So You Still Don't Get Kevin Garnett?

This is the way I see it.

It's the way I feel it.

If you can't get what Kevin Garnett was saying after he won his first championship I can't really help you - because it's a vibe thing you know?

It's raw emotion that if you can't feel it you've probably never been in a losing situation where everyone around you tells you that you can't, even though you know you could, and you eventually did.

You've probably never felt hard blacktop on your feet, dribbling the ball at midnight, going against someone who said to you "You shoot pretty good for a half breed or Oriental, or whatever you are" the look on his face saying "I can't lose to this guy because I should just be better than him."

You've probably never been pulled over by cops at the drive-thru window for no reason except that you looked out of place, because you were in a car that people just didn't think you should have, even though it was nothing special, the cops saying to you "I drive American" before they drove off, you just happy they didn't take you in.

You've probably never had to out-run a Ford Mustang and a group of guys shouting to you and your friends that you should go back to where you came from, screaming every possible racial epithet in their drunken state as you ran as fast as you could for as long as you could, getting a reprieve because of the red light and the bushes around the corner, holding your breath as the car stopped in front of you, slowly making it's way past, getting ready to run the moment you heard a car door open.

You see what I'm saying?

You probably care more about who you know, what you wear, what you drive, what names you can drop, where you live, and how many times you can tell your friends how much you gave to the cause of the day you decided to get onto so you could look like you were down, even though you don't know the first meaning of that word, and even though you don't embrace anyone who's not like you.

You probably never had to be escorted to use something as simple as a restroom because people were afraid for you because out of the blue a group of skinheads decided to show up at the venue you were at, looking you up and down - but you stayed, you stood, because you had every right to be there too.

You probably never got starred down by a cop you were filing a complaint against because he was too aggressive the night before as you made the long walk to the entrance of the station, each step forward wondering if you were doing the right thing, if it really mattered, in the end not caring if you got any justice, because it was just about doing what you thought was right.

You've probably never been beat down by white hands, blond hair, and blue eyes while you were defenseless, because you didn't know how to defend yourself. Because it was two against one. Because you didn't know it could be that way. But in the end you came back. You got it done.

You've probably never been on the side of the conversation with HR and managers telling you that you should let those racial statements go - that you should put down your head and just do your work, otherwise they'd find someone else - the last time this happens to you, unlike the other jobs and the other places where you let people like them impose their will on you, you instead imposed your will on them. You didn't get money, you didn't get newsworthy, you just got respect.

You got the respect from yourself that you wondered if you'd ever get.

See - if you didn't get Kevin Garnett and his raw emotion, letting it all hang out, making sure he gave it up to everyplace and everyone that's helped make him who he is throughout his career - to shout at the top of his lungs that anything is possible - you probably never will.

Sam Smith, By The Numbers, and KG Comes Up Big In The Playoffs And Finals

I was reading this article by MSNBC expert Sam Smith - and I just have to shake my head and wonder where we're going when a journalist leans on the sensational versus the actual facts strictly for headlines (see Smith's article Garnett keeps coming up small in big moments).

Let me just break some things down for you throughout this year's playoffs to show you how off Smith really is on this particular topic:

Atlanta Game 5: In this swing game with both teams tied, KG goes for 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists, and in the 4th quarter goes for 8 points resulting in a Celtics 110-85 win, being one win away from winning the series.

Atlanta Game 7: This was a blowout game and was over in the first half. KG goes for 18 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists.

Cleveland Game 1: When Pierce went 2 for 14 it was Garnett that set the tone for the first game and the series against Lebron's Cavs with 28 points and 8 rebounds. In the 4th quarter with the Celtics up by just one point it was Garnett who laid in 8 points in the 76-72 win while Pierce and Allen went for a combined 0 points.

Cleveland Game 5: With both teams up 2-2 this is a pivotal Game 5 for the Celtics to take the lead in the series and be one win away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals. How big does Garnett come up? 26 points and 16 rebounds. In the 4th quarter Garnett goes for 6 points and 8 rebounds, 4 of which are offensive rebounds.

If Garnett doesn't have these two games (among the many others) do you think Boston even gets to a game 7 where Pierce can go off for 41 (and KG did have 4 points in the 4th quarter which totalled Allen's entire point total for the Game 7).

Detroit Game 3: With Detroit winning Game 2 taking away Boston's home court advantage and Boston not having won on the road yet, KG goes for 22 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists ensuring that Boston takes back the home court advantage in Boston's first road win of the playoffs.

Detroit Game 5: After Detroit wins Game 4 and can take the lead in the series with a win in Game 5 Garnett goes for 33 points and 7 rebounds to give Boston a 3-2 edge in the Eastern Conference Finals. Oh yeah - in the 4th quarter, he goes for 10 points including 2 clutch free throws to seal the game in the 106-102 win.

Detroit Game 6: In the closeout game of the series with Boston down by 8 points starting the 4th, KG goes for 8 points and 4 rebounds in the quarter in the decisive 89-81 win making Boston the Eastern Conference Final winners and earning them a trip to the NBA Finals.

If Garnett doesn't come up big in the Detroit series which he did - it means Boston never gets to the finals (where Ray Allen is playing some of his best ball).

NBA Finals Game 1: Not taking anything away from Pierce's heroics, but it was KG who led the Boston Celtics in both points and rebounds with a series starting 24 and 13 - 4 rebounds which were offensive.

NBA Finals Game 2: In the 102-108 win, Garnett goes for 6 crucial points of his 17 total in the 4th quarter. Leads team in rebounds with 14, 3 which are offensive.

NBA Finals Game 4: Coming back after a poor game KG goes for 16 and 11 in the 97-91 win. Trailing by 2 points in the 4th, Garnett comes up with 6 key points in the quarter helping the Celtics go up 3-1 on the Lakers, one win away from their 17th championship (and throughout the NBA finals so far, he's led his team in rebounds in every single game controlling the boards which has been a key aspect to winning the series).

Sure. Garnett has had to 2 games in the NBA finals where he's shot 36% and 28% in games 2 and 3, but in Game 1 he lead the team in scoring with 40% shooting and in game 4 shot 50%, so while Smith laments in his article about KG shooting a "woeful 35.4 percent" in these first four games, it doesn't nearly tell the whole story (and he's averaging a team best 20.5 points and 10.3 rebounds in the playoffs overall being Boston's most consistent player in the playoffs - and 17.4 points and 12.5 rebounds in the finals).

Put it all together and I just have to ask how can anyone in their right mind can say Kevin Garnett doesn't come up big when it matters.

Just look at the numbers in the context of the games and you'll clearly see you can't.

You're Asian And You Just Don't Know It

Leon Powe: 21 points, 2 rebounds, 15 minutes.

Ubuntu is the new Zen

I have to admit that while I'm all about the Big Three (and some guys named Rondo, Sam, P.J., and Kendrick among others), I also have another reason for rooting for the Celtics: Doc Rivers can become the first black head coach to win an NBA championship since K.C. Jones did it in 1986 (and 1984 too), coincidentally with the Boston Celtics as well - and while some of you might think it's a non-issue no matter what color you may be - to me it's significant - not just seeing more black head coaches in the NBA than in another Major League sport (which is significant in itself), but seeing a black head coach who's been vital in making the biggest turnaround in NBA league history go to the Finals and then win it all; because I never got to see K.C. Jones or Bill Russell do it.

I never got to know it in that way, and I want too.

I want to see Ubuntu become the new Zen.

Epic: Black Mamba Versus The Big Ticket

Tomorrow night just can't come fast enough.

Bloomberg: Just don't report on the NBA

I was doing a search on Kevin Garnett this morning to see what articles might have some extras in it (because I'd read everything from the Boston/Detroit papers and watched the post-game interviews, etc.) and one of the first pieces that popped up on Google News was an article from Bloomberg - and even though in a previous article I stumbled upon they told me the Cavs won when it was really the Celtics - I figured I'd check it out. No way they could blunder another one.

But then I read:

"Kevin Garnett, whose 13.2 points-per-game scoring average during the playoffs was more than 4 points less than his regular-season average, contributed 33 points...."

Do they write with one hand on a PDA while wiping themselves in the bathroom?

The sentence barely even makes sense for one, but Garnett is averaging 21.3 points per game in the playoffs (and 24.2 in the Detroit series, and he averaged 18.8 in the regular season).

That's an 8 point difference in the real number versus the fake Bloomberg number.

Game 4: Kevin Garnett

Kevin:

You know I dig your game, and unlike a lot of people who seem to jump on and off the bandwagon at the turn of each quarter, I'll be a fan of yours for as long as you play and hope that one day I'll see you finally get that elusive championship ring.

But while I'll let you get away with some things, like calling yourself 6 '11, I can't really let you get away with that piss-poor performance from last night because let's face it - the Pistons pretty much wanted to give that game away from about the middle of the second quarter and all you and the Celtics needed to do was take it and say "Thank You" and you could have been on your way headed back to Boston with a 3-1 lead.

Now, it's tied up again.

It's not that you shot like crap (which you did), the lack of defensive rebounds (count a whopping 7), or even the fact that you dished out only 3 assists (even though the team as a whole barely had enough dimes to get a Spicy Chicken Burrito).

No Kevin, what I need to chastise you about is that after Jason Maxiell ended up blocking your run-away dunk (and it was a clean block), you seemed to fold physically and mentally.

You didn't even try to get involved in the majority of plays.

You decided to set up camp outside the free throw line waiting for someone to bring you some marshmallows.

You just checked out.

Now I don't know much, but I do know that if you can't rebound from one play by Jason Maxiell - especially in the next Game 5 - you'll have all the time to roast up as many smores as you want while you watch Detroit move on to the Finals.

And seriously - do you really need any more sugar?

Confucius is laughing because Jesus still can't find his shot

We'd all be happy with just one three. Just one will satisfy us. After that you can go back to your chosen profession as a carpenter, who just for the record, works with wood, not bricks.

Instant Classic

You're a Stud: Paul Pierce and Game 5

Boston Herald

I know Rondo and KG had great games in the Celtics' Game 5 win over the Cavs last night, but I have to give the game ball up to Paul Pierce.

When the C's seemed cold and lackadaisical in the first quarter, I thought he was the one who gave them their energy, and without it, they would have been even more behind in the second. At the same time, when it came down to the wire (because the Cavs had a chance to steal one), you have to credit Pierce for making clutch free throws down the stretch that kept Lebron and Co. at bay (I think he scored like the last 8 or so in a row from the line).

And he still defended Lebron just as he has all series long while managing to put in a game high 29 points.

Doc Rivers, The Blame Game, and Lebron's a Mama's boy?

So I know my last post on the Celtics when I gave the blame to Doc Rivers was really more out of frustration (like a good cheap foul). But this time, I really am blaming Doc Rivers because he just couldn't adjust his matchups and he couldn't keep Rondo from shooting the shit out of the game even though they should have kept on going to Ray Allen when he was hot as hell.

I'd go into more detail - X's and O's and all that other good stuff - but really - just watch the game again, you'll see what I mean.

The most interesting part of that loss though, was seeing Lebron's mom come to his defense after a hard a foul and Lebron screaming at her to sit her ass on down - which I'm hoping the Boston Celtic fans have a fun time with.

Sure - the dunk on KG was nice, but having his mom come to his defense in an NBA game? That shit's classic.

And yeah - I know - this post isn't that coherent - or even that interesting - but I felt like making a post where I really can't decipher even what I'm saying.

I'm chalking it up to APAH month, because I'm Asian and I can do that.

Celtics and Cavs: Game 4 tactics

I think it's pretty simple really - and I'll go out on a limb and give Doc Rivers the sole credit for losing Game 3 of the Celtics/Cavs matchup, because he didn't adjust to the game and run enough plays in the post when they still had a chance to close the gap to under 10.

Even though you have 3 star players on your team, when you're down and you have time to get back into the game, you have to slow it down. You have to go to your big man in the post and run the offense through him because he commands the double teams - he has cutters to the basket. He's got other big men who are waiting to get an easy basket at the rim.

I know this is uncharted territory for the Celtics and Doc Rivers - having 3 legit ballers on your team and knowing when to ride each one and when to call plays for them, but while ball movement is their game, so is working inside-out.

It doesn't mean you go away from your main guys, but right now Lebron is on Pierce - the best player on the Celtics team who can be a whirling dervish to the basket - it makes more sense to start some of the sets in the post with KG versus having Pierce take it out from the top of the key, especially when Rondo's defender is completely sagging off him because Ronda can't find his offensive rhythm right now.

Get your big 3 going and you'll get a win. Slow down the game and you'll get a win. Throw it in the post a few more times and you'll get a win.

And if not?

Then it becomes a 3 game series.

You're Asian and you just don't know it

Celtics 2, Cavs 0

Let's proselytize on just accepting Kevin Garnett for who he really is

Obviously I'm geeked up for tonight's game with the Celtics and the Cavs, and as I'm eagerly awaiting the game to start, I thought I'd post out a few opinions on Kevin Garnett, and why win or lose - and contrary to the ESPN article by Scoop Jackson - there's no love lost even with the Celtics 1st round tests against Atlanta.

First let's break down the awards and stats (it's long):

• NBA Most Valuable Player: 2004
• NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 2008
• NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2003
• 11-time NBA All-Star: 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• 8-time All-NBA:
  First Team: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2008
  Second Team: 2001, 2002, 2005
  Third Team: 1999, 2007
  8-time All-Defensive:
  First Team: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
  Second Team: 2006, 2007
  NBA All-Rookie Second Team: 1996
• 4-time NBA regular-season leader, rebounds per game: 2004 (13.9), 2005 (13.5), 2006 (12.7), 2007 (12.8)
• 2-time NBA regular-season leader, rebounds: 2004 (1,139), 2005 (1,108)
• 5-time NBA regular-season leader, defensive rebounds: 2003 (858), 2004 (894), 2005 (861), 2006 (752), 2007 (792)
• NBA regular-season leader, points: 2004 (1,987)
• NBA regular-season leader, field goals made: 2004 (804)
• J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award: 2006
• Career triple-doubles (regular season): 17 (as of March 4, 2007)[40]
• Career triple-doubles (post-season): 3 (as of 2006)
• Only player in NBA history to:
  average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game for 6 consecutive seasons. (1999-2005) , average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists per game for 9 consecutive seasons. (1998-2007), reach at least 20,000 points, 11,000 rebounds, 4,000 assists, 1,200 steals, and 1,500 blocks in his playing career.
• Ranked #70 on SLAM Magazine's Top 75 NBA Players of All Time in 2003.
  

If one series that took longer than you thought, tarnishes what Kevin Garnett has done in his career or him winning a championship - you just aren't a KG fan. It doesn't really matter how KG wins a ring - now or later - you just want him to win it all.

Crunch Time

I've watched a lot of games (thank you NBA League Pass) from KG's career and the bottom line is that he doesn't back away when it counts, when the game's on the line. Win or lose KG has always tried to exert his will at the end of games in any way that he can.

But let's get real - the national media - the pundits who've watched maybe 50 games from Garnetts career never actually see it. Even one ESPN writer admitted that you really have to see KG for long stretches of time to see how he dominates the whole court - the whole game - intimating that the writer hasn't done that in the past, but rather has just caught glimpses of Garnett to form his opinion.

But what about scoring?

Kenny Smith said it best when he said Kevin Garnett is the first player in the modern age of basketball who can't really score 40 points at will, but who can still take over a game. It's not just scoring in the 4th, but how many assists, how many rebounds, how many times he takes care of the ball or is involved in plays where he sets up the offense first - where the offense runs through him because of his decision making - all of those - and some of which just can't be put into stats (or haven't), are all the reasons why you just can't look at Garnett in terms of scoring during crunch time.

But did you also see Game 1 of this second round? Yeah, I think it was KG that carried the team on his back in the 4th in terms of scoring as well.

So you want him to be even more than who he is?

We do it all the time. We always want people to be more than who they actually are. From politicians to partners to even good old grandma Nguyen down the street - we have a hard time accepting people for who they are - and that goes double for Garnett.

We see his athleticism, his height, his drive - what he's already been able to do - and we just want more. We want him to be everything we think he should be.

Let's pause though and just take a breath.

Let's accept Garnett for the future HOF player that he is and hope for the best.

He's not Kobe. He's Not Lebron. He's not CP3. He's KG.

He's the Defensive Player Of The Year, he scores 19-20 pts a game, he's the top scorer so far on the Celtics in the post-season, he's been a rebounding machine for his entire career - and don't forget about his assists. For most of his career the offense hasn't only just gone through him - but he alone has been the offense.

And he plays the game the right way.

I mean really - what more do you want from the guy?

Jeff Ma, Blackjack, and ESPN's TrueHoop's Stat Geek Smackdown

As you know (assuming you actually read this blog) I'm an NBA fan - and I'm getting ready for the Celtics/Cavs matchup tonight (can't time move any faster?).

Being the prepared armchair coach that I am I like to see who the experts are picking and what they have to say - even though they aren't even close to being right all the time.

So which one of the experts is doing pretty well?

That would be Jeff Ma, aka Kevin Lewis from "21", co-founder of the Citizens Sports Network who is currently holding 3rd place in overall points at ESPN's TrueHoop's Stat Geek Smackdown where he's even ahead of ESPN's resident stat geek John Hollinger (by 1pt - but check the Detroit series).

And he's picking the Celtics in 5.

I guess that's why you value home court

I don't know much, but I know this - when you have Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett on your team, the last shot, even if it's a three you need, should go to one of them, not Rondo.

Here's to seeing Game 7 and either the Celtics getting to Round 2, or one of the greatest upsets in NBA playoff history.

Damn.

You better not let us down tonight

David Stern, Paul Pierce, and you might have a little racist in you if...

Boston.com

Here's the quote from David Stern on Paul Pierce's gesture towards the Atlanta Hawks from Game 3 (whose Celtics finally decided to come back to form last night in Game 5):

I guess I would say that the league is sending a message that says, 'You're the best athletes in the world, play the game,' " Stern said. "And you know what? If you get baited, don't take the bait. And let's play. Let's show what you got, which happens to be the most extraordinarily gifted athletes playing a spectacular game. And we're not going to let it degenerate into something else. Period.

Players taunt other players in the NBA all the time - it's just a part of the game, like trash-talking - and the NBA has technical fouls in a game to deal with it.

But a $25,000 dollar fine for a gesture(the same one Stern himself is using in the picture above)?
Pierce (as well as Danny Ainge, and coach Doc Rivers) has come out and stated it wasn't a gang sign (and his foundation helps to ensure that kids stay out of gangs) - but rather the sign for "blood, sweat, and tears" that's been used all year long.

So then why was Stern so quick to react and say what he did - choosing his words as he did?

Because Paul Pierce is black?

If Pau Gasol throws up a sign with his hand is he going to get a $25,000 fine too?

Probably not because Pau is a white guy.

Stern isn't sending a message about discipline in the NBA - he's sending a message to black players. He's saying "You're black. You threw up a sign with your hand. I associate black people with gang violence therefore you were throwing up a gang sign and I'm not going to tolerate that in my NBA. No matter what you do as a person or as a player, I'll still stereotype you because you're a black man."

Just smoking some weed

How much more candid could Josh Howard be?

"What I was stating was just [in response to] a random question he asked me about the marijuana use. I just let him know that most of the players in the league use marijuana and I have and do partake in smoking weed in the offseason sometimes and that's my personal choice and my personal opinion. But I don't think that's stopping me from doing my job."

Where else except in the NBA can you talk about smoking weed and not have to fear losing your job. Don't you love America?

*Yes, I realize I'm posting a lot about the NBA - but it's the playoffs.

Viral: Kenny and Kobe

If you happened to miss this spoof on Kobe Bryant jumping over an Aston Martin - it's definitely worth the watch: