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Kevin Garnett Backs Down ... Again



It's hard to argue that Kevin Garnett didn't do the right thing. Even after Zaza Pachulia got in his grill, KG kept his hands at his sides and didn't retaliate. No one wants to see Garnett get tossed out of a close game for taking a swing; not the Hawks, who'd have their victory tainted, and not the Celtics, who'd be worried about a Game 5 suspension.

That said ... how come when Dirk Nowitzki does this he's labled "soft," but when KG does it he's praised for keeping his cool? KG clearly instigated this by throwing a high elbow after the whistle, and after Pachulia retaliated with a head-butt, KG waited until he was separated by refs and teammates before trying to get in on the action.

Everyone always talks about KG's intensity and ferocity, but when push comes to shove, he hasn't exactly backed up his words (see: Peeler, Anthony and the 2004 playoffs; and McDyess, Antonio last season). I have all the respect in the world for his game, but when it comes to accusations of being soft or flopping in the playoffs, he deserves as much criticism as Nowitzki and Tracy McGrady.

(On a side note, it'll be interesting to see if Kendrick Perkins and/or Marvin Williams get suspended for stepping out onto the court. They clearly were only trying to get a better look and not get in on the scrum, but still, the rule's been enforced by the letter of the law in the past.)

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