Garnett's Head Games: childish tantrum or intentional vet move?

People underrated how sophisticated can pro-athletes be. I stopped believing KG was merely “intense” and “emotional” like 6 years ago.

KG is nuts but in a good way. He is controlled fury, if that makes any sense, and has played like this for so long. Sometimes I think he goes over the top but if, in the end, he gets another banner, god love him.

Interesting analysis, DRZA. You might have cherry picked certain games to illustrate your point, but I like it anway. :)

And after a while, it sounds like a broken record. With sweet music that ends up in a Celtics victory.

I have absolutely NO doubt that professional athletes will work to get any edge over their opponents. And that means more than simply trying to physically overpower your opponents.

A psychological edge in ANY endeavor is huge…whether it’s the basketball court of board room corporate politics.

Is KG simply a maniac? Perhaps. But I prefer to think that the ingredients that make up Kevin Garnett are 3 parts athletic freak, 3 parts unbelievable work ethic, 2 parts passionate freak, and 2 parts superior psychologist. Add it all up, and you get a near perfect 10 as a basketball player.

It’s certainly easy to dismiss Reggie’s comments in how he credited KG with the emotional fuel that lead to their victory. And I can certainly see how Ancient (and other fans) will more easily credit the guys who provide the measurables (i.e.-Rondo’s triple double and Pierce’s q4 heroics).

But basketball players are emotional creatures…they know what makes them go. And Reggie should know, since he made basketball his living.

Does KG deserve all the credit for their comebacks? Absolutely not. I believe there’s more to it than KG’s emotional fuel. Conversely, there’s also more to it than Pierce and Rondo getting their #‘s. It’s a complex thing…but if you combine emotional fire (KG), the psychological edge (Doc’s double T), the beautiful play and execution of Rondo and Pierce, the D of Powe and Big Baby, the final product is a team that is capable of amazing feats…like coming back from a 15 point deficit on the road on the 2nd day of a back to back.

On any given day, the emotional fire, the psychological edge, the overall play and defensive execution can come from different players. But in order to win it all, I firmly believe that all 4 elements (3 if you combine emotional fire and psychological edge) need to be firmly in place. You’re not going to win if your team is missing any of them. The beauty of this team is that the overall basketball execution can come from one of many players.

But on the emotional and psychological side of the ball, KG is the usually the constant. He’s the emotional identity of this team and the one that has gotten the team (and the coaches) to believe that they are superior…even on days when they are not.

If KG’s antics get under the skin of opposing players, then great! It helps give us an edge. The moment this team starts to doubt itself or play without fire is the moment that this team will no longer content for a world championship.

I dont see how it gave us a physcological edge last night
1. KG was just mad dirk was abusing him
2. KG had to sit out much of the rest of the game and didnt contribute at all after the tirade, so in a sense it actually hurt us.
3. Dirk was just as aggressive after the confrontation, he just missed shots.
4. KG doesnt deserve any credit for his actions last night – he lost his cool and looked a fool, because he was getting abused he had to rely on his “antics”
5. All the credit should go to the players that actually won the game with there play on the floor and not there childish tantrums

Some of us just don’t take things at face value. What KG did if anything was fire the team up. How was this game going before KG AND Doc did something about it? Didn’t look like a W to me. KG provided an emotional spark. Can’t argue with results.

Please just because people don agree with you doesn’t mean they are making a ‘cop out’ that is ridiculous. Whatever. No use arguing with you if anyone who take a different opinion as a ‘cop out’

The team needed a spark and got it. Didn’t look like anyone on the team was that interested until they were woken up. Not saying it is the only reason but it helped.

You bring some good points Drza.

…then I’m perfectly OK with it. Can it hurt us? Absolutely, ticky tack fouls or cheap technicals can hurt us. Kevin even got suspended for a game. But by an large, he’s been able to harness his emotions in a way that is productive to the team (instead of brooding or hurting the team like other emotional players (Artest and Rasheed Wallace come to mind).

But if having a subdued Kevin is going to make him less passionate (and dare I say, less maniacal) about playing the game and firing up the C’s, then I’ll take his antics any day and twice on Sundays.

An emotional Kevin is an effective Kevin. Sometimes you have to accept some of the drawbacks.