Is Garnett out-of-control this season?

[campybatman]

Really, what's up with him. I know I've said that I'm not a fan of his. However, he's a member of the Celtics and I'm a fan of the Boston Celtics. Therefore, I like to think of the local teams as teams where teammates get along. Not like New York teams, for example. Anyways, I heard a tad about this loosely on the local radio. But, I didn't see the game. If a fellow fan could elaborate in details your take on this. I'll appreciate it.

I think the pressure of repeating as NBA champions is getting to Garnett or something. I mean the incident with Calderon and Bogut and his one-game suspension and now I read this. Seriously, WTF?! I mean this could be a prelude to Davis getting traded on account he's a baby or perhaps Garnett speaks to Ainge about him about stuff he's dissatisfied with he sees in him this season. I don't know... This is bleeped up, for real. I'm not upset nor am I really a Davis fan. But, still, he's a young player and might be sensitive. He did get the nickname, Big Baby, in high school for something similar by his head coach, I think.

See, this is what I mean with KG. His volume is up too loud. It's always up too loud. But, if Davis is alright with this and respects him. I reckon my words here won't make a difference. This situation is what it is. Probably, not a big deal. If I were Davis in that situation. I don't know if I would've reacted differently. I mean he's The Big Ticket and I would be only The Big Stub. Who's going to get the benefit of the doubt? Garnett.

Kevin Garnett had strong words for the Celtics' reserves after they squandered most of a 25-point advantage in the final quarter of a 93-78 victory over Portland last night.

Garnett was especially emphatic with second-year forward Glen Davis, grabbing him by the arm during a huddle before the starters returned to the game with 6:04 remaining. After the conflict, Davis sat on the bench with a towel over his head, television close-ups portraying him as near tears.

"I'll probably get real deep with him," Garnett said. "Try to understand what he's going through right now, research the problem. But Baby is frustrated a little bit with some of what we are doing. He just has to understand his role and not come outside of it."

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... llow_subs/

[cloverleaf]

Have you seen the video of the huddle? To me that writeup isn't quite fair in that Baby was clearly already wandering off and not listening to KG in the huddle, that's when KG pulled him back in.

Of course, at least it's a writeup--I couldn't find anything on it in Murphy's articles this morning in the Herald--only Murphy singling out Powe and Baby for praise among the second unit.

[Dogen]

It's real hot in the kitchen right now--- the team wants to repeat as champions and every other team in the league has put a target on the back of the C's jerseys. Baby needs to understand exactly what is expected of him and execute those expectations every night with no nights off and no assuming he can start experimenting with his role just because the team is up big in the fourth.

The Celtic starters will need rest throughout the season. If Baby doesn't get with the program and stay with it, he's out of the rotation. It's simple as that. KG was giving him some fierce friendship is all.

By February, Baby will likely be out of the rotation and replaced by a free agent or maybe even traded if he doesn't get it together. Perhaps he'd develop better on a team like the Thunder? Until then, his job is come into games, play his role, and let the starters get some rest.

[campybatman]

Well, I'd asked if a fan could explain to me what was what with what had happened. If Davis was indeed in the wrong. Then I stand corrected. I don't like Garnett's methods sometimes. But, if they're effective and that's what it took to get through to a younger teammate. So, be it. Davis is a paid professional.

[The Rondo Show]

No more out of control than usual, so no, "the pressure of repeating" is not getting to Garnett and he's not acting any differently.

Big Baby and the 2nd unit played incredibly lazy basketball, particularly at the defensive end, and Garnett got on them all for not closing out the game and giving a team they were blowing out hope for the 2nd straight game and forcing the starters to have to re-enter the game. He wasn't even turned towards Big Baby or looking at him when he was calling out the bench.

I found it pretty embarrassing to see a Celtic so mentally soft that he cried over getting called out (not even individually, it appeared) for pathetic play.

[Harison]

I dont see the problem here honestly, Big baby played badly (as almost all of the bench), and got yelled by KG, since he is unofficial leader of the team and makes sure that players would step up if they are slacking, both on court and during training. The normal reaction would be "ok, I suck today, let me improve", not crying like a baby. Celtics players respect KG a lot, whats why even stars like Pierce and Ray steped up, especially with defence, what to speak of young players who dream to become superstars like Big 3.

[MVP16]

Well, I'd asked if a fan could explain to me what was what with what had happened. If Davis was indeed in the wrong. Then I stand corrected. I don't like Garnett's methods sometimes. But, if they're effective and that's what it took to get through to a younger teammate. So, be it. Davis is a paid professional.

Doc Rivers took Big Baby out of the game and put POB in. I think KG was clearly justified in giving Big Baby and the bench some tough love. I didn't see Powe/Scal/House crying.

[campybatman]

If what you all are telling me is the case. Then Ainge must deal with this growing concern that exist about the consistency--or the lack there of--regarding the reserves. This is serious. How many times will the starters believe that their night is over and a job well done. Only to have to be called from the bench to bailout the lackadaisical play of their back ups. You can't tolerate that. Personally, I dislike when Boston can't sustain a lead or they're blowing a team out and the end score doesn't reflect this blowout on account of not sustaining these larger margins of leads.

My bad about taking exception to Garnett. Again, Ainge needs to address this sooner than later. Target Joe Smith or someone now. Don't wait until February. New players need to get acclimated with the team.

[TheSheriff]

Here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7w5Vc6aJsk

[Matt34520]

KG's intensity is part of what drives our team.

I don't understand how you could be a Celtics fan, and not like KG.

Thats like a being a Bulls fan in the 90's and not liking Jordan.

Its ridiculous and strange.

they won a championship last year with the help of KG, how could you hate a guy that plays defense, is playmaker, plays his hardest every night etc.

The negativity in this city sucks to quote rick pitino

[mrautobahn]

I mean the incident with Calderon and Bogut and his one-game suspension and now I read this.

OK the thing with Calderon was a little weird but then again KG has always been doing these things... like the bear crawl at the half court. Bogut should have been smacked... he hit KG in the face... TWICE! It was deliberate and intentional... Bogut sort of reminds me of the bs from Laimbeer...

And if you think KG is a real hard guy... then you probably hate Larry Bird and Michael Jordan... they both are very harsh to their teammates... and the thing about it is this... everybody loves KG and not the other two guys... you draw the conclusions..

[Matt34520]

bonsaiflipflops, I take back what I said. You have a right to not like KG if you want to. I just think very highly of KG's contributions to this team, so I don't like it when people criticize him.

lol. I just lost my cool, kind of like Big Baby did...my bad.

[Gant]

19-2. Don't change a thing.

[ParticleMan]

only a KG hater would see anything wrong with what KG did. he was being the team leader that he is. the bench played poorly. it's not just that they didn't make shots or were playing hard but got beat, they were playing soft, making dumb plays, and generally not doing the right thing out there. Baby certainly wasn't alone, and KG didn't single him out other than to grab his arm and bring him back into the huddle. If Baby didn't like that, sayonara kid. You f-ed up, take it like a man.

as for the bench inconsistency, on the contrary, i think the bench has been AMAZINGLY consistent. we're 19-2, and it's not all because of the starters. last night was an aberration. it happens. partly it was that Portland came out to start the 4th with more energy than they had the entire game, which caught our guys off guard a bit. Don't worry, they'll learn from it. I'm glad we have someone like KG around who's going to get in their face when they slip. That's exactly what you need.

[Gant]

only a KG hater would see anything wrong with what KG did. he was being the team leader that he is. the bench played poorly. it's not just that they didn't make shots or were playing hard but got beat, they were playing soft, making dumb plays, and generally not doing the right thing out there. Baby certainly wasn't alone, and KG didn't single him out other than to grab his arm and bring him back into the huddle. If Baby didn't like that, sayonara kid. You f-ed up, take it like a man.

as for the bench inconsistency, on the contrary, i think the bench has been AMAZINGLY consistent. we're 19-2, and it's not all because of the starters. last night was an aberration. it happens. partly it was that Portland came out to start the 4th with more energy than they had the entire game, which caught our guys off guard a bit. Don't worry, they'll learn from it. I'm glad we have someone like KG around who's going to get in their face when they slip. That's exactly what you need.

It's exactly what Portland is lacking. If they had one or two intense vets, they'd be title contenders.

[Tenbomber]

19-2. Don't change a thing.

I agree....this was just an attitude adjustment....all young whippersnappers need that from time to time....

Sometimes you have to get theatrical to get your point across....I think KG delivered the message!

[OBisHalJordan]

only a KG hater would see anything wrong with what KG did. he was being the team leader that he is. the bench played poorly. it's not just that they didn't make shots or were playing hard but got beat, they were playing soft, making dumb plays, and generally not doing the right thing out there. Baby certainly wasn't alone, and KG didn't single him out other than to grab his arm and bring him back into the huddle. If Baby didn't like that, sayonara kid. You f-ed up, take it like a man.

as for the bench inconsistency, on the contrary, i think the bench has been AMAZINGLY consistent. we're 19-2, and it's not all because of the starters. last night was an aberration. it happens. partly it was that Portland came out to start the 4th with more energy than they had the entire game, which caught our guys off guard a bit. Don't worry, they'll learn from it. I'm glad we have someone like KG around who's going to get in their face when they slip. That's exactly what you need.

i don't think it is being a kg hater to ask if his methods are alienating other players on his team. say what you will about davis but a lot of people would react similarly if they had to put with kg berating them. maybe kg's been on his case in practice and this was not an isolated incident. either way, big baby is young and kg needs to try to meet him were he is or he just being a bad teammate. i mean kg's the veteran leader, right? shouldn't he be taking davis under his wing? i hope they do work things out.

i don't know, though. i have always found kg to be a bit much and this doesn't do anything to change my opinion. he's such a paradox to me. he is always yelling and is tenacious on defense but he is such a finesse player, to the point i think it is detrimental to his team. i think it telling that he needed a rhino of slasher in pierce to do the scoring when the team really needed bucket to finally find some success. just think of peirce's monster game 5 in the finals last year compared to kg's disappearing act. 9 of 10 of kg's moves are going away from the basket and he hardly ever gets to the line. i wonder if he took a speak-softly approach to his demeanor if casual observers view him as soft instead of intense.

[Hemingway]

KG is completely IN control. The team is playing it his level of intensity right now. We do not want to be playing at Big Baby's level of intensity. Look at Perks development sense KG got here. He is playing with KG intensity and we are winning games. Attitudes like those of Big Baby need to be crushed. If Baby is worth having he will come around and be a better player for it.

[jaketherap]

Hi there,

I'm a long time Raptors fan and saw the replay of the huddle and Davis' reaction. IMO, there was nothing wrong with what KG did. The great teams know how to police themselves and that appears to be what KG was doing. If Davis takes what KG to heart and learns from it, the Celtics get that much better. Doc Rivers was probably smiling the most as he watched that unfold last night.

You guys have a great team.

[campybatman]

Here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7w5Vc6aJsk

Wow. Even "Smiling" Gabe Pruitt wasn't smiling.

I don't understand how you could be a Celtics fan, and not like KG.

Thats like a being a Bulls fan in the 90's and not liking Jordan.

Its ridiculous and strange.

You're entitled to your opinion. I disagree. Unlike you or others, I'm not going to suddenly become a fan of a basketball player if I wasn't a fan of his prior to. So, now that he's a Celtic, I'm supposed to automatically become a fan of him. Huh? You must be of the opinion that a fan has to be a fan of all the players on the home team no matter what. Hogwash. That doesn't make any sense at all. You leave no room for someone having a right at a choice in your opinion. If that's indeed your opinion, you're one closed-minded Boston fan, in that regard. And that isn't a good analogy. Jordan was drafted by Chicago. Garnett was drafted by Minnesota and traded to Boston before last season. That's two different things. Thus, your point is irrelevant.

Hey, if you're a Garnett fan. Good. But, I'm not you. Funny, how people are reluctant to step out of themselves for a moment and understand the other person's point of view. No. To you, everyone must be like you and think the exact same way. Again, I speak for myself and you don't speak for me. I've a right to be a fan of whichever NBA player I damn well please. If you can't respect that. Tough. Because you're the one with the problem not me. I can respect others for expressing a choice in who they dig and don't. Evidently, you're incapable of this.


Edit: I didn't see your second post. See, you made me write all that...