NBA Playoffs 2012: The Rejuvenation of Kevin Garnett

Not since his days in Minnesota has Kevin Garnett played with the offensive aggressiveness that he has this postseason. Ever since Paul Pierce suffered a knee injured that has clearly limited the Celtics' best scorer, Garnett took it upon himself to carry the offensive load on his shoulders.

For the last few years I’ve been yelling at my TV screen for Garnett to post up more and look for his own shot instead of always trying to facilitate others. The guy's supremely athletic with a ridiculously long wing span who has a high release with a silky smooth touch around the basket.

Garnett, even in his Minnesota days, has always been an unselfish player, sometimes to a fault. He’s not a guy who calls for the ball and tells everyone else to get out of the way. Instead, Garnett tries to make the best basketball play whether it’s kicking it out to a shooter for an open jump shot, or giving it back to the point guard to reset the offense.

In terms of carrying the scoring load, Garnett has taken a back seat to Pierce and Ray Allen over the last few seasons. He focused on leading the team’s defense, setting picks, rebounding, making high percentage plays and allowed the other members of the Big Three to take over offensively.

Most stars aren’t willing to defer to their teammates to the degree that Garnett has. Scoring points is flashy and that’s what players get noticed for. However, Garnett realized that playing elite defense and getting others involved on the offensive end was what his team needed from him in order to win.

Prior to this season, Pierce and Allen attempted more shots per game than Garnett in each of the last three years. Pierce and Allen were both playing at a high level and were able to avoid injuries.

Starting at the All-Star break this year, Garnett started to change his game. Allen got injured and Pierce was older and needed help.

In the second half of the regular season, Garnett averaged 17 points per game, up from 14 points per game in the first half, and was taking three more shots per game.

The more drastic change in Garnett’s game has come in the postseason. Allen is still recovering from his ankle injury that will require surgery at season’s end, and Pierce has been hobbled by a knee injury.

Garnett needed to be the team’s primary scoring option. He has been able to remain healthy all season long and this has allowed him to do things he hasn’t done in quite some time.

The offense has run through Garnett this postseason. He started working for position in the post and calling for the ball. Instead of looking to pass, he has looked to score.

The numbers back it up. Garnett is averaging 20.3 points per game this postseason, while attempting 15.3 shots per game. In the first three games of Boston’s series with the 76ers, he is averaging 23.7 points per game while attempting 16.3 shots per game.

The ability’s always been there for Garnett. It’s never wavered. What’s changed this season is that the Celtics needed Garnett to take over offensively for the injured Pierce and Allen, and he has filled that void.

Kevin Garnett has always been a player who will do whatever it takes to win. In the past few seasons, that has been being a leader and an overall menace defensively while taking open shots and setting up others offensively. This season, especially this postseason, the Celtics have needed Garnett to carrying the scoring load, and he has come through for his team because that’s what a winner does.