KG's taunting

[cordobes]

I kind of felt like Mutumbo's finger waiving was slightly different.  Mutumbo would block a shot and wave his finger in the player's face.   Obviously the league told him that was no longer appropriate and he now waves his finger toward the audience instead as a "celebration" instead of a taunt.

Here's my question... if Mutumbo instead decided to wave his finger BEFORE a shot... is that taunting or trash talking/challenging?  Is there a difference or is it the same?  I kinda feel like it's different. 

If Mutumbo rejects a guy and then waves a finger it's like saying, "not in my house, little man!".  = Taunting

But if he waves it before the shot it's like saying, "Bring it on, little man".   = trash talking (in my opinion)

I saw KG's antics as more trash talking than taunting.   He does this kind of stuff pretty frequently and it definitely grates on fans of opposing teams.  When KG gets down on the ground and starts crawling on his knees it drives my anti-Boston friend crazy.  He see's it as immature trash talking.  But we know this is just KG getting amped up and his insane-o way of saying "BRING IT ON!"...   I forget the player, but earlier in the game KG challenged some guard to score on him.  He was running his mouth, got in a stance and essentially dared the guard to score.  The guard caught KG flatfooted and converted a layup in KG's face.   It was basically the same thing with Calderon.  KG was basically daring the Raptors to score.   Is that taunting or trash talking?  Not sure.   

I just want to say one last thing on this.  If we had a microphone on the court the game would have be televised on HBO.  These guys talk some foul stuff during a game.  Anyone who has had courtside seats can hear the kind of stuff some of these guys say to each other.  Superstars like Jordan and Bird were well known for their "trash talk".   I use to go to Sonic games and listening to Gary Payton in his prime was hilariously filthy.  KG is one of those players who never shuts up.  If you watch it on TV you see his lips moving, but you aren't hearing the crap he's saying.  The refs hear it and they ignore it.  It's part of the game.  I think maybe the refs decided to lump the Calderon antics into the same thing.  The only difference was that he was waving his fingers/hands in Calderon's face.   I figure the league will tell KG, "don't do that again", but I can't fault them for letting the guys play in a crucial point of the game.

(...)

KG started waving his finger after the play he buried a jump-shot on Calderon's face. Even from your perspective, that's taunting, not trash talking.

I believe things are more about the degree of the taunting. I'd say what Al Horford did last year to Pierce is on the limit, a non-call is completely acceptable (even if inconsistent with other officiating decisions on this very same subject). However, what KG did was just too obvious, it went for too long. Had he waived his finger just one or two times, or just yelled on Calderon's hear, nobody would care if the refs didn't call the technical. But at some point they have to make the call and this particular play is one of those cases where are no gray areas.

[crownsy]

I kind of felt like Mutumbo's finger waiving was slightly different.  Mutumbo would block a shot and wave his finger in the player's face.   Obviously the league told him that was no longer appropriate and he now waves his finger toward the audience instead as a "celebration" instead of a taunt.

Here's my question... if Mutumbo instead decided to wave his finger BEFORE a shot... is that taunting or trash talking/challenging?  Is there a difference or is it the same?  I kinda feel like it's different. 

If Mutumbo rejects a guy and then waves a finger it's like saying, "not in my house, little man!".  = Taunting

But if he waves it before the shot it's like saying, "Bring it on, little man".   = trash talking (in my opinion)

I saw KG's antics as more trash talking than taunting.   He does this kind of stuff pretty frequently and it definitely grates on fans of opposing teams.  When KG gets down on the ground and starts crawling on his knees it drives my anti-Boston friend crazy.  He see's it as immature trash talking.  But we know this is just KG getting amped up and his insane-o way of saying "BRING IT ON!"...   I forget the player, but earlier in the game KG challenged some guard to score on him.  He was running his mouth, got in a stance and essentially dared the guard to score.  The guard caught KG flatfooted and converted a layup in KG's face.   It was basically the same thing with Calderon.  KG was basically daring the Raptors to score.   Is that taunting or trash talking?  Not sure.   

I just want to say one last thing on this.  If we had a microphone on the court the game would have be televised on HBO.  These guys talk some foul stuff during a game.  Anyone who has had courtside seats can hear the kind of stuff some of these guys say to each other.  Superstars like Jordan and Bird were well known for their "trash talk".   I use to go to Sonic games and listening to Gary Payton in his prime was hilariously filthy.  KG is one of those players who never shuts up.  If you watch it on TV you see his lips moving, but you aren't hearing the crap he's saying.  The refs hear it and they ignore it.  It's part of the game.  I think maybe the refs decided to lump the Calderon antics into the same thing.  The only difference was that he was waving his fingers/hands in Calderon's face.   I figure the league will tell KG, "don't do that again", but I can't fault them for letting the guys play in a crucial point of the game.

(...)

KG started waving his finger after the play he buried a jump-shot on Calderon's face. Even from your perspective, that's taunting, not trash talking.

I believe things are more about the degree of the taunting. I'd say what Al Horford did last year to Pierce is on the limit, a non-call is completely acceptable (even if inconsistent with other officiating decisions on this very same subject). However, what KG did was just too obvious, it went for too long. Had he waived his finger just one or two times, or just yelled on Calderon's hear, nobody would care if the refs didn't call the technical. But at some point they have to make the call and this particular play is one of those cases where are no gray areas.

you had me with you until horford was ok. standing on top of a guy and screaming at him is also taunting, and its not borderline.

Both Him and KG deserved T's.

[celts55]

I'm going with it didn't matter. I think it was a call they could have made. They didn't. It didn't really affect the game. On the other hand, had they called it, I don't think there could be much of an argument.

[goz421]

All this talk about how Garnett is treated like a star and I think everyone has missed the obvious.  This incident happened pretty quick and I say the ref simply missed it.  Being an ex ref  one often watches the ball and misses certain things.

Anyone simply think KG just simply may have gotten away with it.

Much ado about nothing.  Got to find reasons to hate on the champs.

[hoopaddict08]

Garnett was taunting Will Bynum of the Detroit Pistons Sunday, and ended up getting owned.

[goz421]

I think KG had little concern for Will Bynum in that game.

What I can't stand is people diss the C's and rave on the Lakers.  Even after the C's owned them in 6 games.

How can one not respect the champs.  People always want to hate on the C's.

[crownsy]

Garnett was taunting Will Bynum of the Detroit Pistons Sunday, and ended up getting owned.

really? what was the score of that game again?

[celts55]

All this talk about how Garnett is treated like a star and I think everyone has missed the obvious.  This incident happened pretty quick and I say the ref simply missed it.  Being an ex ref  one often watches the ball and misses certain things.

Anyone simply think KG just simply may have gotten away with it.

Much ado about nothing.  Got to find reasons to hate on the champs.

While I am in the, it doesn't matter camp, it's hard to believe the ref didn't see it. I mean Caldaron was bring up the ball and KG was waving his finger in his face the whole way. Not one of the three refs were watching the guy with the ball? That's a bit hard to imagine.

[goz421]

He waved his finger for a brief period.  People are making something that just isn't there.

[Redz]

This might be a little harsh, but perhaps they should chop off his finger next time he waves it.   

or give him a T...either way

[D Dub]

Garnett was taunting Will Bynum of the Detroit Pistons Sunday, and ended up getting owned.

really? what was the score of that game again?

You gotta see the up close replay, they had it on NBATV last night.  KG is all screaming at him and getting down in his 'i'm going to defend a pg' stance, and Bynum blows right by him and hits the up and under.  KG looked so surprised.  It was kinda funny actually.

Trash talk has its place, but KG seems to take it a bit too far sometimes. 

[goz421]

Yeah he has taken it all the way to the championship.

The Raptors could have taken that game but they got no one to take that shot.  No one who has been in the place Peirce, KG, and Ray Allen have.

The simple fact is this team is just now coming together and people can't stand it.

Los Angeles,Houston, Detroit, Toronto.  Looking forward to tonights game.  bring them all.

TONY Allen is passing Posey.  Leon is seperating himself from Big Baby.  Allen is getting his ankles back.  House is gettting his shot back.

they are winning when they play bad against good teams.

i'm loving every minute of it.

[Reyquila]

KG deserved a TF and there is no place in the NBA for that type of conduct. It was childish an in bad taste. KG is a role model and there should be no place in his repertoire for this kind of taunting. He should be above that.

[housecall]

Yeah he has taken it all the way to the championship.

The Raptors could have taken that game but they got no one to take that shot.  No one who has been in the place Peirce, KG, and Ray Allen have.

The simple fact is this team is just now coming together and people can't stand it.

Los Angeles,Houston, Detroit, Toronto.  Looking forward to tonights game.  bring them all.

TONY Allen is passing Posey.  Leon is seperating himself from Big Baby.  Allen is getting his ankles back.  House is gettting his shot back.

they are winning when they play bad against good teams.

i'm loving every minute of it.

Toney Allen is passing Posey at what?

[ma11l]

KG did not deserve a tech in my opinion.  He didn't taunt Calderon after he hit that shot, or after a big dunk or a big block.  It was while playing defense.  We know what he meant by the point, but it could have been interpreted by saying I got the ball or he's my man.  We know this isn't true, but by the letter of the law he did nothing wrong.