KG's Antics

While reading the always entertaining Player X blog on ESPN, I came across this quote.

Garnett is a punk and a coward. I know, I know. Easy for me to say behind this column. Don't worry, I'll tell him to his face, too. And I'm not the only one who thinks that: If you're not on his team, chances are you hate the guy. You can learn a lot about him by watching his eyes. If he's talking to you -- and he's always talking -- he avoids eye contact. My advice to other guys in the league: Stare him down, and he'll retreat. From what I've seen, he'll never mix it up with a player who's bigger than he is. Personally, I think he's scared to fight -- like a playground bully who barks but doesn't bite.

Countless NBA players and even coaches (Sam Mitchell) have gone public with this opinion, and honestly, the evidence only points towards it being accurate. The only thing I would dispute is that KG backs down not only when someone bigger than him wants to take it a step further, he backs down from smaller opposing players as well. Take a look at Anthony Peeler elbowing KG to no response, McDyess chasing KG all over the court, or KG throwing a cheap elbow at Quentin Richardson and running away. My question is, why do people care? Would you rather him act like Melo, who throws sucker punches and runs, or Artest who runs into the seats to fight the whole crowd? He is a basketball player, not a boxer or MMA fighter. If he did actually try to fight it would cost his team games. His antics have never cost the team, and if anything, actually help out. Countless players have gotten off their game because they are so furious at KG that they have gotten techs or dumb fouls because they can't control their emotions and blatantly retaliate. KG is also a player who runs off of emotion, so while his tough guy act might not be 100% true, it does get him in the zone and playing even more intense. I would much rather take a tough (you can't call KG's defense soft) basketball player who is scared to fight then a soft basketball player (Amar'e) who has no problem throwing down. I am sure every GM in the league agrees.

As a special treat here is some extra qoutes from Player X Blog that I found interesting.

The things that make all of these guys good talkers -- passion, a mean streak -- are what also make them great basketball players. Not surprisingly, some of the quietest guys happen to be ringless. Chris Bosh, for one, never says a word. LeBron? Even when he does talk, he's terrible at it.

Want to get to "The King" and some other prime-time players? Here's one man's go-to material: Drop a "you're riding coattails" on LeBron or remind him he bailed on the Cavs to buy a ring. Mention Dwight Howard's J -- or lack of one; it never fails to piss him off. Call Kobe a fake Jordan. (Just beware you may get posterized for the rest of the game.) Don't bother with Tim Duncan; dude can't hear a thing and never gets rattled. But feel free to remind Tony Parker that "Eva is fine"; wives are over the line, but not exes. Tell Pierce his one ring was all luck. Then have one of your bigger guys step to KG.