Perhaps no team (save for maybe San Antonio) plays better team basketball than the Celtics. They've embraced the concept of "ubuntu" and have ran with it. In the end, though, it seems to come back to one guy — Kevin Garnett.
Without Garnett on the floor, the Celtics are an entirely different team. His offensive skills are still impressive, and his instincts on the offensive end are those of a Hall of Famer. It's not a stretch to say those same Hall of Fame instincts pale in comparison to Garnett's defensive instincts.
That's not to take anything away from other All-Stars like Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo. Pierce is the captain of the team, and rightfully so. Allen has seemingly never-ending knack for hitting the big shot. Rondo's value is growing with each day that passes, but even this season, consistency has been a bit of an issue, and that's never an issue with The Big Ticket.
It all comes back to Garnett. Ever since he's arrived in Boston, he's embraced the city's devotion to its teams, and he's responded both on and off the court. He remains unafraid to defend his teammates, play on an edge and help the Celtics gain a psychological advantage. And he's a pretty damn good player, too.
This season, it's been no different. Garnett is finally healthy again, save for an injury scare around the new year. He's continued to give the Celtics everything that's made him the player he is today. He continues to hit big shots, just like he did late on Sunday with his patented turnaround jump shot.
Garnett has also had to step up in the absence of Shaquille O'Neal, Semih Erden and Jermaine O'Neal. With a depleted frontcourt, KG is looked to even more, and he continues to answer the bell.
"We're shorthanded, but we're not short of heart and grit," Garnett said on Sunday after the Celtics improved to 3-0 this season against Miami. "We work hard. We come out and here and compete. We're at home. We're still a good team. We're without some major pieces in here, but that doesn't mean we're not a good team at the same time."
That all starts with Garnett.
The Celtics' most valuable trait — a dedication to a team mentality — transcends any personal players. That said, no player is more valuable than Kevin Garnett.
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