Jermaine has been in the playoffs every season he has been in the league. Now I understand he was a merely a bench player when he was a blazer, but since being a pacer, he has been their MVP.
That's great, but he has only played 30mpg or more for five seasons (since he got in Indiana). That's like saying Darko is great because he won a championship ring. Garnett has led his team, which wasn't very talented besides 2003-2004, to the playoffs 8 out of his 10 years. And last year, he was one game out of the post season again.
As for KG being a good leader/teamate, who was that rookie he punched in the face? That was in the off season of the season they nearly made the finals.. then last season, they dont even make the playoffs. How easily these things are forgotton. I guess its easier to blame spree for the past season though
Michael Jordan punched Steve Kerr in the face, I suppose he isn't a good leader? Jermaine O'Neal got in a brawl with fans in Detroit, I suppose he isn't a good leader? Don't bring up something like that and say he is a bad teammate or leader. Rickert wasn't even going to make the team, and probably wouldn't have even gotten invited to training camp.
As for who to blame last year, I blame everyone. It's a team game besides a select few (Garnett, Hassell, Madsen, Carter) nobody played with the effort to win. It was all about the individuals and there was no team. Not to mention the team just wasn't very talented.
And somtimes, being in the playoffs doesnt make you a leader. Think back to Joe Dumars in the period after the bad boys and before grant hill arived. He was the epitme of leadership in that period.
It's not just the fact that he has been to the playoffs, it's the fact that he has single-handedly lead his team to the post season even when there were more talented teams there. Before Garnett got drafted, the Wolves were lucky to win 30 games. Then in his 2nd season a 19 year old kid LEADS the team to it's first ever post season birth. He never looked back until this year.
I look to how stars make thier teamates better. Jermaine has assisted Ron Artest to being an all star. He has helped the development of tinsley. He has made Jeff Foster look servicable, and allowed reggie the space still be effective up until his final game.
Jermaine O'Neal didn't "allow Reggie the space to still be effective". That's bullshit and you know it. Reggie made his own space by running of multiple screens and keeping himself in top shape.
Garnett helped Chauncey Billups turn his game around, but apart from that, I cant think of any other players he made better.
Wally Szczerbiak? He was an All-Star in 2001. Sam Cassell? Sure, Cassell was always a solid player but he was never an all-star until he came to Minnesota. And it's not like Cassell got "better". He was 34 years old, his skills were declining. Rasho Nesterovic? Garnett got Rasho that big contract from the Spurs. He made Rasho look productive, that's something Tim Duncan can't even do. Trenton Hassell? He got Hassell that big contract and has put Hassell's name on the map. Troy Hudson?
Or how about in 2002-2003? Wally Szczerbiak missed over 30 games that year and the team still got a top 4 seed. Can you please explain to me how a team with the starting line-up of Hudson-Anthony Peeler-Kendall Gill-KG-Rasho gets a #4 seed in the Western Conference? I rest my case.
No he doesnt. Jermaine recieves the ball in similar spots to where Garnet does, but he backs his way down into the post. KG usually faces up and rises up for that jumpshot.
Jermaine, along with timmy and shaq, are the best post players in the nba.
Did you watch Garnett this year at all? He was in the post about 3 or 4 times more than he usually was. He has gotten bigger and stronger, but he has always had the moves. Like I said, he has the best footwork in the league.
Thats why I said he is a better defender of big men. KG is a more versatile defender, he can guard smaller players. But he isnt physical enough to bang with other bigs. He isnt as good as jermaine is on help. Im not saying Garnet is bad, Im just saying he isnt as good as jermaine in those aspects.
I just flat out disagree.
Defensive rebounding numbers can be decieving. Jermaine has had rebounding studs in Jeff Foster and Dale Davis alongside him for most of his tenure in indiana. This has effected his rebounding numbers. They are about the same when it comes to rebounding when you take that into account.
If Jermaine is so good, why can't get the rebounds over those guys? Are you saying Dale Davis and Jeff Foster are better rebounders than Jermaine "rebounding warrior" O'Neal? Garnett gets rebounds because when a shot is in the air he goes for it. That ball is his. There is nobody else in the league who does it like Garnett.
I've seen minnesota go into a zone a fair bit over the years, so KG isnt always guarding the best player.
Ever think that Flip Saunders didn't want Garnett getting into foul trouble because the team needs him? Hell, Tim Duncan doesn't guard the best offensive player either. Neither does Kobe Bryant. Neither does Lebron James. But at the end of the game if Garnett isn't in foul trouble he'll be put on the best offensive player out there.
There has been plenty of times when KG has gone into Karl Malone mode and not realised his teams peril and sunk with them. He is a great player, but Jermaine is better at comming up with a big shot or getting to the line when needed.
Garnett is clutch. I don't care what other people say about it. Garnett is clutch. I don't have to point out game winning baskets to do it either (Kings, Clippers, Kings, Pistons) but it's not just the shots. He'll get a key rebound or a key steal. He'll get a key block. He'll get double teamed and he'll kick it out to an open teammate for the wide open J. Garnett believes if he is being triple teamed that he shouldn't force the shot, but in the clutch he often takes over. So I don't know what you are talking about there. But I do agree with one thing, Garnett needs to get to the line more often.
Jermaine played with one arm almost. And he didnt nearly single handedly carry his team to the playoffs, he took them to a game 7 victory on the road (in boston of all places) and then a 2-1 series lead against the defending champs.
Nearly making the playoffs isnt good enough. Kobe and Lebron nearly single handedly took their teams to the playoffs too.
You fail to mention that Jermaine O'Neal's team record was the EXACT SAME RECORD as the Timberwolves' but in a worse conference. Not to mention, I didn't know you could "lead your team to the playoffs" when you barely played in half of the teams games. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Rick Carlise carried that team into the post season, not Jermaine O'Neal.
The game isnt strictly about stats. Leadership, winning and unselfishness has to be taken into account as well.
Yes, and Garnett is a great leader, he has been to the post season 8 of his 10 years and is one of the most unselfish players in the league.
The NCAA
Pepsi Cola
And the United Negro League
