Garnett is the player who changed everything for the Celtics this season. He is the difference between 24 wins and 66 wins. He finished third in the MVP voting. He is making $23.8 million this season. He is 32 years old, and this might be his one and only shot at an NBA championship. He is the reason the Celtics have a shot at their first banner in 22 years.
So, where is the Big Ticket now that he's finally on the Big Stage?
Garnett is averaging 18 points and 13 rebounds per game in the Finals. He's still playing Rodney Harrison defense. But the stats lie. We want more. His own coach said, "We've got to get Kevin going. Clearly."
Right. We want Garnett to dominate with the basketball. No one can dispute his defensive intensity and impact, but we want him to have a Wilt Chamberlain game, or a Larry Bird game, or a Michael Jordan game. On offense. We want him to take his defensive energy to the other end of the court, especially at the end of close games. Stop floating around the perimeter like an anxious high school sophomore trying to get the nerve to cross the cafeteria floor and ask a cheerleader for a date.
Apparently, this just isn't him. When I wrote much of these same sentiments before the Celtics and Pistons played Game 5 in Boston, Detroit coach Flip Saunders (Garnett's first coach with the Timberwolves) pulled me aside and said, "They wrote that story about him in Minnesota every year."
Garnett made 9 of 22 shots and snatched 13 rebounds in Game 1 against the Lakers. He led the Celtics with 24 points. But Paul Pierce was the story because Pierce was the one who vaulted out of a wheelchair to hit a couple of stake-driving threes in the third quarter.
In Game 2, Garnett scored 17 points with 14 rebounds. He made only 7 of 19 shots. That was the night Pierce scored 28 points and Leon Powe grabbed the headlines with 21 points in less than 15 minutes off the bench.
Garnett staggered out of the blocks in Game 3. He missed two dunks in the first half. He finished with six baskets in 21 attempts. Again, he led the Celtics with 12 rebounds.
Garnett and Pierce (2 for 14) were the Boston story line for Game 3. It was amazing the Celtics had a chance to win a Finals game on the road with Garnett and Pierce making only 8 of 35 shots.
