Lakers v. KG

My hatred and disdain for anything Celtic is pretty well documented. The same pretty much goes for Kevin Garnett. In my opinion, he is not a winner (a whiner yes!, but definitely not a winner). He had to combine with Paul Pierce (he has his own set of issues) and Ray Allen (the only one of the three that I borderline respect), in order to win anything.

There are many things I can't stand about KG. So, I will only go back far enough to the event that brought us to our present scenario: the day that KG decided he wanted a trade out of Minnesota. I remember reading about Kobe asking the Lakers to trade for KG. I remember the Lakers considering it, but ultimately deciding not to make the deal, because they would have had to give up Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum to make the deal work. Anyway, KG wanted out of Minnesota, so he demanded to be traded. I have an issue with a guy wanting to be "the man" on a team, wanting to be paid like "the man", not producing enough wins to be "the man" and demanding to be traded (I have issue with Kobe for what happened in 2007 too).

KG was the highest paid player in the NBA. During the mid 2000s, he was one heck of a basketball player. He was the best defender in the game (still is one of the top 10). He challenged Tim Duncan as the best power forward in the NBA (he doesn't get the nod because TD has won 4 championships). His contract, as with most superstars, restricted the T-Wolves. They were unable to surround him with enough talent to win consistently; not to mention that they had some bad luck (Malik Sealy), made some bad decisions (Stephon Marbury), and did some bonehead things (Joe Smith). KG wanted to be the alpha dog and he wanted to be paid like the alpha dog, but he did not produce results like an alpha dog. So he wanted out. That is problem number one I have with KG.

I am not going to go into all my issues with KG, so let's just fast forward to this season. 2011 has provided me two more things that 'endear' me to KG. Let's start with the infamous tweet of Charlie Villanueva:

"KG called me a cancer patient, I'm pissed because, u know how many people died from cancer, and he's tossing it like it's a joke," 

To this KG replied by saying, 

"My comment to Charlie Villanueva was in fact, ‘You are cancerous to your team and our league.’ I would never be insensitive to the brave struggle that cancer patients endure."

I don't really care what KG said to Villanueva. I just think it is funny that he would have us believe that calling a guy 'a cancer to his team and the league' shows us that he is a sensitive guy. Well, I guess he didn't say that he was sensitive. He said that wasn't insensitive. And to be fair he was saying that he isn't insensitive to people with cancer, but who the hell cares how he treats another basketball player. This is my first 2011 issue with KG.

Second, I really struggle with him identifying himself with the Celtics. I know he has been there for 3 years and I know that he has experienced his greatest achievements there. But come on, he hasn't even been there for a quarter of his career. He doesn't get to embrace the legacy of the Celtics. He grew up in Chicago idolizing Michael Jordan. His new shoes with the all-time Celtics win-loss record against the Lakers on the tongue is annoying (I know I am homer). The record just happens to be 153-121 (55.8%).

It is annoying because HIS all-time record against the Lakers is 29-50 (36.7%). His record is only slightly better as a Celtic, 4-6 (40%). His best record against the Lakers is in the postseason, where he boasts an 11-14 record (44%). His teams have eliminated the Lakers only one time from the playoffs, in the 2008 NBA Finals.

In fact, no Celtic has much to brag about in this regards (I know, I know...I have covered this already), except those who played on the Celtics in the 60s and 70s. Because since 1980, the Lakers record against the Celtics is 36-23 (61%). This tells you that the Lakers and Celtics played each other a lot during the 60s and 70s AND that the Celtics dominated!!!

Anyway, when LeBron "took his talents to South Beach" my focus became beating the Heat. KG has done a great job of bringing the Celtics back into focus, and helping me realize there isn't enough room in my heart to actively despise two teams. So, Miami is safe...for now!