Most players, even the great ones, are flawed. Kevin Garnett, for all his unbelievable skills, was knocked for two things: (1) his inability (or unwillingness) to take over games by scoring at will, and (2) his propensity to cave under pressure when the game was on the line.
The 2008 NBA Finals and Playoffs may have done something to change these perceptions.
It wasn't that his team won; it was that his team won with him basically disproving the theses of all the NBA "experts." He made shots when they counted. He took shots when they were needed. He didn't shrink from the Big Shot.
Yeah, he still fell short every now and then, the two botched free throws in Game 5 being his worst sins during the series. But what do you expect? This was a guy who wasn't sleeping, but was leading everyone in rebounding, who was playing mad, desperate D every possession, and who just left it all on the floor.
Now, he has nothing left to prove. Now, his critics can go find something else to critique.
The 2008 NBA Finals and Playoffs may have done something to change these perceptions.
It wasn't that his team won; it was that his team won with him basically disproving the theses of all the NBA "experts." He made shots when they counted. He took shots when they were needed. He didn't shrink from the Big Shot.
Yeah, he still fell short every now and then, the two botched free throws in Game 5 being his worst sins during the series. But what do you expect? This was a guy who wasn't sleeping, but was leading everyone in rebounding, who was playing mad, desperate D every possession, and who just left it all on the floor.
Now, he has nothing left to prove. Now, his critics can go find something else to critique.
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