Kevin Garnett made a wise decision going to Boston

[JordansBulls]

First I must say that KG has been one of the hardest working and best players in the league for a long time, and he certainly deserved a ring. Much of the time their were rumors that he might go to the Lakers or even Chicago. No one could have imagined he would have ended up in Boston at first.

I think actually going to Boston was better for him than had he gone to LA. It is true that Pierce won the Finals MVP, but Garnett's work ethic and defensive intelligence helped mold the Celtics into a good defensive team and it got guys like Pierce and Ray Allen to play much better on the defensive end.

Had KG went to LA I think they could have been successful, however I think the fit in Boston was better as he would have gotten much more credit for helping the Celtics win the title than he would have gotten had he won in LA.

[Malinhion]

Well, isn't this a new and refreshing topic?

[magicfan4life05]

It was Kg's decision but thank billups for it

[celticfan42487]

Yeah he defentily gets more credit in Boston then LA where the best he could hope for is he's as good as Pipen was for MJ.

that said I think it's an even scenerio trade. Right now he gets more credit, but if he was in LA with [from reports no Odom,Bynum?] Kobe he'd be favored to repeate instead of every ESPN/media analysis saying this was a one time deal and in most cases that he won't make it back to the Finals.

[Muzzleshot]

This makes good sense, but most things do after the fact.

[nyhuskyfan]

The media keep changing their tune. When the Big Three was assembled last summer, the consensus seemed to be that they would maybe win 50-55 games this year, go through some growing pains as they figure out how to play with each other, reach the Eastern Conference Finals and lose to Detroit (or perhaps squeak through to the finals and lose to a better team from the West) and that their best chance for a title would probably be next year.

Now that they won this year, all of a sudden, the media is saying that they were built for this year and are supposed to fade away next year. I'll grant you that the issue of whether they will remain hungry enough to repeat could factor in, but still.

[thebigjustice]

I just wanna say there has rarely been a combination of all-stars that are as perfect for each other as KG PP RA. They are truly the romeo and juliet of basketball. If any team is destined to be a dynasty its these guys, very much like Jordan Pippen Rodman in cohesiveness. On top of that they have some very good young talent in Boston, and I include Rondo but also the bangers in the frontcourt will only get better. This team is brilliant, and there is no reason why they can't win 65+ games next season. Forget what you had planned in LA, the title is staying in Boston. And by the time Boston have won their 3-peat I think Portland will be the likely dominator.

[thebigjustice]

The media keep changing their tune. When the Big Three was assembled last summer, the consensus seemed to be that they would maybe win 50-55 games this year, go through some growing pains as they figure out how to play with each other, reach the Eastern Conference Finals and lose to Detroit (or perhaps squeak through to the finals and lose to a better team from the West) and that their best chance for a title would probably be next year.

Now that they won this year, all of a sudden, the media is saying that they were built for this year and are supposed to fade away next year. I'll grant you that the issue of whether they will remain hungry enough to repeat could factor in, but still.

I think the media constantly has an eye on Kobe and wants him to have a clear path next season. I don't understand it myself, but I've heard some crazy things being said by so called experts this year. Mark Jackson should never be allowed on the air again.

[JordansBulls]

Yeah he defentily gets more credit in Boston then LA where the best he could hope for is he's as good as Pipen was for MJ.

that said I think it's an even scenerio trade. Right now he gets more credit, but if he was in LA with [from reports no Odom,Bynum?] Kobe he'd be favored to repeate instead of every ESPN/media analysis saying this was a one time deal and in most cases that he won't make it back to the Finals.

Not really. Pippen was great, but KG and Pierce were relatively equal in their production and impact on the celtics. Pierce had a greater impact in the finals, but KG had more for the playoffs as a whole. P

[BiggieSmalls]

First I must say that KG has been one of the hardest working and best players in the league for a long time, and he certainly deserved a ring.

KG is one of the most overrated, arrogant, dirty players of his time.

I hate the celtics for the way they put there team together. there was no skill involved in putting that team together because any GM can trade 90% of there roster to bring in 2 stars.

The lakers will win the title next year IF they are healthy. But they do will only have one year of glory because than the dynasty begins in portland!

CP3 to the Rose City!

[BiggieSmalls]

I just wanna say there has rarely been a combination of all-stars that are as perfect for each other as KG PP RA. They are truly the romeo and juliet of basketball. If any team is destined to be a dynasty its these guys, very much like Jordan Pippen Rodman in cohesiveness. On top of that they have some very good young talent in Boston, and I include Rondo but also the bangers in the frontcourt will only get better. This team is brilliant, and there is no reason why they can't win 65+ games next season. Forget what you had planned in LA, the title is staying in Boston. And by the time Boston have won their 3-peat I think Portland will be the likely dominator.

The only problem with this is that i dont think boston will repeat, let alone 3 peat, because if the lakers are healthy next season they have the deepest team in the league and probably the biggest starting lineup too. bynum/gasol/odom/kobe/fisher. i honestly think that had bynum not gotten injured than the lakers would be champs right now. the lakers didnt even have a big man and they took it to 6 games. gasol is not a big man, hes a 5'2" jockey inside a 7' body. hes the softest big i have ever seen. so if they had bynum, than all the easy stuff at the basket that LA gave up over and over again would be met by the hand of bynum saying "no way man" and the free throw discrepency would not have been so big because gasol wouldnt be playing his fake defense and fouling everytime. bynum would have made a huge impact on that series, just like oden will do to the blazers next season and that why portland will win 54 games next season and win there division!

[nyhuskyfan]

Actually, if every GM could do it, they would. It's not easy.

The only way to do it is to spend time acquiring tradeable assets (young proven talent like Al Jefferson, young potential talent in Gerald Green and Ryan Gomes, and expiring contracts like Ratliff's), and then get the right superstars together (i.e. don't try this with Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony) and the right complementaty pieces in (Posey, House, holding on to Rondo). It also helps to recognize when there's a young GM in Seattle trying to create his own team so he'll be willing to trade away All-Stars for youth.

[Farm Raid]

First I must say that KG has been one of the hardest working and best players in the league for a long time, and he certainly deserved a ring.

KG is one of the most overrated, arrogant, dirty players of his time.

I think the crazy emoticon is saved for when something is actually like insane, like saying Kurt Rambis was better than Bernard King or something. Not for a clear matter of opinion.

I hate the celtics for the way they put there team together. there was no skill involved in putting that team together because any GM can trade 90% of there roster to bring in 2 stars.

If any GM could that, every team in the lottery would.

The lakers will win the title next year IF they are healthy. But they do will only have one year of glory because than the dynasty begins in portland!

CP3 to the Rose City!

Probably not.

[nyhuskyfan]

Bynum-Gasol-Odom is a frontcourt that just won't work. Too much trouble defending the perimeter on one end, and too much trouble scoring from the perimeter on the other. Any time Kobe tries to drive, he's going to have help in his way. You need someone who can stretch the defense.

Odom seems likely to be dealt, but the question becomes who to bring in. We'll have to wait and see. If I'm the Lakers, I sure wouldn't want a time bomb like Artest to deal with (although the Bulls did survive with Rodman).

[The Main Event]

First I must say that KG has been one of the hardest working and best players in the league for a long time, and he certainly deserved a ring.

KG is one of the most overrated, arrogant, dirty players of his time.

I hate the celtics for the way they put there team together. there was no skill involved in putting that team together because any GM can trade 90% of there roster to bring in 2 stars.

The lakers will win the title next year IF they are healthy. But they do will only have one year of glory because than the dynasty begins in portland!

CP3 to the Rose City!

Are you joking???
http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... eke01.html
How is he "overrated" exactly??

I just realized that this is the first time in his career that he has attempted 0 3PTA!!! Compare that with 2001-02 where he attempted 116!!!
Just goes to show you how willing he is to adjust his game to better the team.

[CatNation]

paul pierce and ray allen are two players who are mature and intelligent enough to accept personal sacrifice for the goal of winning it all. kobe isnt in my mind, he isnt hungry enough yet.

because the main thing kobe is trying to overcome is the stigma that "he cant win as the number one option" whereas boston's number one option is whoever is playing the best, whether its paul, kg, ray, rondo, or even powe

[Basti]

First I must say that KG has been one of the hardest working and best players in the league for a long time, and he certainly deserved a ring. Much of the time their were rumors that he might go to the Lakers or even Chicago. No one could have imagined he would have ended up in Boston at first.

I think actually going to Boston was better for him than had he gone to LA. It is true that Pierce won the Finals MVP, but Garnett's work ethic and defensive intelligence helped mold the Celtics into a good defensive team and it got guys like Pierce and Ray Allen to play much better on the defensive end.

Had KG went to LA I think they could have been successful, however I think the fit in Boston was better as he would have gotten much more credit for helping the Celtics win the title than he would have gotten had he won in LA.

nice post. there's only thing that is not true. KG didn't go to Boston because he wanted to. he did it because McHale traded him.

then again, KG was reeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaally happy to be traded.

[Jordan45822]

Lets not fool ourselve if it weren't for the Ray Allen trade; KG would be in Phoneix, Dallas, or Chicago right now. Or even still in Minnesota until his contract is up. I remember him saying the Kobe situation turned him off from going to LA.

[dsorc]

First I must say that KG has been one of the hardest working and best players in the league for a long time, and he certainly deserved a ring. Much of the time their were rumors that he might go to the Lakers or even Chicago. No one could have imagined he would have ended up in Boston at first.

I think actually going to Boston was better for him than had he gone to LA. It is true that Pierce won the Finals MVP, but Garnett's work ethic and defensive intelligence helped mold the Celtics into a good defensive team and it got guys like Pierce and Ray Allen to play much better on the defensive end.

Had KG went to LA I think they could have been successful, however I think the fit in Boston was better as he would have gotten much more credit for helping the Celtics win the title than he would have gotten had he won in LA.

I agree with all but the bolded part. People give a lot of credit to KG for that defense but I really think most of the credit should go to Thibbodeu. Boston built a scheme that fitted it's personnel beatifully. and even then KG wasn't the guy with the toughest defensive assignment most of the time. That defense was built more on the back of it's roleplayers than on KG, even though KG was the fire that made sure people didn't slack off. Perkins, Posey and Rondo deserve as much credit as KG in that instance.

Additionally, like has been said previously, this is probably the best set of 3 stars to put together into a team. All three had the ability to swallow their pride and limit their game to fit the whole, which had previously been shown due to them sharing the spotlight in their previous teams (KG, Cassel, Spree; Ray, Cassell, Big Dog; Pierce, Fatoine). Add to that their skill afrfe complementary for the most part: a slasher, a post player that can also play face up, and the best shooter in the league. Plus they already knew each other. I really don't think that there's any other 3 great star combination out there outside of the SA one(which is debatable) that matches up so well.

[kooldude]

Yeah he defentily gets more credit in Boston then LA where the best he could hope for is he's as good as Pipen was for MJ.

that said I think it's an even scenerio trade. Right now he gets more credit, but if he was in LA with [from reports no Odom,Bynum?] Kobe he'd be favored to repeate instead of every ESPN/media analysis saying this was a one time deal and in most cases that he won't make it back to the Finals.

Not really. Pippen was great, but KG and Pierce were relatively equal in their production and impact on the celtics. Pierce had a greater impact in the finals, but KG had more for the playoffs as a whole. P

KG easily has more impact than Pierce. You're a stats guy, you know that. KG has better impact overall in the regular season and playoffs. Pierce was hot during the Finals and a few games in the other series, Tony Parker v2. (not directly comparing Pierce and Parker)