the NBA. Everytime I
have seen him play courtside hes been like
that. Its just part of who he is & the Blazers
just have to ignore that. Its part of the game
and KG does it well. Anyway, til next time!!

Agian, thanks Wickerhd.. .

[mojomarc]

There's the way MJ and Bird talked trash and the way KG does. KG is not a professional. He's playground. Like AI, I do admire him for his heart though.

What wasn't playground about the way that MJ and Bird talked trash? I really don't understand the differentiation that you're making.

[swede]

I can't believe what I'm reading. Take a poll of the NBA players.. I guarantee you that KG is one of the most respected. He talks to get himself more into the game but the man has probably the hardest work ethic in the league along with Kobe. He doesn't disrespect people off the court, or carry his sh*t talking off the court. He is a pro's pro.

[Pinot love]

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What wasn't playground about the way that MJ and Bird talked trash? I really don't understand the differentiation that you're making.

The fact that you hardly heard it compared to most of today's crap. Much of it was only known to the opponent. Most of it was based on action, not talk and primal attention-grabbing chest pounding and the like. I love heart, but not the lack of professionalism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vHEWOqdyTg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGX_HXlTV-Q

Players today, except for a select few, seem to be incapable of the competition level Barkley and Jordan played at in that game. If someone came up and nudged KG like Barkley and Jordan were doing to each other, it would turn in to a teenage drama-fest of shouting and shoving.

"It was old-time trash-talking," Barkley said. "These kids today think trash-talking means getting real personal and challenging your manhood."

Jordan on the art:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjH4MCFjysw&NR=1

[Fitz303]

I can't believe what I'm reading. Take a poll of the NBA players.. I guarantee you that KG is one of the most respected. He talks to get himself more into the game but the man has probably the hardest work ethic in the league along with Kobe. He doesn't disrespect people off the court, or carry his sh*t talking off the court. He is a pro's pro.

No, as I said before, someone like Grant Hill or Steve Nash (among many others).. Those are true pros. I dont care about his work ethic. He doesnt talk to get himself more into the game, he talks to get into peoples head. He disrespects the hell out of people on the court. How often do you see LMA get pissed off like he did in that game? only twice from what I know of, and that was because of two other d-bags (Ricky Davis, and Lamar Odom).. Thats not even including the garbage that KG has pulled with Joel

[Pinot love]

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No, as I said before, someone like Grant Hill or Steve Nash (among many others).. Those are true pros. I dont care about his work ethic. He doesnt talk to get himself more into the game, he talks to get into peoples head. He disrespects the hell out of people on the court. How often do you see LMA get pissed off like he did in that game? only twice from what I know of, and that was because of two other d-bags (Ricky Davis, and Lamar Odom).. Thats not even including the garbage that KG has pulled with Joel

Talking to get in your opponents head is a legit brand of trash-talk, how it's done is the key.

[Fitz303]

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Talking to get in your opponents head is a legit brand of trash-talk, how it's done is the key.

I actually agree, I just didnt really go into the depth that I should have.. The post you have above on Bird and Jordan is a great example.. Unfortunately, for the most part, that doesn't exist anymore (as Barkley stated).. People like KG are just arrogant punks

[Bustabucket]

Thanks for the nice article.

[mojomarc]

The idea that some trash talk is more "professional" than other types of trash talk is actually the funniest thing I've heard all day. Seriously--are people getting paid for it? Is there a certification system for it? Do they have to go to graduate school for it? No? Well then it ain't professional, it's just trash talking. You can complain that you don't like a certain style, but it's not like there's a difference between Jordan and Bird on one hand and KG on the other like there's a difference between a Verdi opera and N'Sync.

[UGotThrilled]

Yea, KG can be like that if he wants, and trash talking is trash talking. But its true that you are who you are, and if you are a jerk on the court, then you are a jerk. I dont believe in any excuses about how people just use it as strategy. It is totally legit, and there arent rules against it, but that doesnt mean that anybody has to respect him for what he does. From what I heard, he disrespected a lot of the guys on our team, and I would love to see us destroy them in portland. It should be good. The refs wont call all those crap fouls on Aldridge, and we just play better at home. My first hope for that game is that we win. My second is that LMA dunks on KG and tosses one of his shots.

[Pinot love]

The idea that some trash talk is more "professional" than other types of trash talk is actually the funniest thing I've heard all day. Seriously--are people getting paid for it? Is there a certification system for it? Do they have to go to graduate school for it? No? Well then it ain't professional, it's just trash talking. You can complain that you don't like a certain style, but it's not like there's a difference between Jordan and Bird on one hand and KG on the other like there's a difference between a Verdi opera and N'Sync.

I couldn't disagree more. Absurdity.