May 28, 2009 by editor.

We are finding out a lot about different players in these 2009 NBA playoffs—who is stepping up, who is taking it to the next level, who is going to be the next hero, and who is going to be the next goat?

One player that no one is talking about is Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics.  His absence has probably had the biggest impact on these playoffs, more so than any other player.

For Boston, the impact was devastating.  They went from being the favorite in the East to a middle to lower-tier playoff team.  That drop is significant because the Celtics have two other All-Stars on their roster, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

They struggled against the seventh seeded Chicago Bulls who were minus Luol Deng—arguably their most complete player—and they eventually succumbed to Orlando in a great series that went seven games.

KG makes everything the Celtics do come together on the court defensively as well as offensively.  He guards the basket on defense and allows everyone else to be aggressive because they know he is the last line of defense.

Garnett has a way of intimidating his opponents also, and gets into their heads.  He often has his counterpart beat before the game is done because they know he is intense, relentless, and willing to get in your face if necessary. 

Chicago continually went to the basket with no fear because of a lack of presence inside by the Celtics.  This isn’t an indictment of Kendrick Perkins, but he is just not the player that KG is.

Last season, we saw how Garnett totally frustrated Gasol of the Lakers and played a big role in controlling Kobe Bryant in the championship series.  Physically, the Laker front court was no match.

Over the course of his career, KG averages 11 rebounds per game.  That means less opportunities for the opposition to get second-chance points.  If it took Orlando seven games to beat Boston without Garnett, I can’t help but believe that the Magic wouldn’t have had a shot to win that series if KG was healthy.

Orlando would not have been able to double Pierce, and KG would have kept Dwight Howard occupied on both ends of the court. 

Boston runs a lot of their offense through Garnett because he is an excellent passer from the post and recognizes how and when to get rid of the ball when double-teamed. 

The Celtics struggled mightily in the playoffs because they didn’t have a low-post presence on offense.  KG would have been able to score in the low post, and set up his teammates for easier shots.

He can also step out and consistently hit the f15-foot jump shot, which would have brought Howard and any other centers defending him away from the basket.  KG is the ultimate team player that does everything for his team.

Unfortunately, many fans don’t realize his true worth untill he is not in the line-up.  The regular season is one thing, but you cannot make up for an MVP type player of KG’s ability, even if you have two other all-stars on the team.

If you look at the big picture, KG has had more of an effect on this series than anyone else.  The Lakers are considered by most to be the favorite, but when you see them get pushed around by teams that are more physical (Houston and Denver), I can’t help but think that Boston would have the advantage with a healthy team.

Orlando is on the cusp of making to the NBA finals because Garnett is hurt, and Cleveland is affected because they have had problems defending Orlando’s superior wingmen each time they have played in the regular season (and now in the playoffs).

KG is always close to the top of my list when it comes to MVPs because of what he does for his team, not just for where his team finishes.  He is not appreciated as he should be because he is not selfish and plays the game the way it should be played.

His imprint is all over these playoffs, even though he was sidelined.

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May 28, 2009 by editor.

We are all well aware of the success the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed for 30-plus years now.  It is really a testament to their management and unchanging philosophy, even in the times we are in.

The Falcons would do well to emulate their model of success, because there are no substitutes for it, or shortcuts. 

The Steelers of 1979 didn’t dominate like their teams earlier in the 1970’s, but with many of their Pro Bowlers on the other side of 30, they served notice that they would not relinquish their title without a fight.

Their coach, Chuck Noll, was a no-nonsense man who played for the Browns and began coaching the Steelers in 1969. 

He never wanted or desired attention for himself, and as good as his teams were we always told them they could be better, even after Super Bowl victories.

His first year they finished 1-13 in 1969, but the Rooney’s stuck with him and knew they had the right man to coach their team all along.  Noll was a disciplinarian who had the full attention of his team.

The Falcons did well when they hired Mike Smith as their coach.  He seems to know exactly the type of team he wants, and if management allows him to put things together and get his type of players, Atlanta could be special for years to come.

Noll and the Rooney’s built the Steelers into a hard-nosed, physical, run oriented team that took on the personality of the city they represented.  Their defense, littered with hall of farmers, was all home grown.

The drafting of their talent shows that without a good front office that can evaluate talent, an organization will still be lost and spinning their wheels.  Their front office is the main reason they have been as successful as they have.

They drafted Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Mike Webster, and Lynn Swann in 1974.  They got Mel Blount and Terry Bradshaw in 1970.  Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood were drafted in 1969, Greenwood being a 10th-round pick.

Jack Ham and Dwight White were brought into the fold in 1971.  You don’t get lucky this many times.  The Steelers front office never gets into the hype.  They are looking for their type of player, and that is what they focus on.

All you have to do is look at the other front offices around the league to realize how important is to know what you need, evaluate the talent, and make it happen through the draft, and or free agency. 

Detroit, Cincinnati, Washington, Oakland, and San Francisco to name a few, are some of the franchises that have suffered recently because of some of the decisions their front offices have made.

What made the 1979 team special in my eyes is that they were coming off of a Super Bowl year, and many of their key personnel were aging.  They could have packed it in but didn’t.  Noll wouldn’t let them.

They won early in the 70’s with a dominating defense and a powerful running game.  By 1979 they were not quite as dominant, but still finished No. 1 in scoring defense.  Their offense became very prolific in the passing game, and they had become a big play offense.

Their personnel didn’t change a whole lot, but the way they won games did.  Pittsburgh didn’t need Bradshaw to come up big for their first two Super Bowl wins, but they needed him to come up big in 1978 and 1979.

Their system and tendencies didn’t change, but they raised their level of play to hold on to their Super Bowl championship they won the previous year, even with the bull’s eye on their back.  That team was versatile enough to win any way they had to.

If they had to outscore you they did, if they had to grind you into the ground using their trap-blocking running scheme, they would do that. 

As the Steelers showed in the Super Bowl versus the Rams, when they needed a big play on defense, they had the players on that side of the ball to get the job done.

Lambert’s interception was the biggest defensive play of that game.

It was the second time they won back to back Super Bowls, and we may never see that repeated again.  The commitment to excellence was there from the front office, to the head coach, to the stars and leaders of team, and to the other players.

Another reason those Steelers were my favorite (and some other players in previous years).  They had the best nick-names.  Mean Joe Greene, Earnie (Fats) Holmes, L.C. (Bags) Greenwood, Dwight (Mad Dog) White, Dennis (Dirt) Winston, Donnie (Torpedo) Shell.

Holmes wasn’t on the roster in 1979, but his nick-name is worthy of mention.  Glen Edwards, a defensive back on their teams teams earlier in the decade was known as the head hunter as well (for good reason).

Pittsburgh traditionally plays a physical style of football, which is the way the game is meant to be played.  The Falcons would be well served to do the same, and to build their franchise the way the Steelers have built theirs.

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