As I watch the Los Angeles Lakers stampede over everyone in sight, I am left to wonder how will the Boston Celtics perform come playoff time.
A big part of the equation will be whether Kevin Garnett is able to elevate his game, and the that of his teammates, when it counts. He is the Celtics highest paid player, their inspirational leader, and their quarterback on defense.
He so intimidated Andrew Bynum and the Lakers in Los Angeles that Phil Jackson and company threw in the towel with seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
At the same time, KG hasn't gone to the playoffs since 2004, and has only gotten out of the first round of the playoffs once. He also has a reputation as a player unable to carry his team over the last five minutes of a game. And now the Lakers have added Pao Gasol, while Bynum is said to be on the mend.
So what can we expect from the Ticket come May and June?
Here is one possible answer from his only game 7 appearance to date.
May 19, 2004
MINNEAPOLIS
Reputations in the NBA are formed in the fourth quarter of Game 7s, for those fortunate enough to get that far.
On Wednesday night, Kevin Garnett showed what he was all about.
Playing in the first Game 7 in franchise history, Garnett had his defining moment, scoring 14 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter to help Minnesota hold off Sacramento 83-80. The next step in Garnett's brilliant career will commence Friday night at the Target Center, when the Los Angeles Lakers arrive to begin the Western Conference finals.
Sacramento, meanwhile, fell in a Game 7 for the third consecutive postseason, their fate sealed when Webber's last-second 3-point attempt rimmed out and the Target Center erupted while he fell to the floor and hung his head. As for Stojakovic, Wednesday continued a familiar pattern for one of the league's best regular-season scorers. The forward scored eight points, 16 below his average, on 3-of-12 shooting, despite playing 46 minutes. His fourth-quarter output was two points; he shot the ball only once.
Two years ago, in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals against the Lakers, Stojakovic's reputation as a big-game non-factor was established when he missed shot after shot late in an anguishing Kings' loss.
On Wednesday, it was Garnett who caused the anguish. Playing on his 28th birthday, the league's MVP was brilliant when it mattered the most.
``I've always been a huge admirer of him,'' Kings coach Rick Adelman said of Garnett. ``He got the MVP this season and he led his team to the conference finals. You have to admire what he's done.''
Adelman paused. ``Tomorrow, maybe.''
Garnett teamed with hobbled point guard Sam Cassell to score the Wolves' first 13 points as they opened an early seven-point lead.
The Kings were awful in the first half, scoring just 31 points as Stojakovic and Mike Bibby combined for 3-of-14 shooting. But the Wolves failed to put them away and led by just 10 points at halftime as a palpable unease settled over the Target Center.
In the third quarter, the Kings awakened, using a 6-0 run after a timeout to take their first lead at 58-57. Minnesota was fumbling away the basketball in embarrassing fashion, with a muffed exchange between Cassell and Latrell Sprewell resulting in a Doug Christie steal and dunk, and Mark Madsen dropping a terrific pass from Cassell underneath the basket.
Stojakovic and Bibby still were struggling from the field, but the Kings were getting enough clutch baskets from Webber, Christie and Brad Miller to climb back into the game.
That's when Garnett took control, scoring 13 of Minnesota's first 17 points of the fourth quarter to give the Wolves a 79-70 lead with 2:31 remaining. Often criticized in past Minnesota playoff flameouts for not taking control late in games, Garnett's determination to score was a welcome sight Wednesday.
``I had to be aggressive tonight,'' said Garnett, who claims he wasn't aware of his reputation of being soft in the fourth quarter of important games. ``I had to be the example to everybody. I didn't want to be driving home and wondering if I could have done more.''
Garnett showed his amazing versatility, driving to the basket on Webber, posting up Christie, spinning in the lane for a fadeaway jump shot and, most miraculously, firing up a turnaround 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to push Minnesota's lead to 77-70. The fans responded with a roar of adulation not heard in Minnesota since Kirby Puckett patrolled center field for the Twins.
Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said his star was able to tune out the pregame hype.
``Everywhere you went, people were talking to you about the game, asking if you're nervous, giving you suggestions as they always do,'' he said. ``Kevin had a ton of pressure on him, but he had an amazing calm about him. He didn't even have to work tonight. He was in such a flow.''
Still, the suspense wasn't over as Christie hit a 3-pointer to pull the Kings to 81-80. After a pair of Cassell free throws, the Kings had one last shot at forcing overtime. Webber's aim appeared to be true.
``I definitely thought that last shot was good,'' Webber said. ``I couldn't believe it came out.''
But it did, and Garnett was able to bask in his hard-earned applause. He strode around the court in the center of a couple dozen photographers, playing to the crowd, jumping atop the scorer's table and yelping into a microphone.
``This is my moment to enjoy it,'' Garnett said, ``so I went ahead and enjoyed it. I understand there's still business at hand, but I wasn't going to hold back.''
Game 7 winners shouldn't have to.
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