Kevin Garnett: Overrated?

The past couple of days the idea has been kicked around on whether to put this post up or not.

But it was decided to post it after seeing a glorified picture of Kevin Garnett up on ESPN following the Boston Celtics game 5 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.

How was Garnett allowed to even participate in that game? More on that later...

Garnett is in his thirteenth year in the NBA and has treated NBA fans, specifically Minnesota and now Boston with nothing but passion for the game. His heart and talent is unquestioned in that sense.

What is being questioned is his ability to win when the odds are against him ... when the fire is ablaze.

Why does he get a pass? Because he plays like a warrior?
The media rips, and holds other stars accountable for never winning a championship, yet turn their cheek when talking about Garnett.

And really, I do not think he has what it takes to take a team to that "next level."
A great talent he truly is, but he has never taken a team as far as his heart would like ... granted, he only had two opportunities in Minnesota to do so due to the lack of talent around him.

But what has to be recognized is that he shies away when presented with pressure and gets too emotional on the floor, losing his focus in the process.

Garnett is hiding behind something when he does a primal scream on the court. He is making us try to forget that he has not won a ring when he pumps his chest repeatedly with a snarl on his face.

Some superstars keep their calm in a storm. Others fight, claw and lose their cool. Garnett chooses the latter.

Take for example the incident in game 4 of this year's first round:


He does know that he is fighting with Zach Pachulia, right? Why would he throw an elbow after the play was dead? And Garnett started to get "crazy" after being pulled away from the ruckus. For what? To pump up his teammates?

All that did was encourage his actions. And speaking of his actions, how he did not get suspended is beyond me.

Well, I do know how he did not get suspended: his name and reputation.

No way does Ron Artest, Rasheed Wallace, or even Kobe Bryant get away with pushing a referee away that is trying to calm them down.

When he had Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell on the Timberwolves he was the third option when it came to fourth quarter shots. Instead of banging in the paint Garnett was, and is, taking jump shots.

Garnett is not on the level of Bryant, LeBron James, or Karl Malone. And I mentioned Malone for a specific reason, he never won a ring as the model power forward. But Malone could blame #23 from preventing him from getting that ring (and the Detroit Pistons and a bum knee in 2004).

What Malone did do was hit his jumpers and bang in the paint ... along with carrying the team. He was the first option, John Stockton being the second.

Unless Garnett checks his emotions, he will always be a player considered a superstar and with numbers to back it, but one that let his feelings spill too much onto the hardwood - killing the chance for him, and those around him, to get that elusive ring.

And by the way ... it will not be happening with Boston anytime soon.