Is Kevin Garnett like Antoine Walker...?

campybatman · Post #1 » by **campybatman** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:58 am

In that he's a player that you like to have on your team as a teammate, but would loathe him as an opponent. I recall that's what was said either by players or the media about Antoine back in his Celtics days.

I'm surprised there wasn't a thread about the in-game jarring back-and-forth between Jose Calderon and Garnett this week.

Does anyone think that Jose Calderon could possibly be the next Sasha Vujacic in terms of level of annoyance for the Celtics or for other teams?

Is there room to dislike Garnett? I wonder what national fans have to say about that particular question since I know I'll unlikely get an unbiased or objective opinion from a Boston fan. I'm just waiting for the typical "hater" or the OMG he or she doesn't like Garnett responses. Anyways, I'm a Boston fan and I've said before I'm not a fan of Garnett. Never was... And this feeling has nothing to do with him as a player. But, more to do with my dislike of his personality at times. He's too animated for my taste and his antics rub me the wrong way. For example, his behavior after winning the title or him getting on all fours like a dog when guarding a player. It all seems to dramatic and overdone for a crowd reaction in my opinion. It's attention grabbers. Perhaps, he's just being KG. But, I don't like the way it comes off in his behavior. But, since he isn't regarded as a villain like say Artest or Rodman or Laimbeer. Few people will criticize him for his amped up emotions and behavior on the court. Or his mouth.

Again, this has zero to do with him as a player. Because I know that this will also prompt fans to suggest I didn't want him here. Okay? I was more excited about the addition of Ray Allen because he and Pierce are two of my favorite players on a short list. But, I wasn't naive into believing that Garnett doesn't put the team over the hump which he did last season.

I just could understand it if a Raptors fan was put off by Garnett's behavior toward Calderon. It seem out of character even for Garnett. Like it was taunting... I mean there's the psychological tactics in basketball. The mind games. But, again, this hyperkinetic energy that Garnett exudes on the court is a bit much to accept.

Tirion · Post #2 » by **Tirion** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:26 am

I can understand LA fans crying, they loathe the Celtics after that ass-whooping in April.
I can understand Toronto fans crying, they've seen their team outjumped by the division rival and they are bitchy to begin with.
But Boston fan? What, you want to give that 17th banner back?
KG is KG, he's always been like that. You don't like it, it's your problem.

SonicYouth34 · Post #3 » by **SonicYouth34** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:39 am

I don't see any problem with what KG is doing. I'd rather him go out there and play with passion then skate through the game like some player do.

Ed Pinkney · Post #4 » by **Ed Pinkney** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:48 am

I am not a fan of the over the top antics and constant trash talking either. If I was a fan of another team and I saw him carrying on that way against one of my players, I probably wouldn't like him either.

BillessuR6 · Post #5 » by **BillessuR6** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:47 am

Well, when you are on a terrible team everybody likes you, they even feel sorry for you. But when you start winning fans of beaten teams all of a sudden start hating you. It is natural. And if you are a emotional player even more so. We love KG other fans hate him because he is dominating their teams and is very animated doing it.

If he was on opposing teams I wouldn`t like his antics and intensity either but since he is on the celtics I love it. I am just amazed how hyped up he gets during games, he seems to be in a world of his own when he is on the court.

But I don`t really see any comparison to Walker...

And Calderon is an arrogant player. Not many people (outside spaniards and raptor fans) in Europe like him because of his arrogance on spanish NT. I loved the look on his face when Russia beat Spain on their ground in the last EC finals.

Post #6 » by **Celtics_Champs** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 12:03 pm

KG can irk other fans at times.

Pierce is hated on by other teams fans too.

Everybody Loves Raymond.

magicfan4life05 · Post #7 » by **magicfan4life05** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 12:58 pm

Celtics_Champs wrote:KG can irk other fans at times.

Pierce is hated on by other teams fans too.

Everybody Loves Raymond.

GuyClinch · Post #8 » by **GuyClinch** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 1:13 pm

No. He is not like Walker. Pierce called Walker the biggest chucker of all time - that's not an endearing comment. His teamates did not love him - nor did alot of his fans. KG OTOH is well loved by the Boston fans and his teamates.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #9 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 1:28 pm

Ed Pinkney wrote:I am not a fan of the over the top antics and constant trash talking either. If I was a fan of another team and I saw him carrying on that way against one of my players, I probably wouldn't like him either.

While I usually love these from KG, sometimes I tire of them. But when I look at the results, it's all good! :rock:

GuyClinch · Post #10 » by **GuyClinch** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 1:42 pm

I am not a fan of the over the top antics and constant trash talking either. If I was a fan of another team and I saw him carrying on that way against one of my players, I probably wouldn't like him either.

You get the good and bad in team sports with KG. KG brings constant intensity, team first spirit, leadership, and a tremendous work ethic to basketball. The fact that he also brings the tradtional "bad' aspects of team sports - trash talking and likely hazing.. I don't see as a big issue. LB, Jordan and all the greats fit into this tradition.

People HATED LB too - some still do.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #11 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 1:46 pm

GuyClinch wrote:
I am not a fan of the over the top antics and constant trash talking either. If I was a fan of another team and I saw him carrying on that way against one of my players, I probably wouldn't like him either.

You get the good and bad in team sports with KG. KG brings constant intensity, team first spirit, leadership, and a tremendous work ethic to basketball. The fact that he also brings the tradtional "bad' aspects of team sports - trash talking and likely hazing.. I don't see as a big issue. LB, Jordan and all the greats fit into this tradition.

People HATED LB too - some still do.

Hell, Bird in his day was the king of trash talk and taunting...you know what they say, it ain't bragging if you can back it up!

Post #12 » by **sully00** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:15 pm

Mostly it is haters hatin' to me. KG brings it every night, I find it rather telling that Raptor fans think KG picking their pg up full court is a taunting because having watched their team over the past decade it has appeared that defense is illegal in north of the border.

I like his act for the most part because he is able to put on the show, fire up the crowd, and do his thing and at the same time you never see him faIL to get be back on the defensive end or somebody pick his pocket with a steal. He is genuine.

Intimidation is part of the game, if you as a player or a fan base don't know that chances are you don't have one of those hand stiched banners hanging in your rafters.

To be honest his game is much more the way the game was before BIrd, Magic, and Jordan, and the superstar calls and the fancy mikes on the floor. I bet Dave Cowens likes KG quite a bit.

FakeScreenName123 · Post #13 » by **FakeScreenName123** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:36 pm

No. Because half of celtics fans also hated Antoine Walker.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #14 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:39 pm

sully00 wrote:Mostly it is haters hatin' to me. KG brings it every night, I find it rather telling that Raptor fans think KG picking their pg up full court is a taunting because having watched their team over the past decade it has appeared that defense is illegal in north of the border.

I like his act for the most part because he is able to put on the show, fire up the crowd, and do his thing and at the same time you never see him faIL to get be back on the defensive end or somebody pick his pocket with a steal. He is genuine.

Intimidation is part of the game, if you as a player or a fan base don't know that chances are you don't have one of those hand stiched banners hanging in your rafters.

To be honest his game is much more the way the game was before BIrd, Magic, and Jordan, and the superstar calls and the fancy mikes on the floor. I bet Dave Cowens likes KG quite a bit.

underneathtoDJ · Post #15 » by **underneathtoDJ** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 6:32 pm

I think he is like Antoine in that respect. He brings such intensity night in and night out that he's bound to get under some players' skin. But at the same time, I think that KG has garnered about as much respect as anyone in the league because of this intensity. So while he does have certain people that probably hate playing against him and think he's too much, there's a far greater majority of players that respect him for how he plays the game.

Prophet_C · Post #16 » by **Prophet_C** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:19 pm

Ed Pinkney wrote:I am not a fan of the over the top antics and constant trash talking either. If I was a fan of another team and I saw him carrying on that way against one of my players, I probably wouldn't like him either.

dITTO

Post #17 » by **ParticleMan** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:33 pm

he is pretty animated, but i get this feeling it's totally genuine. he's not doing it for the show, that's just KG being KG. he's always been that way, ever since he got into the league. it's just people notice now because he's playing for a winner.

he is fiery like toine but his leadership is quite different. with toine it was all about him and in the better days him and PP. toine's idea of leadership was chucking 25 shots, and if he makes 15 then the C's win, if he makes 8 then they lose. with KG he tries to get everyone fired up and involved, and it's more about the team.

campybatman · Post #18 » by **campybatman** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:08 pm

The last two of you (underneathtoDJ/ParticleMan) certainly understood what I'd meant by the comparison. Thanks. I'm referring to the similarities in that emotion. Walker could get fired up... Garnett could get fired up... It's how the two players and others like them in personality choose to channel it. I wasn't talking about their brand of leadership per se. Antoine was a leader and Garnett is a leader for Boston. Now their results vary, but I feel they both care about their teammates and about winning. No doubt that that's the real KG you're seeing out on the floor and speaking off the court. However, I see it as being unnecessary. To me... Other people view him differently, obviously. That's fine. I never said he's a bad person or player. I'm just not a fan of his behavior. It's too loud, figuratively speaking. I wouldn't dislike him as a teammate but he could irk me if his proximity is too close. I don't know what I would do if he jumped in my face and yelled into my ear like he does Pierce or whichever teammate who had made a positive play. Again, the volume on Garnett's stereo is always up loud. You can see that he makes some Celtics players feel uncomfortable. Because you don't know how to react to that behavior. That's what I mean. Garnett's an acquired taste. He certainty isn't a pizza. A pizza is a food that I believe it's OK for me to say is an universally enjoyed meal. That isn't KG. You either dig this from him or you don't.

One point that I'd thought about after I'd written this topic. How much of this behavior makes up his style of play? And if I dislike this behavior, does that mean that I must dislike him as a player. See, I don't view it all being the same. I can look at it separately. Because I don't think he needs to be this way to be the best player he can be in the NBA. He's too immensely talented not to be awesome. I feel as if this is something more to do with how Garnett motivates himself inside. He almost reminds me of Rodney Harrison. I mean Harrison's on an island of his own like Garnett too in terms of the side of his personality you see from him as a player. But, as said, he and Garnett certainly have the respect of their peers and that's what would matter to these sort of players. Not what a basketball or football fan writes about them.

celticfan42487 · Post #19 » by **celticfan42487** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:28 pm

When I read this title I thought the OP was refering to the dedication on the court to his team. Both KG and Antoine really loved what they did/do. Walker accepted the title of franchise player and truely wanted to succeed.

Bad shots or not he's as much a Celtic as anyone has been in the past couple of decades. And I've always respected Toine for that.

I don't really respect KG for his antics. Sometimes it looks like he doing things that should only be seen in a cartoon or in a video game. It's not normal, and it's a bit over the top.

For example, when he goes on all fours or down to one knee... I have no clue what advantage that could give him but he does it anyways. And he pulls at his shirt and points to Celtics during timeouts swearing at like... the third quarter. The only time I remeber seeing Pierce do that was after the buzzer sounded ending the largest 4th quarter comeback in NBA history in his first successfull playoff run... KG does it in the 7th game of a regular season matchup in the 3rd quarter!

Post #20 » by **sully00** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:52 pm

I don't really respect KG for his antics. Sometimes it looks like he doing things that should only be seen in a cartoon or in a video game. It's not normal, and it's a bit over the top.

His play is not normal either. He plays with more energy and effort than any other big man in the game if not any other player in the game. I think the antics are the trade off for the intensity and performance it is part of what pushes him farther, harder, and faster.

Frankly KG and Perk remind me of the Mourning and PJ Brown and Ewing and Oakley front courts of the 90's and everyone wants their front court to be like that but the rules and tight assedness of the league have eliminated much of it. KG and Perk are finding a way to intimidate physically while for the most part staying on the floor in a contact free era of the NBA.

Frankly I will take the antics and brace for the ire of the entire great Canadian north in exchange for the performance.