Jason Whitlock Praises Pierce, Blasts KG

[Big Baby]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/basketball/story/655455.html

Some choice quotes...

BOSTON | Besides lacking this stage, the NBA finals, there has been one other factor preventing Paul Pierce from getting the recognition it

[GuyClinch]

I don't agree. I think KG had an off night on offensive. But Whitlock is certainly getting carried away. KG has always veered more towards a perimeter scorer although he will take advantage of some matchups in the low post..

The real question is does he in general score efficently - and the answer is yes. The idea that he is sabotaging Pierce quest for superstardom is just reactionary nonsense. We all know (along with Pierce) that his total game is really helping this team win.

I think this bodes well for the C's and KG can absolutely play better then he has in LA (as far as this series goes). But he has had some great playoff games..come on now.

Pete

[Rondo_Fan]

First of all, is domination by an individual player the goal?

We already went through Cleveland, who has the most dominating player in the league.

Now we're going through L.A., who has the second most dominating player in the league.

Or switch them around if you want, the result is the same.

I always thought that team basketball was the goal, not dominating.

Also, why criticize KG on an off night? He is defensive player of the year, and he has led the Celtics in scoring for most of this year's playoff games. So you take a night where he doesn't score to jump on him.

Not to take anything away from Paul Pierce. It is nice to see him get some recognition on a national level. But even he is more of a team player than he used to be. His game this year has been characterized by defense and assists more than ever before. He is willing to take a 12 point night if somebody else has a hot hand and it means the win.

I'd like to see us go to KG more in the post, for sure. But his outside game has some advantages. He pulls a big man away from the basket, and that was part of the reason that Powe could do what he did.

As far as leadership, it's clear that KG and PP are co-leaders of the Celtics. This is not PP's team alone. What's great about KG from PP's point of view, is that Paul Pierce has always been a great leader by example. He has just not been a rah-rah inspirational type of guy, which we badly needed. Now that the Celtics have an inspirational rah-rah type of guy, Pierce's leadership by example really shines. KG and PP complement each other.

This article was written by a guy who has not seen that many games this season.

[Chief]

I got to admit i was annoyed a touch KG's persistance of shooting from the perimeter after the heat checks failed but Mr Whitlock needs to remember our defensive philosophy , the focus and the passion which alot of these players on our team now have are a direct result of KG and his passion for the game and will to win , something that Dirk was never able to pass onto his teammates.ever.
Just someone new that pretends to claim he knows this team after 2 games.

[sully00]

I think that Whitlock's point is there to be taken. KG isn't 23 years old anymore. Everything that he has done this season, as great as it was, doesn't mean a thing if disapears now. This is his moment, Pierce knows it and he has siezed it.

Russell talked about it reference to Kobe in the pregame. It isn't about what the defense gives you at this point it is what you are going to take.

The worst thing about KG floating on the outside the way he is doing is that it is totally contrary to the team game plan especially in this series. There is no scary low post defender to draw out. Doc was talking about how the team is so much better if the offense runs through KG in the post, that they track those touches and when it happenes they can't be beat. They don't count his touches 20 ft from the hoop and the pick and pop plays.

KG in game 2 and the second half of game 1 has been guilty of what many have observed over his career. He is avoiding the double team instead of embracing it. I just hope that there is someone in the organization can stand up to him and make him realize that those 18-20 fts are going to be there all day you don't have to position for those with 20 seconds on the clock. It is Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom not Russell and Cowens go to work big fella.

[Tricky Ricky]

Garnett NEEDS to take off his skirt and go down low, his defense has been great but we NEED KG to stop taking those jumpers and go to the paint.

[Rondo_Fan]

I think that Whitlock's point is there to be taken. KG isn't 23 years old anymore. Everything that he has done this season, as great as it was, doesn't mean a thing if disapears now. This is his moment, Pierce knows it and he has siezed it.

Russell talked about it reference to Kobe in the pregame. It isn't about what the defense gives you at this point it is what you are going to take.

The worst thing about KG floating on the outside the way he is doing is that it is totally contrary to the team game plan especially in this series. There is no scary low post defender to draw out. Doc was talking about how the team is so much better if the offense runs through KG in the post, that they track those touches and when it happenes they can't be beat. They don't count his touches 20 ft from the hoop and the pick and pop plays.

KG in game 2 and the second half of game 1 has been guilty of what many have observed over his career. He is avoiding the double team instead of embracing it. I just hope that there is someone in the organization can stand up to him and make him realize that those 18-20 fts are going to be there all day you don't have to position for those with 20 seconds on the clock. It is Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom not Russell and Cowens go to work big fella.

Sully, how do you feel that Pierce's approach to the series has been so far?

I see him taking 3-pointers from way outside.

They're just falling, that's all, and KG's shots aren't.

Look at the stats. KG has been our leading scorer in 16 of 22 playoff games this year. And I won't even get started on rebounds, defense, etc. How is Pierce seizing the moment where KG isn't?

And Whitlock's comments go beyond the outside shooting into leadership, this is Pierce's team, etc. Anyone who is going to discount the leadership role that KG has played on this team this year just knows nothing at all about the Celtics. It has been a 100% transformation in terms of expectations, energy, professionalism, dedication on the defensive end, etc. I could go on and on, except that everybody and their brother has already waxed eloquent about this numerous times during the season.

It's a fair point about KG shooting from outside, but Pierce is doing the same thing. I expect that L.A. is going to try to stiffen up their interior defense in Game 3, and that's where we really need both of them to take it inside, especially Pierce. When he is slashing to the hoop, he is the same thing to us that a stopper is to a baseball team. He makes it impossible for the other team to go on long runs without us scoring. We could have used a little bit of that last night.

Lighten up and give them both credit. They deserve it.

[TommyPoints]

I'm always screaming for KG to go to the basket, but I do the same for Pierce. I'm sure if last night KG's shots were all falling and Pierce's weren't people would be complaining about Paul and praising KG. It is hard to complain too much when he hits those shots the majority of the time.

[Bad-Thoma]

I don't agree. I think KG had an off night on offensive. But Whitlock is certainly getting carried away. KG has always veered more towards a perimeter scorer although he will take advantage of some matchups in the low post..

The real question is does he in general score efficently - and the answer is yes. The idea that he is sabotaging Pierce quest for superstardom is just reactionary nonsense. We all know (along with Pierce) that his total game is really helping this team win.

I think this bodes well for the C's and KG can absolutely play better then he has in LA (as far as this series goes). But he has had some great playoff games..come on now.

Pete

What he said.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Garnett NEEDS to take off his skirt and go down low, his defense has been great but we NEED KG to stop taking those jumpers and go to the paint.

I usually agree with Whitlock and this column is no exception. While I don't think Garnett is a serial candy-ass, he was frustrating the hell out of me last night. WAY too many 15-18 foot jumpers...it's not like Duncan or Shaq was guarding him...Pau "Tissue Paper" Gasol was! If KG lived in the post this series he'd average 30 a night.

I expect to see this in game 3.

[SuperDeluxe]

How can you blast a player who has been the major catalyst of this team's complete transformation? We are up 2-0 in the Finals, for crying out loud!

[sully00]

Rondo_Fan

It is more complicated than you are making it out to be. Pierce is taking one of the most high percentage perimeter shots in the game, the open 3 in transition. In the half court Paul is going to the rim. I don't have a problem with KG taking those 18-20 fts, it is his shot. The problem is that he needs to establish position in the paint at the beginning of the possession to collapse the defense and spread the floor to open things up for Ray and Posey.

He can still roll out to the perimeter for his shot as the possession winds down. But by establishing himself out there so early in the possession he extends the Laker defense and makes it very hard to reverse the ball. So we end up with those skip passes cross court from Paul to Ray in the corner that are low percentage and caused a couple of turnovers.

If you get a chance watch that 4th quarter again especially the last 7 min run, KG misses 3 jumpers I am pretty sure on all 3 he put the ball on the floor to dribble closer to the hoop, that should never happen.

KG gets a lot of credit for the energy level this team plays with and rightly so. But the other side of the coin is that when you see this team back off and lose that edge he is still the source.

PP shut it down intensity wise in the 4th as well, but he doesn't get credit for establishing it anyhow, and he also recovered to save the win. I wonder if KG can turn it back on once he shuts it down?

[underneathtoDJ]

KG is what he is. He's always been a perimiter oriented big man and he's a damn good one. He's not a low post banger and he probably won't be if he hasn't already done it.

With that being said, KG is still a GREAT player, one capable of dominating any game regardless of where he's shooting from on the floor. I would LOVE it if he went down to the post more, but that just isn't his game. We need to accept him for who he is, enjoy it, and watch this team go for #17.

I also put some of the blame on Doc here. He needs to realize that no one on the Lakers is capable of shutting KG down when he's on the blocks. They need to run more plays for KG down low, and force him to go to work. I also love the KG/Pierce pick and roll/pop. I'd much rather us run either of these two plays every single time down the floor instead of some of the plays they run (specifically, the one where Rondo runs around for 20 seconds and then we have 4 seconds to get some sort of shot, usually an ugly Rondo jumper).

But, I'm picking nits. We're up 2-0 and I'm not worried about the crazy finish from last nights game, it won't have any effect on us. Hopefully our bench can continue to contribute like they have and the Big 3 keep doin what they're doin.

oh, and I.....LOVE.....LEON!!!

[MyInsatiableOne]

How can you blast a player who has been the major catalyst of this team's complete transformation? We are up 2-0 in the Finals, for crying out loud!

Wasn't blasting KG...just saying that when his J wasn't falling, he should have taken it to the hoop, especially since Gasol is defending him. Otherwise, he was his usual brilliant self last night with his D, rebounding, passing, and energy.

[BrokenLeftyJumper]

When are people going to realize that KG is not a great lowpost player? Some of you guys act like he can flip the switch and score in the post at will. He can't. That's not his game. Look how skinny he is, he's not a guy that can go down low and beast people. What he does have is an absolutely deadly mid range game for a 7 footer. He's made his entire career of it. But he still catches criticism for not trying to do something he's not great at (posting up) and doing something he's nasty at (shooting mid-range jumpers). The same goes for Dirk, its assumed because KG and Dirk are 7 feet that they can impose their will down low. They can't. That's not their game. They are both great players, former MVPS, who became great by being deadly shooters and forcing other bigs out to the perimeter where they have the advantage. Why do people want them to stop doing what made them great players in the first place?

[cisco]

-= original quote snipped =-



I usually agree with Whitlock and this column is no exception. While I don't think Garnett is a serial candy-ass, he was frustrating the hell out of me last night. WAY too many 15-18 foot jumpers...it's not like Duncan or Shaq was guarding him...Pau "Tissue Paper" Gasol was! If KG lived in the post this series he'd average 30 a night.

I expect to see this in game 3.

I agree with this. KG was frustrating the hell out of me last night with his seemingly refusal to take Gasol down low, especially after Gasol seemed to be abusing him inside early in the game (although it didn't continue later in the game). If his shot isn't falling, you'd think he'd want to work inside more to get some easy baskets.

I do expect him to be more aggressive in game 3 though.

[cisco]

When are people going to realize that KG is not a great lowpost player? Some of you guys act like he can flip the switch and score in the post at will. He can't. That's not his game. Look how skinny he is, he's not a guy that can go down low and beast people. What he does have is an absolutely deadly mid range game for a 7 footer. He's made his entire career of it. But he still catches criticism for not trying to do something he's not great at (posting up) and doing something he's nasty at (shooting mid-range jumpers). The same goes for Dirk, its assumed because KG and Dirk are 7 feet that they can impose their will down low. They can't. That's not their game. They are both great players, former MVPS, who became great by being deadly shooters and forcing other bigs out to the perimeter where they have the advantage. Why do people want them to stop doing what made them great players in the first place?

Well, KG did a great job in the post in the first half of game 1, so he can do it if he wants. This is the Finals and whether this is KG's game or not, he needs to make it his game for the rest of this series if he wants to win it.

[BrokenLeftyJumper]

Well, KG did a great job in the post in the first half of game 1, so he can do it if he wants. This is the Finals and whether this is KG's game or not, he needs to make it his game for the rest of this series if he wants to win it.

He can do it if he wants, he's obviously not a terrible post player, but its not whats best for the team. He's made his whole career and got the Celtics this far playing his game, which is facing the basket and scoring on jump shots. I say just keep doing what your doing, he's missed a lot of shots in the first two games that are shots he usually makes, and he's still put up good numbers. I think he's better off taking Pau away from the hoop and either driving on him or shooting over him, KG has a far bigger advantage over Gasol facing the hoop from the perimeter, than he does down on the low block with his back to the basket.

[tlee324]

There's no question Pierce is playing very smart and aggressive basketball taking the smart 3's and taking it to the basket when he sees the lane. His three's aren't settling, whereas KG appears to be settling for the jumper when he can post up anyone on the Laker roster with high success. 2 more wins like this for Boston, and Pierce will be no doubt win the Finals MVP.

[Big Baby]

KG is a 7 footer. And he does have an inside game. We just don't see it because KG refuses to go there much which is really frustrating when the game gets tight (like last night) and we can't get an easy basket.