You didn't ask me in 2004. I submit that my answer would be the same as today. I don't hate Ray Allen, b/c he's been classy since Milwaukee. He, too, would qualify as just about the same career path as KG. So you can be a winner without being a trash-talking instigating b!tch. Garnett just chose not to go down that path. His choice, and it worked for him. But I'm not anointing him Saint Kevin b/c he moved to ESPN's backyard.
I think people felt too sorry for him at Minnesota so they let it slide more. Who cares? If you care, then it works for him. If you ignore it and play serious bball, then he becomes a loudmouth fool who lost the game. Either way, he's still a top 5 player today.
I have faith that Joel will put KG in his place if need be. For those who dont know, Joel worked with a boxing trainer to stay in shape a few offseasons ago. I think even Blake, who has mixed it up with some mixed martial arts guys in the offseason, could give KG a beat down.
nobody on the blazers is "afraid" of KG. if KG thinks so, he can start shit, but you know he only will with sergio or blake. He's a big pussy. Rondo is starting to have beef too, fuck him as well. Batum could whoop all of them at once. like getting jumped into a gang, but instead you kick all the gangsters asses and then steal all thier beer money. and get drunk.
I agree with everything you said up to the concluding sentence... it only sort of follows. Fans don't hate players on losing teams that their club usually beats. They attain a level of satisfaction seeing the trash talking superstar hanging his head in defeat. But put that same guy on a great team where he's dropping the same F bombs but on Sunday morning national coverage and trash talking his way off the court in victory, and it's a different story. Of course he's still a great player (top 20 guy of my 30+ years of watching hoops), but it's a perceived bush league me me me act thats winning out. I really don't mind trash talkers so much as I've found that they're usually a bit insecure trying to phyche themselves up. When I'm playing, if the guy I'm going against is chirping I take it as a sign of weakness... my focus sharpens. As much as I admire KG as a player, I've criticized him many times for getting too emotional early on in games and tightening up down the stretch. I find it's usually the calm and collected guys (like Pierce and Allen) who come through in the biggest situations. STOMP
Greg just needs to do a little of this (moves his elbows back and forth) and loosen some Chiclets. Then people will stop slapping the ball away. Kind of like Grainger last night loosing his front Chicklets....... http://www.bothteamsplayedhard.net/2008/11/01/danny-granger-is-toothless/
