General

Celtics Benefit From Kevin Garnett’s Influence, Even When He Isn’t on the Court

Apr 29, 2009, 2:00 PM UTC

Down the stretch last night, the Celtics went with Rajon Rondo, Eddieâ†µHouse, Big Baby Davis, Kendrick Perkins, and of course, Paul Pierce.â†µWith Ray Allen having fouled out, and Kevin Garnett in street clothes,â†µit was like Danny Ainge had never made the mega-trade that brought theâ†µcity a championship.â†µ
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â†µWe were back in 2006-07, when the Celtics were arguably the worst teamâ†µin the league. Okay, defensive guru Tom Thibodeau is a new addition,â†µbut Al Jefferson is gone. And Doc Rivers is still the head coach. Yetâ†µhere this line-up was, closing out a playoff win in OT against aâ†µChicago team full of former lottery picks. Something’s changed, andâ†µit’s not just that all these players are older and wiser. To me, thisâ†µis one of those times where you really see the difference Garnett hasâ†µmade in Boston.â†µ
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â†µThink about the young frontcourt of Davis and Perkins. Since Garnett’sâ†µarrival, Perkins has learned the intimidator’s shtick, and gone from aâ†µserviceable big man to a real presence in the paint. Davis, whoâ†µearlier in the season was driven to tears by KG’s exhortations, hasâ†µstayed tough and active on both offense and defense. It’s impossibleâ†µto imagine these two playing as well as they have this series withoutâ†µGarnett’s example and influence.â†µ
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Rondo may be a point guard, but his unique game and varied skill setâ†µare nothing if not Garnett-like. And over the last two seasons, we’veâ†µseen Rondo go from bundle of potential asked merely not to screw upâ†µto, with this series, a star in his own right. It’s not just that heâ†µdefies positional logic in the same way Garnett does (especially inâ†µhis younger days). Rondo also has a way of being everywhere at onceâ†µthat’s remarkably inconspicuous, much like KG filling up a stat sheerâ†µbefore you’ve even realized it.â†µ
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â†µAnd then there’s Pierce, long-suffering cornerstone of the franchise.â†µYou can argue that Pierce would’ve been enough to get past theseâ†µBulls, who just barely snuck into the playoffs. But then again, Pierceâ†µwasn’t enough to keep them out of the deepest depths of the lottery inâ†µ2006-07. Paul Pierce gave his prime to this team, and had every rightâ†µto expect it be rebuilt around him. That wasn’t happening, andâ†µunderstandably, sometimes he brooded. When Garnett arrived, not onlyâ†µdid Pierce get exactly what he wanted: He now had a teammate who, byâ†µexample, forced him to push himself harder than ever.â†µ
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â†µThat’s why, as the Celtics put away this one, you saw Pierce overcomeâ†µthe fact that he’s done little of note in this series -- and in last night’s game. Instead, Pierce stepped up and hit prettyâ†µmuch every shot that needed to be made. Not because Garnett wanted himâ†µto, or color commenter Doug Collins patiently demanded it of him. Itâ†µwas because these days, Paul Pierce expects it of himself, no matterâ†µhow frustrating things get along the way.
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