The Definition of Soft
KG“Soft” is a word that’s thrown around a lot in pro sports, and has been used on a number of occasions during this year’s NBA Finals. Whether it’s aimed at Pau Gasol for his moves to the basket, at Lamar Odom for his allergic reaction to glass for long stretches, or at Sasha Vujacic for his flopping and defense against Ray Allen, everyone’s calling everyone a softy nowadays.
Strangely, though, I haven’t heard that word in regards to Kevin Garnett. At least I haven’t heard it enough.
As good as KG’s overall postseason averages look (20.2 ppg, 10.4 rpg), anyone who’s actually watched the games and knows anything about Garnett’s career has to admit he’s been coming up short, especially in the Finals. Garnett has repeatedly pulled disappearing acts in the fourth quarters of games, and in last night’s Game 5, missed some crucial free throws and point-blank shots in the paint that could have gone a long way in helping the Celtics clinch the championship.
For the longest time, we’ve heard the following when it comes to Kevin Garnett: If he had any kind of supporting cast, he’d have multiple championships by now! When he was in Minnesota racking up first-round playoff exits, the one year he had a team that could be taken seriously as a contender, KG led them to the ‘04 Western Conference Finals. During that postseason he posted his monster Game 7 against the Kings in the second round, which was supposed to be the moment when KG got over the proverbial hump and turned into a legit, clutch performer. Yet here we are four years later, and that guy who hung 32 points, 21 rebounds, 4 steals and 5 blocks on Sacramento back then has never resurfaced.
KG has that cast now — two potential future Hall of Famers in Ray Allen and Paul Pierce — but we’ve come to find out beyond a reasonable doubt that it’s Garnett who is the support, not the focal point. Which would be OK if he wasn’t the highest-paid player in the League, if he wasn’t the one who all the Celtics coverage has centered around all year, if he wasn’t the one who is supposed to be an all-time great in his sport. Even as good as the ‘07-08 NBA Defensive Player of the Year has been when it comes to guarding his team’s basket, glory in this game comes from putting the ball into the hole, and KG has been failing to do that when it matters most.
The fourth-quarter failures, the silly fouls, the backbreaking bricks and overall reluctance to step up and take over when his team needs him to (despite holding a significant physical advantage over anyone L.A. has guarding him), even the occasional times when he KG gets beasted by the allegedly soft Gasol, are all symptomatic of — by most basketball fans’ definition — a player who is soft. Reports out of Boston say KG has been going days without sleep throughout the playoffs, seemingly being placed as an excuse for his shortcomings. But while some would call that hyper-competitiveness, others call it fear.
What do you think Dirk Nowitzki, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter are thinking watching these Finals? Those three are the most vilified players in the NBA when it comes to the “soft” label. They’ve all drawn heat for failing to come through in crunch-time situations, for appearing unwilling to step up and take over. So why is KG getting let off the book? Why is he still a “warrior” and Dirk is still “soft”? Even if the Celtics ultimately win the title, they would have done it with their best player only having two or three outstanding games during a postseason slate that is currently at 25 games and running.
For the record, I don’t buy into calling professional basketball players — or pros in any sport, really — soft. These guys all play hurt (yes, even Vince), they have all put in long hours in the gym, they’re all extremely tough compared to 98% of the rest of the population, and they all want to win. I don’t think Garnett is soft, nor do I think Dirk, T-Mac or Carter are soft. But going by the definition I hear from most fans and media, KG has to be put in that group of notoriously soft ballplayers.
Some people are starting to change their opinion of Garnett because of these Finals, but if you are still of the opinion that Garnett is any harder than those players who are widely considered soft, defend your position…
June 16th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Junio says:
I think the has the Crunchtimelitis that defined Wilt as a postseason performer.
I could see Doc saying: “C’mon Kevin, in 10 minutes you’ll have your ring!!!” But I just can’t see him responding….
Anyway, extremely talented, worth all the 200MM he earned, surefire 1st ballot Hall of Famer, but needed a warrior like Pierce to claim the top.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
the fan says:
finally finally someone is calling out K.G. looking soft and making gasol looking like a great defender. K.G. looks frozen on the offensive end and is lost on defense. why arent any of the commentators calling him out. love K.G. to death but i dont know what i find more sad, his no show in this series or his crying for the love of the game. bill russell should smack the crap out of him for crying
June 16th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
d16 says:
Great article. I would never call KG soft; he’s simply not a clutch player. I suppose some people would equate not being clutch with being soft, but I don’t think that’s the case. KG does not take over games down the stretch; he doesn’t demand the ball in the 4th; he is not clutch! He’s always solid on defense and doesn’t mind banging on the defensive end. However, he prefers to be a jumpshooter on the offensive end, and that’s just his game. He’s never been a great post player.
Not clutch != soft. KG is not clutch, and he’s not soft.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
doc says:
He’s got some 4th quarter softness but him over Vince any day of the week.he tied with the other 2.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
doc says:
@ the fan if you think he’s lost on D you my sir are an asshole.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
godfreyallstar says:
dirk is a pussy
June 16th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
K Dizzle says:
Garbage article!
What TMac, Vince and Dirk are thinkin while watchin the finals?
If I was the defensive player of the year and my team was one win away from the ring and I take a backseat to teammates who are better scorers, writers would still shit on me cuz I’m apparently “soft”
Kevin Garnett is mostly responsible for the team even being here. The reason the Celts are up in this series: Defense. The reason they went from 24 wins to 60-somethin. KG. Dude is shootin 40% from the field, Pierce and Allen are rollin. If he kept shootin at that clip, we’d be callin him Mo Williams, but because he’s sacrificin on the offensive end and puttin up walls defensively, he’s soft? Gasol ain’t stoppin KG and KG ain’t stoppin Gasol, but he’s helpin shut down everybody else. Pretend there’s two sides to the game before writin an article rippin on a dude averagin 17 and 10 as the third option on a possible championship team.
Vince wishes he had a chance in the finals
Go Lakers
June 16th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
GEE...everybody wanna shine without reading the brochure says:
KG ain’t soft, as the others mentioned in the article aren’t to me.
People always concentrating on one player and forgetting all the things involved around that person. Not to mention we neverrrr, for the most part, know what is going on in a person’s personal life. Yet because they make money and have been labeled the star of the team or leader, we want superhero performances. The thing is every superhero ain’t always defeated the villian.
Same with other sports too. Marino ain’t got no ring, but he was one of the greatest qbs in the game, aaaand the greatest qbs in the game will even say that. Elway went through some losing periods before he got his rings. Marino ain’t soft though, it’s just the way his career has went.
I think the word soft has to be redefined (although soft is so different to everyone that is hard) or perhaps a better word has to take it’s place.
It’s basketball. It’s a sport, where things don’t always go your way no matter how hard you try on a continuous basis sometimes. I don’t think that makes you soft.
Most of them cats try, and even own up to their responsibilities when they fall short. I would say they are more “unfortunate” (some more than others) than soft. Some would say unlucky.
Although often stupidity and ignorance sometimes reign so no matter what you gonna have those that just want to say someone is soft with no valid points that equal to a true definition of soft.
Have to think that regardless most players are immune and don’t care so they probably takin Redman’s route of “I’ll be dat” cause soft ain’t gone make or break them.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
doc says:
@ K-Dizzle.Its okay to have love for KG but defer is not the word I would use for him in the 4th.He looks like when he bangs his head before the 4th quarter starts he gets amnesia or something and starts thinking he’s 6 years old again and in the best hot potato game of the summer.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Junio says:
@ d16
Not soft, but not clutch is now called Crunchtimelitis.
Couldn’t agree more.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
doc says:
Softness dont got shit to do with losing though.I dont hear nobody say AI soft or Barkley,or Ewing.Soft got to do with folding under pressure and in the 4th quarter KG nickname should be the ECW chair.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
aj says:
Nice article AB!
K Dizzle is missing the point. KG is not supposed to be the third option. He’s supposed to be “The Man.” Who was the third option when Miami won? Fatty Walker? KG is not even half responsible for the 24 to 60+ win turnaround. I’m pretty sure they added guys named Ray and Posey.
KG has been the Celts 4th or 5th best player in any given game most of the playoffs.
I’m not calling KG soft, he’s intense (though some of it is fake intensity to steal from JVG last night), I’m saying he aint worthy of the status of “The Man” that he’s been given, by his blind fans and the media.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
K Dizzle says:
doc
you know I’m reppin my Lakeshow, but when I’m watchin a game, I see KG all over the defensive end makin shit impossible for Kobe or whoever he helpin on. Dudes forget that KG was huge in game 2 after LA made that big comeback and had 2 big buckets late. Even against Detroit, he was givin Sheed the business late.
It looks like heads just wait for a playa to slip a bit then articles like this come out. Paul Pierce is the best player in the world right now and Ray the best shooter. KG is a fool if he tryin to take over when Pierce can’t be stopped, Ray won’t miss and the Laker can’t score. Lakers have barely won the 2 games they got, but readin some articles and posts, you’d think Celts were down 3-1. That’s why you get a post like #2 with some clown sayin KG “looks lost on defense”. How disconnected are you to post that? The reason KG ain’t soft is cuz he still rebounds and plays defense. Dude missed a tip-in, at least he got to it. KG gets love cuz of his effort, not cuz he’s ever been a 30 point scorer or money at crunch time. Like I said, if dude gets his chip, all the hate fizzles
June 16th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
snook says:
TD > KG
June 16th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
kwiatkowski.blox.pl says:
every word what guy above me wrote (K Dizzle) is 100 percent truth.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
K Dizzle says:
@ post 12
Are you serious?
KG isn’t even half responsible for the team goin from 24 wins to 60+?
I remember dude was in the mvp talk for 3/4 of the season, now it’s ray and posey carryin the team?
last season, tim duncan was the 2nd and 3rd option for the champion spurs cuz Parker was killin everybody and Manu finished off the rest. TD was the defensive anchor. That’s real talk. You read an article like this and you miss the point. We can talk all day about KG’s offense, but the reason the Celts are 1 win away is cuz of their defense and it all starts with KG. If you think this team is where it’s at cuz of Posey and Ray, then we just gonna have to disagree.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
dh says:
i remember watchin the lakers - timberwolves conference finals and being scared to death that kg would take over the games late in the 4th qtrs.
the way he played in that series, man! he seemingly made every post up hook shot and (indefensible) turn-around j.
fortunately for the lakers, he didn’t assert himself late in those games. he left it up to sam and latrell to jack up shots…
i didn’t understand why he wouldn’t just take some of those games that were seemingly up for grabs?
know i see that its sort of his personalty… it reminds me of playing bball with my dad when i was younger. we’d need one more point to win and my dad (the whole reason we were winning) would pass up the last shot so that someone else can take it. we all knew he could win the game if he wanted too but he would rather his teammates have the glory.
now, i wouldn’t call my dad “soft” but he doesn’t get PAID TO WIN GAMES…
must be frustrating for garnet’s teammates and fans.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
DO says:
he’s not soft, just overhyped.
he’s a great player, a hof lock with all-around skills. but don’t expect him to put up 35pt 20 reb games and hit game winners. that’s just not his game.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Celts Fan says:
KG is not soft (for that matter, neither is Dirk after limping aroundon that ankle and still running ish) but he’s DEFINITELY not clutch either. We need Ray and Paul to win it for us on the offensive end. KG can do his thing on D.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
JT$ says:
If anyone should be accused of playing soft in the series, the finger should be pointed at the Lakers gaurds, aside from Kobe. Fisher and Farmar have played like a couple school girls. They’d be better off starting Lost candidate Smush Parker
June 16th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
MTBaller says:
Anyone who has watched KG can see that he could take it to the hoop a little more rather then settling for jumpers. Nothing frustrates me more then watching KG settle for jumpers rather then taking it to the hole and reminding Gasol that he can and will dominate him whenever he wants. Does this make him ’soft’? No, but it does limit his game clinching potential.
What all the wanna-be ‘one and only (insert there own name)’ here seem to forget is that defense wins championships and KG leads the defense. Offensively he doesn’t need to be anymore then the third option, and what a damn good third option he is.
For those who have played true team ball you understand what it takes to average 10 boards a game (yes I am aware its Odom and Gasol down there right now). That takes INVOLVEMENT! Look at what he has done alongside w/ Tom Thibodeau for their defense. He has inspired players we all wrote off. Why are we wasting our time critiquing KG for not filling a role that he doesn’t need to fill most nights. KG now has his supporting cast and look what he is on the brink of. He is a future all-star and the 2008 Celtics will go down in history as a team!!!
June 16th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
aj says:
@#18
That’s my beef w/KG. What’s the point of basketball? To win games. KG’s game doesn’t include game-winners?!?! Come on. He’s way overhyped.
It’s like Tiger playing hard for 71 holes over the weekend then missing his 12′ putt on the 72nd hole to tie because it’s not his game to hit clutch putts. (To draw another golf parallel, KG should be better compared to my boy Phil and should receive all the ribbing and negative comments Phil receives, such as when he misses the fairway on the 72nd hole to lose by one.) *choke*
On to KG’s D, ain’t no one gonna take nothing away from his game there, though too much of it is pointless and/or for the camera to get that “intense shot” of KG.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
HKP says:
Okay, so I think a lot of people are on the right track when they say that KG isn’t soft, though he’s not necessarily “clutch.” My question is, can a player ever be considered clutch without being a natural scorer?
Garnett is my favorite player, but the fact of the matter is, he’s not a natural scorer (a combination of being “too unselfish” and not having a go-to low post game). That should be clear to people at this point. If this means he can’t be considered clutch, then people need to be clear on that point.
As for him disappearing in the fourth quarter, would people ever suggest that Paul Pierce disappears in the fourth quarter? Most wouldn’t. And yet, do people realize that game 5 (which wasn’t KG’s best, partly due to fouls) was the FIRST TIME in the Lakers series that Pierce outscored KG in the fourth quarter??? Would it surprise you to know that Pierce outscored Garnett ONLY ONCE during the entire Pistons series (game 6; and KG actually had more points until Detroit started intentionally fouling at the very end of the game). Here’s a breakdown of 4th quarter scoring between KG and Pierce for the last two series:
vs. Lakers
game 1 - tie
game 2 - KG
game 3 - tie
game 4 - KG
game 5 - Pierce
vs. Pistons
game 1: tie
game 2: KG
game 3: tie
game 4: KG
game 5: KG (Pierce scores only one point as Detroit makes big run, almost tying game; KG scores 10. Can you imagine what people would have said if the roles were reversed?)
game 6: Pierce (KG had more if you don’t count intentional fouls)
So KG consistently outscores Pierce in the fourth, yet he’s the one “disappearing”? And we’re only talking about scoring here. KG never disappears when it comes to defense, rebounding, etc. Last game, KG had two big steals late when the Lakers were pushing and had numbers, a bunch of deflections, 14 rebounds in 33 minutes, and covered Pau Gasol admirably in Perkins’ absence (say what you want, but Pau can score in the post).
No. KG is not soft. And he’s only “not clutch” in the sense that he’s not a natural scorer (also, he hurts himself in that he doesn’t try to draw cheap fouls to get to the line). Then again, he IS clutch in that he always finds ways to help his team, and he brings it every game, for 4 quarters. It’s great that Pierce and Alen have stepped it up in the finals, but KG has been clearly the best Celtic through the whole of the finals, and the other two wouldn’t be in the position to step up if KG hadn’t brought it all playoffs long.
http://arbitrarian.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/the-road-to-the-nba-finals/
June 16th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
HKP says:
Sorry. The last sentence should say that “KG has been clearly the best Celtic throught eh whole of the PLAYOFFS.”
June 16th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Lee says:
KG is a ring chaser riding PP’s jock. He’s a 7′ all star shooting 40% .. does anyone else see a problem with this. Everyone who gets on Steve Nash’s case about their being “2 ends of the caught” better not be trying to defend KG now !!
Also I saw a lakers wolves game a while back .. Joe Smith was the guy hitting the clutch free throws to get the win for the wolves. On another point, Joe was out there before the game on his own just shooting free throws .. they showed Kobe arriving (late) on the big screen while he was shooting .. the shaq arriving (even later). Both missed free throws which could have got LA the win. Justice was done that day. I gain a new respect for the plyers who are out there making sure they’re game ready. I don’t live in America so I’d like to hear which other guys take their job seriously.
June 16th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
karizmatic says:
By the definition Garnett is soft, he simply avoids the designation as soft by most people because he is so likeable. People don’t like Dirk or Vince for whatever reason. I would suggest that it is because Vince has made comments about not playing hard, while Dirk had a team everyone perceived to be good enough to win the championship, if only he could have carried them. Garnett however has played by the social rules, he never complained about his supporting cast ala Kobe even though it was clear that they were inferior, he always accepted responsibility for the losses even though it was clearly out of his hands, and he always appeared to be doing everything in his power to win.
Is he soft? Yes, Garnett plays soft, he takes too many jumpshots for a guy his size and he doesn’t show up in the clutch. But he definitely comes to play every game and if you point out his mistakes to him he will acknowledge them (while not necessarily changing them.) So people like him, he’s the league’s underdog. The guy everyone has decided deserves an A for effort. Let the people have that.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
weng santos says:
KG has one of the nastiest mean streaks in the NBA. And even if it’s not his makeup to take over a game by scoring, he plays hard all the time.
KG’s not soft.
But he’s not clutch, either.
There’s a difference.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
AB_40 says:
KG’s consistent and something close to crazy. If the celtics lose these finals he will hang himself from the rafters or the basket after eating 1andahalf referee. but yeah he’s always there on D when he’s on the court. He needed help in the scoring department which he has now and he’ll probably be a champion tomorownight. And if the lakers and celtics could trade gasol for garnett guess which party would say no?
PS when the celts become champions they’ll be the first worst to first team in the history of the nba. Thus we’ll see other teams who have 28 to 33 year old all stars 2 or 1 make crazy trades. The nba has too many teams to be an elite leauge in this world right now. that’s why they don’t play euro teams in the preseason no more. but I’m drifting of. Dirk VC and Tracy(when he don’t feel like it) are soft on D and KG isn’t that’s the difference.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Teddy says:
When I call players soft I call it a lil bit different when it comes to paid pro athletes. If you get a sprained ankle or knee (I haven’t had one so i wouldn’t know the pain but its a good example) and you can’t, don’t/won’t play through it; your passion, heart, and will all get called out to the stand and you have to defend your self and give reason why. I’ll call a pro soft for not playing through the pain because since he/she has already made it this far they should already be tougher/stronger than me physically and mentally.
I don’t call KG soft because he’s proven himself not to be soft. The fact that he has had a couple “soft” plays or moments surprises me too but i wouldn’t and don’t call him soft.
June 16th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Teddy says:
The Basketball Def. of soft
Soft (adj.) - the inability to play strong, take a hit, and/or step up in times of need and clutchness.
June 16th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
ash says:
dirk is 100 times more clutch than kg. look at the 4th quarter points the last 4 years from nba.com
dirk is #4, kg aint on the list.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
kowtz says:
KG is just overpated… not soft… not his fault…
And when do you need to score to beclutch? can’t you be a clutch defender? breaking up plays on dying seconds????
When KG blocks a last second shot attempt to seal a win, then we’ll see…
KB24 fan btw… lakers in 7…
June 17th, 2008 at 6:07 am
karan says:
“And when do you need to score to beclutch? can’t you be a clutch defender? breaking up plays on dying seconds????”
i cosign that… if anyone has seen any celtic bball this season, they will know that celtics have done it with team defence… defence is 50 percent of the ball game, and no one does it better than KG… even when he’s not scoring, KG is rebounding and shutting down opposition players. plus you ever wondered how pierce kept on getting to the hole so easily? check out who was setting the screens
point is this: defence wins championships, and KG defends, not be mention he’s a pretty good offensive player also.
plus, everytime KG has had a legit supporting cast, he has performed. with that cassel/sprewell minny team and now with boston. unlike other players (read: melo, vince) who even with a great squad can’t perform, KG doesnt make excuses and wins
June 17th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Suciniac says:
There have only been a few bigs in the history of the game who have been clutch in their career.Kareem,Bird and Duncan.If not being able to make big J’s or FT’s is soft than Shaq,Barkley,Malone,Olajuwon,Ewing and numerous other HOFer’s are all soft.
Also it’s not the natural job of a big to take big J’s in the fourth.It’s like asking Ray Allen to play the post,rebound,box out and be the last line of defense or designated shot blocker.
June 17th, 2008 at 9:08 am
NB says:
Ok, i wouldn’t call KG soft, but he is guilty of a lot of the same things Dirk, T mac, Vince get called soft for. Someone said KG is not soft because he still averages 10+ reb per game. Check the stats, in the playoffs, Dirk always averages over 12+ rebounds per game. They say Dirk shies away from contact, in the 2006 Finals, there is a picture of Dirk with Shaq’s elbow squarely implanted on his face, trying to fight for a rebound. Dirk has taken a lesser team all the way to the Finals. Clearly more that KG, T Mac, or Vince could do. Also Dirk recovered (although not fully) from a high ankle sprain in less than two weeks. Two weeks! The average recovery time for that injury is normally 6 to 8 weeks. That is not soft. But hey, KG screams a lot, pumps his chest, and dunks on people, so there’s no way he could be soft. Even if he does miss two free throws that could have tied the game for his team. Oh well.
June 17th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Smitty313 says:
If it wasn’t for Pierce the Celtics would be done. KG is not clutch.
June 17th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Suciniac says:
@post 36.If it wasn’t for KG the Celtics would not be in the finals.Prior to the Finals KG was the by far the most consistent and best player for the Celtics.Ray looked like he should retire and Pierce came alive only during the 5th game of the Pistons series.
@post 35
Being a scorer was never KG’s forte.It is/was for Dirk,T-mac and Vince that’s why they are labeled as soft and choker,because they failed to do what they were supposed to do.If KG was giving up 30/10 to Gasol or Odom throughout the series than we could call out KG.Not now though, dude’s doing to perfection what he’s supposed to do and that’s playing defense and chipping in with a few points.Oh and Dirk got knocked out of the 1st round with that same “lesser” team if you didn’t know.
June 17th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Taj says:
If you guys look closely, KG is not playing with his usual FIRE!! When he’s all AMPed up, beating his chest screaming obsenities at himself to get going… he’s not doing that in the finals! Not sure why, but he’s gotta figure it out for them to win! That is the real reason why he wasn’t “soft” vs ATL or CLE and is now! Something has got him out of his element and I believe it has nothing to do with what the Lakers are throwin at him!!
Any thoughts???
June 17th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Kudabeen says:
My position is The guy who plays hardest on Defense will always be criticized, because it is not glamorized. You can grab the most rebounds, change the most shots, help other guys out getting beat the most, but if you get dunked on or give up a basket all of you effort is forgotten.
As far as all this nonsense about “silly foul” is concerned. What made it silly? Was it silly because he was trying to be aggressive? Watching that forth quarter, how many reaches did LA get away with, then Pierce does the same to Kobe and KG does the same to Gasol and they are fouls. The only thing silly was that the whistle was blown. Gasol was suffering, but calls like that take the wind out of a defenders sails.
There is absolutely no excuse for KG missing 3-4 FTs. No excuse. I was about to vomit watching that. I was also about to throw the remote at the tv when on the put back you can see Farmar backing into KG’s legs as he goes for the put back and also on the play where Kobe reached around and sorta got ball Gasol was holding KG’s jersey, which is typically a foul.
either way ref’s didn’t cause the miss FTs.
When dirk T-Mac, Vince, start staying on the court, rebounding their position, playing D on anyone on the court, and giving confidence to guys defensively that they can be active and someone will have their back…They will then shake the “soft” (whatever the hell “soft” means - how is Dirk “soft”. He may lack that “DOG” in him that is willing to go to blows for a W, but that doesn’t make him soft. Those guys are rare)
I too thought we would see a 30+pt game or a 20+ reb game from KG, but what other big is down there banging. Dude is not heavy. Not to make an excuse, but you can be strong, but if you don’t have the mass you are going to get pushed around. It is a testament to KG’s work ethic that he gets the Rebs and changes shots. That has always been his problem. If you let guys push him when he is in the air or hold him with to hands in the post he has trouble on offense. That’s why Boston should be going to him in the HIgh post and let him put the ball on the floor, so that when he gets doubled he can hit his guys. He is a defensive superstar, never been a primary offensive weapon. He also didn’t ask to be paraded around everywhere. He has been “100″ all through his career, but now when he is playing 1 on 3 in the paint people are trying to paint him as soft and a glory hog…Word?
I ride with Bill Russell all day everyday when it comes to what’s what in the game…Not Barkley, Not Magic, not Steven A Smith, Not Tim Legler, or whoever else. If defense wins championships and clearly KG has been the best defensive presence in the series (IMO) then I know he has an impact that will go largely uncelebrated.
Whatever…
June 17th, 2008 at 11:59 am
chris says:
you know, it would be easy to put some numbers on this choke vs. clutch, soft vs. hard thing;
hard/clutch players hit their shots in the 4th quarter (FT and FG % same or better as in 1st/2nd/3rd quarter), soft chokers don’t.
hard/clutch players have assist/turnover ratio in 4th quarter same or better than in 1st/2nd/3rd quarter, soft chokers don’t.
hard/clutch players get just as many or more offensive rebounds, or blocks, in the 4th quarter as in the 1st/2nd/3rd, soft chokers don’t.
obviously this isn’t valid for blow-out games, but there aren’t many blowout games in the playoffs. i would be very curious to see which of the lakers and celtics are clutch or choke playoff performers so far….help me out here, dimemag!
June 17th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
This artical is ridiculous comparing KG to T-mac (Never made it out the first round), VC (Never made it to the finals), Dirk (Suffered the biggest upset in NBA history) come on. KG is one win away from becoming an NBA champion and he’s soft…..not even close.
June 17th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
92021SpurMD says:
The whole TD vs KG argument should cease to exist!
To qualify as a GREAT player, you’ve got to be there when it counts; Defensively, offensively, intangibly, physically, mentally, emotionally, SOULfully, and with the leadership that a man who gave his blood, sweat, and tears holding a team on his back should have. I, in my short life, have only seen it from a few select people, and i’m sorry but KG will never fit into that category. Hell, PAUL PIERCE may put himself in that class TONIGHT!!!
Michael, Magic, Larry, Bill Russell, Wilt, and Timmy hold spots there. I’d slip Shaq in, but i’m a little weary of doing that since it took Kobe’s arrival in the league for the Lakers to come around. Otherwise both would have to be in that discussion, and I can’t do that cause Shaq wasn’t the best on MIA when they won, and Kobe hasn’t won since.
Anyway, all should concede now that Timmy is a much GREATER player than KG. KG backers may come back with the whole “he had Manu and Tony” argument, but let’s be serious, in all the finals that Timmy has been in (4), has there ever been a case of him disappearing at ALL during crunch time?? His toughest finals, against Detroit, he didn’t have the greatest FG%, but the man worked his ASS off to get points when SA needed them, whether it be by scoring, getting to the line, assisting, whatever. The offense always goes through him. Timmy NEVER deferred, rather took what the defense gave him, and if that was an open shooter 3 passes away after he was TRIPLE TEAMED, then so be it. KG defers, as in he doesn’t take games over. He doesn’t have the WILL to be a GREAT player, plain and simple. He’s a good player, Hall of Fame worthy, but lets be serious here. Were it not for Danny Ainge bringing in Ray, keeping Paul, and keeping Doc Rivers (a much better coach than anyone wants to admit) KG wouldn’t even have sniffed the Conference finals. At least Timmy took an aging, tired (6 years of long playoff runs), unatheletic team to the conference finals this year. Enough said!
June 17th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Kudabeen says:
Can’t say I disagree SpurMD…
Although I don’t think KG and are as far apart performance wise as you make it out to be. They both aren’t relied on to be their teams closers Pierce/Allen and Ginobli/Parker are the teams closers, where Tim and KG are asked to clean up defensive leaks, rebound, and hold down the paint. Tim does a much better job in the paint than KG, where KG plays more like a SF or two guard. We hate that he does it, especially when his J is off. I did think KG was going to go harder on Offense, but maybe he really just isn’t built to shoulder the whole load, but Tim isn’t either. Spurs were built (VERY WELL) around Duncan. KG had wack teams and was key and taking this new group this far in their first year. That’s bigger than we are able to give credence to right now I know, but having said all that… Tim has the resume (opportunities). Being a winner makes people forget the chokes, missed free throws, turnovers, and how other guys HAD to step up to win games.
A great Big man enables other guys to do what they do. Pierce and Allen can get off, because Garnett is busting his ass to secure positions. He is playing 1 on 3 in the paint and is not getting step up for any easy buckets. Gasol/Odom/Truiaf/Vlad and whoever on LA get buckets off of good passes.
But whatever we’ll let it play out. Hopefully KG plays during the game instead of being disgusted after.
Doc had a quote describing KG’s mentality as there are guys who shot and make 3-4 shots in a row, so they know they are going to take the next 3-4 shots. KG on the other hand after making 3-4 shots will start to think he is taking too many shots and look for who else he can get involved. From the time Tim was drafted he was force feed. KG doesn’t even get good post entry passes….
It’s on KG to shut people up in the end. He has to make his own plays I guess and give more (?)…
June 17th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
92021SpurMD says:
Good point Kudabeen, and I used to love taking part in this argument, but it’s become lame as of the last 3 years to me. Why am I so hard on KG? HE SHOULD BE GREAT!!! HE SHOULD BE BETTER THAN TIMMY!!! Point blank, personality aside, this dude should have the killer instinct of all killer instincts, and I think his personality has been used as a scapegoat. He needs to step up, take over, otherwise KG lovers need to concede that he will never be as GREAT as Timmy. I can agree and say that all around, KG is better. Is he as GREAT as Timmy, no.
I also think people get so caught up in what Manu/Tony have been doing lately that they’ve forgotten that Timmy is always there. I’ve watch enough Spurs games to know that the ball, even this year, goes to Timmy at crunch time. I remember myself this year being pissy in the Hornets series cause they KEPT going to him in the crunch, but he gets it done. If KG scores 40 out of sheer will (not giving the ball up for the basketball God himself), he’ll change my mind.
June 17th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
eyeused2b says:
The only player in this series that screams “soft!” to me is Tissue Pau-per, but that’s because, I don’t equate being soft with being clutch. KG isn’t clutch. He’s never been clutch. I think he’s the best sidekick since Pippen, but until this season, he never had a side to kick. Now, he has two.