I just wanted to drop a line to Wolves and KG fans telling you to keep your heads up. Last year at this time, Celtics fans were looking at a train wreck of a team, and one year later, we're one of the best regular season teams in NBA history, and a favorite for the NBA title.

If your team can get a favorable bounce at the lottery, and add a great player to pair with Big Al, you will have a nice young team to cheer for as they grow up in the West.

Here in Boston, I can see why TWolves fans were totally enamored with KG when he played in Minnesota. He's the ultimate competitor and teammate with a passion for basketball that actually surpasses that of the hardcore fan, which is quite unusual for today's NBA player. Although he's been in Celtic green for less than a season, I already rate him at almost the same level as Larry Bird, in that he brings to the table all the best qualities of a legendary player, namely the will to win, and the ability to lift teammates.

For KG to reach Bird's level, he needs to win the title this year. Plain and simple. He's got the quality running mates, in Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, who is having an incredible year, and he's got a great supporting cast of youth (Rajon Rondo, Kedrick Perkins, and Leon Powe), and grizzled veterans (Sam Cassell, James Posey, PJ Brown, and Eddie House).

It must be bittersweet for long time KG fans to see him on the Celtics, but Boston hockey fans went through the same thing when the Bruins, unable to put a contending team around Ray Bourque, mercifully sent him to Colorado to hunt for a title. I was a casual hockey fan then, but I was truly glad that Ray got a chance to hoist the trophy over his head.

Garnett has been incredible to watch this year, especially in person. The only regret I have in watching him is that he hadn't been on my team from the beginning of his career. I hope he can cement his place in NBA history this spring by leading his team to the title.

TripleOT wrote:

Hey man, thanks a lot and a Howl for the great post.

Don't let some Wolves fans get to you guys when they say stupid stuff about KG. I honestly don't think that's how the majority of Wolves fans feel. I, for one, am really pulling for you guys to win it all this season. Mostly for KG, Ray, and PP... but I've also really liked the Celtics franchise for a few years now.

Anyhow... good luck again. Hopefully you guys win it all and we get a Top 2 lottery pick. Getting lucky in the lottery one of these drafts is about the only chance we've really got at getting another star here in Minny alongside Big Al.

TripleOT wrote:
Well, outside of your second paragraph, you are dead on my friend. We don't have the ownership or mgmt capable of putting together much more than a competitive team. We will improve, but I doubt we'll ever be a 60 win team or challenge for a ring.

TripleOT wrote:
This is a great post a few thoughts on it...

yes it is bittersweet to see KG succeed with the Celtics this year...but not surprising...I mean the big 3 were on many of the sports periodicals basically crowned the champs...

KG is a great teammate...Yes and no...Yes...he can pass the ball...Does he make the people around him better??? I don't know how people can say that when he never was able to build a team around him when he was here in Minny and the excuse was \"If only he had people around him...than...\"

To compare KG to Larry Bird is in all due respect is a bit of a reach to say the least...When the game is on the line...the Celtics looked to Bird for the buzzer beating shot...not the case with KG at least his days in Minny as that was the monkey that remained on his back to the day he left Minny...

Well in typical Boston sports fashion they seem to steal the best MN sports players...David Ortiz - Redsox / Garnett - Celtics / Moss - Patriots...what is next Gaborak to the Bruins???

Anyways...sorry to go negative but KG left MN without a title and a cycle of one and done in the playoffs...DOn't be surprised if that huslte look that KG brings every night...turns into a head hanging dejection as the Celtics and KG fail to hoist the coveted NBA trophy...

KG4LVP wrote:
I'm not a Wolves historian, but I'm pretty sure if Red Auerbach frittered away draft picks and star players like Minny did, Larry Bird wouldn't be where he is in the pantheon of NBA players. Imagine if the Cs lost the draft pick they used to get McHale and Parish from the Warriors because of tampering. Or that DJ decided that he didn't want to play in cold weather in Boston any more and forced a trade to his home state of California. Or if Danny Ainge was struck down by a drunk driver. Or if Red acquired Benoit Benjamin instead of Bill Walton for their third Finals push in the 80s.

To paraphrase Hubie Brown; You're Kevin Garnett, your the best HS to pros big man since Moses Malone, and your team can't keep Stephon Marbury in the fold (for whatever reason), loses three first round draft picks due to tampering in the Joe Smith signing, sign Kandi as a FA, trades Cassell and a first for Marco Jaric, drafts Ndudi Ebi instead, of Josh Howard, Leandro Barbosa, or Kendrick Perkins, William Avery instead of Ron Artest or AK-47, traded the draft rights of Ray Allen for Stephon Marbury.

In the ten drafts after selecting KG, the Wolves ended up with two and a half NBA players, in Marbury, Wally and Rasho. Surround KG with Ray Allen, Josh Howard, AK 47, Cassell, someone from the 2001 draft, like Tony Parker, Zack Randolph, or Gerald Wallace, Andy Verajao from the 2004 draft, and Carlos Boozer from the 2002 pick that was forfeited, and I don't think we'd be talking about how KG doesn't take the big shot at the end of games. When Wally was your best long term teammate over your career, that's pretty pathetic from the personnel department.

One thing I learned this year watching Paul Pierce is that it takes a lot of energy to be a one man band in the NBA. When you're the only focus, it's tough to have the energy to close out games successfully by yourself. I hope that KG becomes very forceful in crunch time int he playoffs, unlike his reputation in the past. I guess we'll see if the one bugaboo in KG's amazing career can be overcome.

Beautiful post. Thanks

TripleOT wrote:
I will agree that the front office has made many of the mistakes here in Minny...

BUt I have a question for you and all the KG apologists on this board...

If you put KG on the Celtics team last year without Allen and Big Al here in MN...Would the Celtics still have the best record in the NBA???

KG4LVP wrote:
Maybe? Maybe not. Whats your point? Are you saying Ray Allen is the key to the Celtics success this season....?

My point is that I believe the Celtics would be much improved with or without KG....maybe not have the best record but would make the playoffs in the dismal East (I use dismal loosely, because I am of the opinion that in 3-5 years the balance of power will switch to the East - I know this sounds crazy with the West being so dominant this season...but will happen)