Elsa - Getty Images
I can pass this, but I can also shoot it. Don't make me shoot it on you.
Kevin Garnett just went on a nice little rant about his 3 point shooting. Here it is transcribed by Jessica Camerato.
Listen, I can shoot 3's. Cut this, alright? Because I don't want anymore questions about this. I can shoot 3's. You all are acting like I'm 50 and I'm out here on one leg.
When I walk around the streets, you all can stop acting like you're shocked that I can shoot 3's. Everybody in Boston, everybody in the world, everybody in Minnesota, LA, wherever I'm at, Concord, Lexington, Burlington. I can shoot 3's. Let that go. I can shoot 3's.
Look, do not get all like, 'Shoot a 3!' I don't want that. Like, you know how they used to do to Scal? 'Shoot!' No, do not do that to me, ok? I'm not on the Celtics to be out here shooting 3's. I am here to do other things, not shoot 3's. But I can shoot 3's.
That's downright funny right there. KG is a proud man, I tell you. He does not want to be a sideshow act like Scalabrine (sadly) became in Boston. But honestly I've been waiting for him to take an extra step back and shoot those threes for a long time.
He's got that range and if he's going to take the worst shot in basketball (a step inside the 3 point line) and make it regularly, he might as well hedge a teeny bit outside of his comfort zone and let the shot count for more.
Yeah, he's not out there to shoot threes and in fact he's supposed to be playing more down low, but honestly I gave up that fight a few years ago. He's going to be a perimeter player and the 3 ball is just the next logical step. As long as he still brings it on defense, I'll be happy.
Update: added line from Forsberg:
KG on 3's: 'Stop acting like y'all shocked' - Boston Celtics Blog - ESPN Boston
"I don’t shoot 3’s because we have one of the all-time greatest 3-point shooters in history [in Ray Allen]. We have Paul Pierce, who has won the 3-point contest. We have other guys in here that can shoot 3’s. That ain’t my role here. My role is to get those guys open. And if they throw it to me -- shoot it, dunk it, pass it -- OK, cool. But I can shoot 3’s.
0 recs | 29 comments
I love KG
one of the most quotable players in the league
Jeff Clark - February 5, 2012
Kings fan here
We know all too well that Garnett can hit threes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0fWUp3c5g4
Aykis16 - February 5, 2012
love it
thanks for the link
Jeff Clark - February 5, 2012
That was great to see. It's really too bad he couldn't team up with PP and RA in their primes- what a dynasty that would have been.
lygafe - February 5, 2012
Man the rebounds he had in that game, it would be a dream if he could still do that.
forever_green - February 5, 2012 via mobile
Nice one..
Reminds me of the 2004 West semis – Game 7 vs the Kings, KG’s best playoff perfoemance ever!
Rany - February 5, 2012
Okay, KG, so let me ask you this...
Why don’t you shoot more threes? Often, you’re a foot or two inside the line. Why not step out and put another point on the board, if that shot is consistently in your repertoire?
I’ve always thought that it was weird that he wasn’t a better / more frequent three point shooter, and that quote just leaves me even more puzzled.
(It is funny to see KG compare himself to Scal, though.)
Roy_Hobbs - February 5, 2012
one of these days
you are going to have to start reading what I write Roy LOL
(said that exact thing after the break)
Jeff Clark - February 5, 2012
Haha. Yeah, I didn't see the "after the jump" stuff...
But it was funny reading it afterward. It was like reading myself through a more eloquent mirror. ;-)
Roy_Hobbs - February 5, 2012
Paul Pierce apparently told him that very same thing.
lygafe - February 5, 2012
OK point taken
He’s always had range. We already have great three point shooters so I think he should focus on doing other things on offense most of the time, but if you’ve got a good look then take the shot.
p-peazy - February 5, 2012
I totally feel what KG is saying
Him shooting 3’s isnt a novel thing like fans made Scalabrine playing into. Hes one of the best and he can do it all.
ianboyextreme - February 5, 2012
So wait. Can KG shoot threes?
vinnie - February 5, 2012
Thing is, KG used to shoot 3s a lot more often
Back in the day, ‘99-’07. Took 116 of them in ‘02, his max. He basically quit doing it after missing all 11 in ’07-’08, and of course his role changed when he moved to Boston. Media shouldn’t be surprised that he’s taking them, tho. It’s logical. What’s really cool is how he’s MAKING them.
KG’s rants are priceless. The world will be a sorrier place without them.
JR99 - February 5, 2012
Man i love KG
hope he can be a future coach for the celtics when he retires.
ZM15 - February 5, 2012
LOL
coach garnett!!
seze70 - February 5, 2012
He used to play SF
and shot a lot more 3s. He was actually fairly consistent too. That’s why he is always regarded as one of the most versatile players in the history because he can do so much. He was incredibly hard to guard in his prime because of his shooting range and his consistency.
I’m not surprised at all.
Ann Xing - February 5, 2012
Here ya go....
http://www.csnne.com/pages/celticsvideo?PID=uvXM2-HjIZSQG5O9m7ZOY_2qcLFn3A6f3xK_tj
“I can shoot 3s, let that go, I can shoot 3s. Y’all acting all shocked like y’all ain’t seen a black guy shoot 3s before.”
….too funny.
JR99 - February 5, 2012
lol
Thabks for posting the link. KG is a funny guy!
BleedinGreen417 - February 5, 2012 via mobile
He can shoot them, but he can't really make them
His career 3P% is 28.4%. So, he’d have to be shooting less than 42% on long twos to make stepping back behind the arc worth it. Probably less than that, since he is not as good of a three-point shooter as he was in his younger days.
LooseCannon - February 5, 2012
That percentage must have gone up a slight bit … the mans shooting 100% from 3 point this year, 3 for 3!
JerseyKid. - February 6, 2012
kg can shoot the 3 and make it but i much prefer him going inside more to score. we need him down low more than we need him beyond the 3.
nazzbo - February 5, 2012
he is not that kind of player though.
that is why we need a real injury-free center that will battle for the offensive rebounds.
elvyn - February 6, 2012
At this point in his career
with the bad knee and all, i think it may be a little much to ask him to keep going down low as much as he did in his youth, i mean, the post is probably the most physically exhausting position to play in basketball
AT-360 - February 5, 2012
Yup having to bang with the young guys and now he has spot duty at center/guarding centers
He still plays in the post and rebounds and defends well, just can’t score on back to the basket plays like in his youth. As for the original topic with the 3s I don’t think KG shoots it at a high enough % for it to help the team. If he could hit 35% plus I’m sure he would have added it to his repertoire. Not sure about this season, but the past few years he has been one of the best bigman midrange shooters. Better than a lot of guards in fact from 15-18 feet.
kg2128 - February 6, 2012
KG!
He’s becoming more entertaining all the time! I like that he’s more talkative and some of the game day facade fades more easily.
And clearly he’s right on both points. He can shoot threes (although no one would bet money on him against Ray Allen). And yes, his main job description as a Celtic includes about 25 major bullet points BEFORE mentioning his three point range.
The C’s have plenty of 3 point shooters. Now a low post scoring threat is a much different situation.
CelticsFan616 - February 6, 2012
Is there a similar rant from JO: "I can be the starting center on a championship team?"
KG21 - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Lol KG is a legend
This guy is nuts (in a good way of course lol.) I love his post game interviews. They are always classic. This season, we’ve gotten two. One, the bar fight and then this. You are the man, KG.
Clench - February 6, 2012
What's the best way to learn to shoot 3s?
Practice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI
bboisvert - February 6, 2012
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