This year, Ben Gordon and Kevin Garnett were pretty much on the same level. The only reason why Kevin Garnett is better for the Celtics right now, is because of the balance issue on the roster. Although the Celtics' offense would be off the roof with Gordon added to the mix (Gordon/Allen, the two three point shooters in the game, on the team...wow). Gordon's also one of the top fastbreak scorers in the league, so him and Rondo would have a good dynamic. I think next year, it probably won't be close, and Gordon will be clearly the better player. I think Garnett is going to no longer be a star when he comes back from this injury. Luckily for the Celtics, Rondo is on the right path to becoming a star, so they might still be able to remain a top team in the East, as long as Allen can still shoot, and Paul Pierce is still able to score.
You're really underestimating KG's importance to the Celtics. He's their leader, he's their defensive anchor and he simply makes everyone better. Gordon would be a 6th man on the Celtics...he really wouldn't help them as much as you might think. I could see him as a better version of what Pargo was for the Hornets last season, but he couldn't really affect the game much more than that.
You are completely taking crap on Ben Gordon if you are comparing him to Pargo. Jannero Pargo scored at a craptacular 46.8 TS% last year. Ben Gordon scored at a 57.3 TS% this year. They're not even comparable. Gordon could be a major sixth man for the Celtics, with them just finding some small forward minutes for Ray Allen, and giving Gordon 32 minutes a game. A lineup of Rondo-Gordon-Allen-Pierce is pretty much unguardable in the clutch. They would space you out with their shooters, opening things up for Rondo for the drive, and Gordon, Allen, and Pierce are just stone colded killers in the clutch.
I said a BETTER version of Pargo. Pargo was a hit or miss 6th man for NO: either he came into the game and changed the tide completely, or he didn't make any immediate impact and didn't affect the game much. Gordon could do the same for Boston, but at a higher success rate and with a bigger effect on the game...but there's a limit to how much a 6th man can do. A lineup of Rondo-Gordon-Allen would be tiny...Allen is just 6'5" and could never guard or drive against a typical, athletic 6'7" SF. Gordon is an undersized SG himself at 6'3", and Rondo is just 6'1". Gordon and Allen are not shutdown defenders and with no bigger guard to fall back on, that lineup would struggle defensively...a lot. A lineup of Rondo-Gordon-Allen-Pierce is ridiculous...that's a super-small lineup which would never accomplish anything. Allen and Pierce aren't fast break players, so forget about a quick offense. In a regular set, that lineup would be relegated to shooting contested jumpers. There would be way too much pressure on the center, whether it be Perkins or any other Celtic big man, to rebound and defend the paint. They would get murdered on the boards. You can't just take 3 clutch guards, put them together in the same lineup and hope it works. IMO, you're vastly overrating the effect Gordon would have on the Celtics and underrating KG's importance to them. With KG in this series, I don't think the Bulls would come nearly as close to beating the Celtics as they have been. He may not be the dominant player he once was, but he doesn't have to in his role with the Celtics. He has much more influence over his team than Gordon would ever have. Also, MikeDC, I forgot to answer your post. As I said, I don't think Garnett's attitude goes out to show anything...it's just who he is. IMO, he'd retire before becoming a 15 mpg bench player. He has already proven himself.
kobi, there's no point in arguing, Ben Gordon is not only better than Garnett in every aspect of the game other than defense, rebounding, passing, leadership, and shot blocking, he is more efficient than one of only 3 or 4 players to average 20/10/4 for nine straight seasons. And now, he can't be efficient because he isn't in as good of shape as the Ben Gordon, who has more grind on his legs than anyone in the league. Wait, is that KG? No, can't be just look at the STATS.
Here's a great youtube compilation of Kevin Garnett's douchbaginess over the last 10 years. Garnett haters rejoice! [video=youtube;GuxOKp7JtHo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuxOKp7JtHo[/video]
The stuff on the Wolves is such a stretch, it's ridiculous. KG and Wally had a good relationship while on the team, and were always good teammates.
Rickert was being a little bitch. He needed to get clocked. KG's the team leader and therefore did the honors.
hey ignoramous.. I watched Larry Bird win titles like, live. I watched Dee Brown win the Slam Dunk Title, I watched Reggie Lewis turn into a budding star before dying. I watched a parade of washed up players like Xavier McDaniel and Dominique Wilkins make fools of themselves in Celtic Green, I watch Rick Fox jump ship from the Celtics to the Lakers and then ride Shaq's coattails to several titles. I watched Rick Pitino fail miserably as a GM and then give up as a coach on the C's. I've seen several decades of Celtics basketball, but thanks for the moronic and ignorant post. you can go away now.
How is scoring 3 baskets in a row being a little bitch? Kevin Garnett was being Rickert's bitch in that moment. You don't punch your teammate because he scores on you in a pickup game, and your teammates razz you, making you feel inadequate.
We can't know for sure what happened, but I'm sure Rickert did something pretty stupid. KG does not go off on team mates, ever. The big "bitch moment" with KG for me was when he threw the ball at Antonio Mcdyess a few years ago and ran from him after, that was shameful. lol
