Celtics/Lakers Get Ready for Game 6; NBA Draft Decision Day
Paul Pierce in Dime #5Remember when the Spurs had a problem with their team plane getting out of New Orleans after eliminating the Hornets, and the one night they had to spend sleeping on the tarmac may or may not have affected their play during the Lakers series? Most people wrote that off as a huge asterisk on San Antonio’s part. So with the Celtics having plane trouble on Monday — their flight was delayed for about five hours at LAX — will Boston be afforded the benefit of the * if they don’t play well in tomorrow’s Game 6, or will everyone roll their eyes when the airplane issue is brought up? … All the airport talk had us thinking: Do the Lakers ever clown around with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar about his role in Airplane! Not that Kareem would ever sell anyone’s joke, but that’d be funny seeing the vets set up a rookie by convincing him to approach Kareem and make an Airplane! joke, only to get the death-stare from The Captain … Is Game 6 going to be the day Kevin Garnett steps up and proves his growing list of doubters wrong? With every fourth-quarter invisible act he pulls this postseason, more and more people are questioning KG’s whole “warrior” thing. Yesterday one of our writers asked why KG has been given a free pass while guys like Dirk, T-Mac and Vince Carter continually get the “soft” label … On an off-day for the Finals, Monday’s focus was on the Draft: specifically, who was staying in and who was going back to school. The biggest name making a deadline-day decision was Arizona’s Chase Budinger, who might have been a Lottery pick but chose to play another year in the Pac-10. You know Lute Olson was happy about that one, seeing as he already lost all of his assistant coaches this summer (including Miles Simon), never had a chance to coach Jerryd Bayless before Bayless went pro, has had some Class of ‘08 recruits back out of their commitments (like Nigeria-born forward Emmanuel Negedu, who tries to — and usually does — dunk everything he touches), and incoming freshman point guard Brandon Jennings hasn’t officially gained his academic eligibility yet. At least with Budinger in the fold, Lute and the ‘Cats have something of an identity and know who their go-to guy is going into next season … Another player people were waiting for up to the last minute was Danilo Gallinari, the 19-year-old from Italy who made noise recently when his people announced he would only stay in the Draft if he was going to get picked by the Knicks (#6) or Nets (#10). Gallinari deciding to stay in leads a lot of people to think Jersey made him a promise at 10, but consider this: If Gallo has successfully scared off all the other teams and he’s definitely in the Draft now, couldn’t the Nets (assuming the Knicks pass on him with their only pick) just wait and take him with one of their later picks? The Nets pick #21 in the first round and #40 in the second round. Taking Gallo at one of those spots saves them some money, although it would definitely piss off the kid’s handlers … The North Carolina trio of Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green are all returning to school, which puts UNC over the top for us as the early 2009 national championship favorite. Last year’s Final Four squad returns national P.O.Y. Tyler Hansbrough, and Roy Williams has signed a trio of high school All-American recruits in Larry Drew (who won the McDonald’s three-point contest), Tyler Zeller and Ed Davis … Not counting the ones who were obvious — i.e. Chris Douglas-Roberts or Joe Alexander staying in — some other notables making Draft decisions: Mario Chalmers (Kansas), Bill Walker (Kansas State), Ryan Anderson (Cal), Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (UCLA) and Richard Hendrix (Alabama) are in the Draft. Lester Hudson (UT-Martin), A.J. Abrams (Texas), Robert Dozier (Memphis), John Riek (high school) and Jeremy Pargo (Gonzaga, younger brother of Jannero) are out … The Dime office basically shut down from the time Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate hit the 16th hole of their U.S. Open playoff until after Tiger pulled out the win in sudden-death. The majority of the Dime crew was pulling for Rocco, with only a handful backing Tiger. Are you the type of fan to back the underdog, or do you like to see greatness continue to be great? Or as someone in the office put it during the golf tourney, did you used to root for Michael Jordan or against MJ? … Does that long distance behind-the-back shot that Will Smith hits in the Hancock commercial remind anyone else of the “You, my friend, are shooting for the Sudan” scene from White Men Can’t Jump? … During “Monday Night RAW,” Jerry “The King” Lawler said Chris Jericho “has been making enemies as easy as soap makes suds.” Who could you say that about in the NBA: Kobe? Manu? Vujacic? Bowen? … At the Tribeca Film Festival a few weeks ago we got a look at Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot, a documentary directed by the Beastie Boys‘ Adam Yauch that focuses on some of the top dogs in the national high school class of ‘07 and their respective quests to be the best player in the country. That was of course the year Mike Beasley, O.J. Mayo, Derrick Rose, Eric Gordon, Kevin Love, Kyle Singler and Jerryd Bayless were all vying for the crown. The film premiers in theaters on June 27, the day after the Draft. Check out the trailer below … We’re out like Kareem laughing at anything …
June 17th, 2008 at 1:10 am
Remy N says:
1st
June 17th, 2008 at 1:12 am
josh says:
KG = Choke artist
June 17th, 2008 at 1:13 am
josh says:
i reckon if you post “1st” before reading smack your a punk.
June 17th, 2008 at 1:21 am
Buck Fush says:
Oh envy, if only I had been first I could have won the grand prize.
I have been reading this column for a year and I still don’t get the fascination with that crap. Whatever helps you sleep at night…
June 17th, 2008 at 1:24 am
the real marcus says:
Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot - should be an interesting movie…
we’re out like game 6 finishes, again…
June 17th, 2008 at 1:32 am
Remy N says:
Kobe with Shaq = 3 rings.
Kobe w/o Shaq = Zero rings.
After tonight game, Kobe is the GOAT conversations are squashed.
Jordan always bought his game. The world is waiting for Kobe to deliver.
June 17th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Ding Dong We Got The 6th Pick says:
“Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot” sounds like a movie Remy N would enjoy.
June 17th, 2008 at 2:51 am
knoc says:
yup KG def a choker.
dont count kobe out yet. they can still pull off that amazing comeback all of LA is waiting for.
personally i hope C’s can squash this 2moro.
June 17th, 2008 at 2:51 am
jz_smoove says:
someone should slap (not me) KG every time he shoots from 17-20 ft out. that is not your game KG. you are almost unstoppable with your high release from 10ft, take it inside fella!!
June 17th, 2008 at 3:49 am
the real marcus says:
kg is evolving into a c-webb, game wise… and that’s helluvah bad news…
and well, until kg brings it big time, rings and all, he’d still be doubted for the rest of his life…
June 17th, 2008 at 3:57 am
bill says:
Funny, Bryant has moved away from the Jordan comparisons as he has shared the ball in crunch time. Becoming a facilitator.
Bizarrely, this is not getting it done in the clutch YET making me more of a fan of his game as it is showing his versatility.
His passing has really improved (or willingness he he)
June 17th, 2008 at 4:50 am
KBY says:
Gallinari can make a legitimate threat, if he doesn’t get drafted in the top ten he’ll just continue playing in Europe where his team is offering him more money then his possible NBA rookie contract anyway. So No, Nets wouldn’t want to make a promise and back out unless they want a Vasquez on their hands.
June 17th, 2008 at 5:09 am
Common Sense says:
@ post 10
“and well, until kg brings it big time, rings and all, he’d still be doubted for the rest of his life…”
you, my friend, are what we call in the Chi, “a damned fool”
you think anybody with a c’ship ring gives a damn about your opinion?
June 17th, 2008 at 5:20 am
bill says:
post 12, good point kby
Sidenote: the names Vasquez and Weiss should be BANNED from all NBA discussion forever…………
*shudder
June 17th, 2008 at 7:07 am
YOUNGFED says:
@DIME
Rooting for Rocco…WHY? Just to see Tiger get beat. He took Rocco Out with a Bum Knee. So wouldn’t Tiger be the Underdog.
@Post#10
KG is far from turning into C-Dubb. KG is the 2nd best PF in the league.
@Post#4
I’m glad i’m not the only one who feels that way.
June 17th, 2008 at 7:28 am
for real says:
YOUNG, Garnett USED to be the 2nd best PF in the L. not in quite a while
June 17th, 2008 at 9:01 am
rangerjohn says:
so why havent you guys at dime made anything about this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHRR7l9Rw-w
this is one more reason why i say GENEREALLY SPEAKING lakers fans are low class, and pussies. (there are some cool guys here but damn the entire crowd is cheering for this shit) no class, one more reason they NEED to lose.
June 17th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Celts Fan says:
KG is not soft (he’s also DEFINITELY not cluth either, but that’s entirely different. Seems like Dime’s confusing the 2.)
You play the entire regular season to be in this position. 2 straight at home, only needing 1 to take it all. We’ve lost 1 home game all Playoffs, they just need to not lose 2 straight now to accomplish the ultimate goal. Can’t wait for the game…
June 17th, 2008 at 9:26 am
yoda says:
off topic
@dime crew, im getting some problems when opening site with firefox, while on explorer works fine. just to let you know…
June 17th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Dime Magazine says:
yeah, sorry about the difficulties this morning. we’ve been updating some software for the site in order to add some new features and there have been a few bumps. let us know if it keeps happening.
thanks,
PC
June 17th, 2008 at 9:44 am
E$ says:
Fishing plans start Wed. for the Lakers
June 17th, 2008 at 9:46 am
aj says:
Dang, those C-Webb comparisons are almost spot-on.
Think back 8+ yrs ago when Webber was the man in most y’alls minds cause he could scream a lot and had all the hype. Then y’alls finally realized he couldn’t be the man on a winning team and now everyone hates on him 24-7.
Luckily for KG, he’s got some better talent than himself on his team this year so he can be the third banana he really is. (Plus it really helps that he couldn’t handcuff the Celts like he did the Wolves.) Too bad he’s prolly gonna win the chip this year and y’alls still gonna think he’s the man.
June 17th, 2008 at 9:49 am
YOUNGFED says:
@for real
Well who’s the 2nd best now then Sheed’
June 17th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Big Freeze says:
For some reason, Dime Mag and damn near everyone else forgets that there are TWO sides of the ball in basketball: offense and defense.
KG is the Defensive Player of the Year. The closest Dirk, T-Mac, or Vince will ever some to that trophy is if they’re visiting KG’s mantle over the summer. KG is not soft. Although he can be passive and a choke artist on the offensive end, on defense he is a monster and that’s what separates him from the list. Defense wins chips.
June 17th, 2008 at 10:07 am
karizmatic says:
I tend to root for greatness to continue to be great. I was pulling for Tiger.
June 17th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Big Freeze says:
I was rooting for both Tiger and Rocco if that’s possible. I wanted Tiger to win, but I also wanted Rocco to keep playing great. I have never watched golf until last Friday, but I was glued to my TV all through the weekend and Monday. That performance from Tiger on Saturday was one of the best sports moments I’ve ever seen. Golf, Tiger, and High-Def equals some great entertainment. I can now consider myself a golf fan.
June 17th, 2008 at 10:14 am
rangerjohn says:
my question big freeze, if kg is such a monster of defense, is he better then tim duncan on defense?
duncan has never won the dpoy, and duncan is better on defense imo. KG won that award because he is on the celtics, everyone wanted him to get the mvp early on, so they gave him the dpoy as a concelation prize instead. he is not that great a defensive player, not bad but not great. compairing the defensive ends of the game between these two, duncan averaged 1 more defensive rebound, while averaging 2 more total rebounds, duncan averaged .7 less steals, and 1 more block per game. the averaged about the same fouls per fame as well.
kg won that title because he was on the best defensive team of this year. that doesnt mean he is not soft, that just means he was in the middle of a good system.
that also doesnt mean dirk would win the award in the same system but kg is no “defensive monster”
June 17th, 2008 at 10:14 am
aj says:
So let me ask, if KG is so universally loved because he plays other-worldly defense and that’s his calling card and that’s exciting and what makes him special, why does everyone hate on the Spurs and Pistons? Defense is the other 1/2 the game? I’m just saying…buncha people saying whatever is convenient to stick up for their choke-artist hero.
Greatness to conitue to be great. The only time I root for the underdog is when they in turn have a chance to be great.
June 17th, 2008 at 10:15 am
rangerjohn says:
tiger is better at golf (and for golf) then mj was to basket ball hands down. he is the greatest player of his sport in any sport ever.
June 17th, 2008 at 10:36 am
chrisGO says:
@post #6
good observations, captain obvious!
…the mj/kobe argument was put to rest after game 4
June 17th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Jeremy says:
Dude, golf isn’t even a sport, its a game !
Look at all the old fat fucks playing it well, do they look like athletes to you?
Of course, Tigers beats them all, they’re all twice as old !
MJ is the G.O.A.T. and theres no need to explain it, prove it or argue, people just know.
June 17th, 2008 at 10:51 am
for real says:
young,
I’d definitely take Sheed 2nd, he can hit shots. Sheed just hated the hell out of Flip.
It’s Duncan, Sheed, then the rest…..
June 17th, 2008 at 11:09 am
aj says:
Sheed over KG? That’s nuts and I’m a KG hater. Plus Sheed over Brand, Amare, Boozer, West, et al?
June 17th, 2008 at 11:14 am
DJ Go Go Gomez says:
“Is Game 6 going to be the day Kevin Garnett steps up and proves his growing list of doubters wrong?”
No
June 17th, 2008 at 11:15 am
doc says:
Im taking KG over Sheed chokes and all.Dime yall put people say he aint a warrior.I wouldnt go that far on D he is.Its just in the fourth quarter he gets nervous like a little bitch.@Ranger I dont think nobody said he fucking with Timmy if they did they do not have basketball knowledge.I dont watch that golf shit but i always go for Tiger.Why would I root for a fucking scrub?Thats what I got the Sixers for.
June 17th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Jonny Drama says:
@ ranger john - If KG won the DPOY because he was in the middle of a “good defensive system”, who do you think is the one that MADE the team into the tough defensive mentality it has? KG.
There is no question that Duncan is a better overall PF than KG, and I feel Duncan may be a better straight-up defender than KG, but KG IMO is a better team and help defender. And you can NOT ignore the energy he brings to a team, his energy on passion on defense flows to everyone else and makes them play defense.
THAT is the importance of KG. He is absolutely not a primary franchise player, he is a secondary (or tertiary) offensive option but he is a defensive anchor. The reason he gets the a “pass on the soft label” instead of Dirk, T-Mac and Vince is because those three guys are nothing special on defense.
June 17th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Austin Burton says:
Rasheed’s barely makes my Top-10
1. Duncan
2. Garnett
3. Dirk
4. Boozer
5. Bosh
6. Brand
7. David West
8. Zach
9. Al Jefferson
10. Rasheed/Jamison
June 17th, 2008 at 11:28 am
rangerjohn says:
@johnny
no way kg defends better then duncan in any way, duncan is the entire focal point of the spurs defense, and the spurs have had the #1 defense in the league for the last 10 yrs hands down. possibly the best defense of any team of a 10 yr span EVER. intensity is one thing SKIL is another. i dont agree that his energy or passion flows to the other players on defense, the system is the system, rotations, funnel your man to the help, this is exactly what the spurs have been doing for 10 yrs, the pistons have to. energy is good but energy doesnt make a good defender, you have to have the skills the energy is just a bonus.
duncan out defends kg in every aspect of defense, kg has a bit more range then duncan on the offensive end but all in all duncan is better at both ends hands down, and duncan doesnt choke like kg
June 17th, 2008 at 11:31 am
rangerjohn says:
austin, go gotta put dirk lower on the list, if for nothing else, for his love of david hasselhoff!!!
1.duncan
2.amare
3.kg
4.boozer (regular season anyway)
5.al jeff
6.dirk
7.bosh/west
9.brand (if he gets back to before his injury)
10.jamison
June 17th, 2008 at 11:33 am
for real says:
Austin, what two guys on yout Top 11 list have rings?
Talent is one thing, Accomplishing greatness is another.
maybe 3 guys on your list will have rings by midnight tonight
June 17th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Austin Burton says:
You know what, I forgot Amare isn’t a center anymore. Let’s do that list over again:
1. Duncan
2. Garnett
3. Dirk
4. Amare
5. Boozer
6. Bosh
7. Brand
8. David West
9. Zach
10. Jefferson
June 17th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Austin Burton says:
Rasheed getting a ring as the 3rd/4th best player on his team doesn’t blow me away. If Gasol wins a ring with L.A., does he become the 2nd/3rd best center in the League to you?
June 17th, 2008 at 11:48 am
rangerjohn says:
top 10 centers?
1.howard
2.oberto (lmao had to)
3.yao
4.shaq?
5.gasol
6.bynam?
7. are there any more “good” centers that are true centers?
June 17th, 2008 at 11:51 am
doc says:
I’m going Duncan,KG,Dirk,Amare,Brand,Bosh,Boozer,Jefferson,Jamison, Sheed
June 17th, 2008 at 11:54 am
doc says:
Centers Duncan,Dwight,Yao,Shaq,Oden,Bynum,Big Z,Sammy,Sheed,Brad Miller
June 17th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Capt.Stabbin says:
My Top Ten Centers
1.Howard
2.Yao
3.Bynum
4.Shaq
5.Kaman
6.Sheed
7.Oden
8.Miller
9.Perkins
10.Big Z
June 17th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Kudabeen says:
KG plays all over the floor on both ends. You can say Duncan is a better post player than KG, but I can’t rock with better total player.
Give me a guy that can guard all five positions. Also Bruce bowen’s defense over the years has been more impactful on the game’s outcome than Duncan’s. I didn’t see Duncan helping to stifle Kobe… But I guess Tim is home because Ginobli was hurt right?
They are both Hall of Famers and Duncan has way more big games under his belt. I remember Duncan “containing” and outplaying shaq when sweeping the lakers. I always respected Tim, but KG is more of a Swiss Army type player.
I can’t vouch for the miss FTs, but Tim never missed FTs? Duncan closes the show for the Spurs? Revisionist BBall historians. They are both great… I will admit KG is not helping his case with not putting up the numbers. Although I do believe that before the last game KG has been the most productive 4th quarter player for the Celtics (all stats/measurements included), but I’m not Hollinger…
June 17th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
rangerjohn says:
kudabeen
so let me get this right, because kg shoots freethrows better, and averages about 1 more assist per game then duncan he is more well rounded, while duncan averages more points, more rebounds, a whole block, and everything is relatively even for their carreers.
here is an interesting stat regarding these 2, kg has played 2 more seasons and duncan has shot 930 more free throws then kg and kg has played in 174 more games. this shows how much more agressive duncan is then kg, energy and intensity and al lthat great bs for kg, and he still cant get to the line where he is career 78%?
duncan HANDS DOWN
with the exception of the last 2 yrs, the ball is always in duncans hands at the end of a close game, ALWAYS! where is kg at the end of a close game?
June 17th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
rangerjohn says:
oh and kudabeen
http://www.82games.com/CSORT11.HTM
according to 82 games, ray allen is the most “clutch” player on the celtics according to “stats” and he is the 47th most clutch player in the nba then kg come sin about 72 i think it was.
June 17th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
doc says:
And KG CANT guard the 1 to 5.Stripping Telefair dont count.CP3 or AI will leave his ass in the dust.
June 17th, 2008 at 2:54 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 3:26 pm
Big Sia says:
Yao >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Howard
June 17th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
rangerjohn says:
big sia are you NUTS, yao cant make it through a single full season (and i live in houston and own season tickets so i know how it sucks) much less out play howard. all yao has is size, he is a huge lumbering beast and rolls right over people. howard is young still but his game is already past yaos easy
June 17th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
rell says:
@92021SpurMD
I am a Celtics fan and I am very happy to have Garnett on the team, but I agree with you that KG and Duncan should not be put in the same conversation together. Duncan is much better especially in the clutch and if the Duncan and KG switched team, Boston would have breezed through the first 2 round. I don’t think San Antonio would have made it out the first round with KG. Maybe if KG started his career with Pop as a coach it would have been a different story, however, that is entirely too many what if.
Hopefully, KG come through tonight and exterminate all his demons. All it will take is one crunch time performance and he can remove that blemish off his career. Man, I hope we end this series tonight.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Big Freeze says:
Everyone knows Timmy is better than KG, so why argue? KG is working on his first ring right now, and Timmy is having a hard time fishing this summer with those four rings on his fingers. That said, KG is a much more entertaining player to watch than the Big Fundamental. KG’s jumper is something sweet, and his dunks are ridiculous with his head nearly touching the rim. NBA ratings agree. Timmy has to be one of the more boring players in the league. Tim’s arsenal of the hook, the running hook, and the bank shot gets old after a few minutes. Duncun is the best PF ever tho, or at least tied with Karl Malone.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
92021SpurMD says:
Like I said in the KG story, he’ll change my mind if he puts up 40 tonight out of sheer WILL.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
rangerjohn says:
rell
i agree with you and 92021spurmd, only thing i dont agree with, i dont know that pop would have kept kg around long enough to “teach him” and i also KNOW that duncan was who he is in college which IMO is a huge advantage over kg. kg came right from high school and i think he needed a yr or 2 in college for the experience. there are only a couple of players now and then that can handle the jump, most end up like jr smith, a decent role player but VERY imature (kobe?)
the other factor with kg, he has had to be “the man” on his team his whole career until now, this has over inflated his numbers some. IMO had he gone to a team like pop runs he would have turned into a slightly above average PF. pop would not have given him the time to develop before he shipped him i think. then again robinson and garnett play very similar (DR was also better then kg) and so he would have been limited in play also.
June 17th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Austin Burton says:
@Big Freeze — Watching KG shoot from the top of the key isn’t the definition of excitement, either. And how many dunks has he had in the postseason? Maybe 10?
June 17th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Big Freeze says:
Good point Austin. I’de rather watch Scalabrini toss bricks