RE: Allow Me to Clarify

["R. Singh" <keltsfan@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I must respectfully disagree. Some of my reasons follow. 

He doesn't impose himself on a game? Did you see him play the Lakers in
the first round of this season's playoffs?  Did you see him nail big
shot after big shot in crunch time of that inspiring 114-110 win in LA?
Garnett averaged 28 points, 16.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists in that series
and was clearly the best player on the floor. You may not regard stats
that highly but without those kind of numbers the Wolves wouldn't have
won a single game. 

Have you looked at the talent on the Timberwolves roster?  Not what you
would call a stacked roster. Garnett took that team to the 4th seed in
the Western Conference. They won 51 games in the West and played an
overweighted schedule against the Midwest which included Dallas and San
Antonio, two teams that each won 60 games.  They split 4 games with each
of San Antonio, Dallas and Sacramento, teams with much more talent. 

You mention that if he was in the East he would play the Nets in the
conference finals. So he would imact wins and losses right? How else
would the Celtics have gotten to the conference finals?  You mention
Pierce, Cassell etc as being guys that take their teams on their back.
Pierce with Boston and Cassell with Milwaukee would have been hard
pressed to even make the playoffs in the Western Conference. If then in
the west, would you say those two still had the ability to carry their
teams on their back? What about wins and losses?  And Steve Francis has
won a lot of games hasn't he?  Been in quite a few playoff games. He's a
real winner, much like Pierce and Cassell would be if their teams were
in the Western Conference. 

Garnett is only limited by the talent around him. Give him another star
quality player to help him out on both ends of the floor and we wouldn't
even be having this conversation. 

Ravi







-----Original Message-----
From: owner-celtics@xxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-celtics@xxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Josh Ozersky
Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 6:20 AM
To: Josh Ozersky; celtics list
Subject: Allow Me to Clarify


Garnett is an impact player, of course; with his
talent, basketball IQ, and skill level, how could he
not be?  But he doesn't really impose himself on a
game; in a big game, I'll take Sam Cassell or even
Antoine.  Like David Robinson, Garnett has never been
able to translate his unearthly abilities into
winning, or even for that matter competing at the
highest level.  Sure sure, if he was in the east, he
would play the Nets in the conference finals.  BFD.  I
want a guy who will make an impact on the W and L
column, not just fill a stat sheet.

I just think that there is a vogue now for
multi-skilled, ultra-mobile seven-footers, just as a
few years ago everyone wanted "Scottie Pippin types"
i.e. slashing 6'8" point forwards.  But in fact, very
few of these "KG clones" is even comparable to the
original, and EVEN THE ORIGINAL CAN'T TAKE OVER A
GAME.  I don't think that KG is a top three player, or
a top five player, or even a top ten player in the
NBA.  Call me crazy, or call me a pervert.  I'll take
the guy who you can hand the ball to in the fourth
quarter and say, "carry us on your back, champ."  That
means Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, Kidd, Pierce, Cassell,
Iverson, Gary Payton, Steve Francis.  NOT Ray Allen,
Kevin Garnett, Jamal Mashburn, Rasheed Wallace, Chris
Webber, or the other stat-stuffers.  (The jury is
still out on Tracy McGrady.)

I want a winner with my top-five pick.  Period.
Skills, athleticism, upside, and all the rest of it
are only means to one end:  winning.

Josh


  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Josh Ozersky
  To: celtics list
  Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2003 6:28 PM
  Subject: Trade Yes, but not for Bosh


  If we do trade Antoine for a top five pick,
  -- and I have to say I hope we do, since his
  body will never measure up to his heart --
  I really think the guy we should target is Ford,
  not Bosh.  So many "Garnett Clones" have turned
  out to be non-impact players -- like Garnett himself.
  Ford is my guy; he can create scoring opportunities
  all over the court, get shots for raw athletes like
  Kedrick Brown and Alexsandr Pavlovic (say) and
  take pressure off Pierce in a way Antoine can't.
  I love to watch him pass and penetrate.  He's a real
  point guard, and I want him, not Bosh, in green.
  I'm not even sure I would take Bosh over Mike Sweeney,
  who is a true beast with pro success written all over him.

  Josh