I was hoping that someone would step up more in the last game. With Pierce hobbled it was left to the others to pick up the offensive slack. Rondo did it for a time and Ray hit a shot here or there, but I was really looking to Kevin Garnett to take over. He tried in spurts but it wasn't enough and when Pierce checked back in, the ball went to him and Paul was only able to hit that one three pointer down the stretch.

Perhaps Doc can go to Kevin early and often in the next game and perhaps even get Horford into some foul trouble. At the very least he's going to be motivated to putting Al Horford in a defensive metaphorical headlock.

Regardless, just by being on the court Kevin helps his team.

More Kevin Garnett best bet vs. Hawks - BostonHerald.com

Plus-minus numbers can be a bit misleading. Rotations play a role, and one is bound to have a better rating if he’s playing with better mates for a stretch of time. But it’s hard to ignore the Garnett factor. After going for a minus-6 in the Game 1 loss to the Hawks, he has subsequently been plus-10, plus-11, plus-33 and plus-17. This has come in games the Celtics have, in order, lost by nine, won by seven, six and 22, and lost by one.

And in other Garnett "news" (aren't these postseason "controversies" fun?), the part owner of the Hawks takes a shot at KG.

Hawks owner: Garnett 'dirtiest' in league - Boston Celtics Blog - ESPN Boston

"We don’t get any calls, which I know everybody always hears. But I’ll give you a stat. Last night, we are playing this old physical team. They are old. I know what happens when you play basketball, old guys foul. [Kevin] Garnett is the dirtiest guy in the league. We are playing Boston last night and they had two fouls the whole first half. We had five times that and we’re athletic."

OK then.