You hear it all the time.
"KG has lost a step."
And yeah, it might be true. But take a look at the stats so far these playoffs of the guys he's guarded (Rotowire, via CelticsLife):
Beasley
'10 reg season: 14.8 ppg, 45% FG, 1.7 TOs, 30 min/game
'10 playoffs Celtics (KG on bench): 19.5 points/30 min, 62% FG, 2.2 TOs/30 min
'10 playoffs Celtics (KG in game): 7.7 points/30 min, 32% FG, 3.2 TOs/30 min
Jamison
Jamison: '10 reg season: 18.7 ppg, 46% FG, 1.4 TOs, 37 min
Jamison: '10 playoffs (not Boston): 19.4 ppg, 51% FG, 1.8 TOs, 35 min/game
Jamison '10 playoffs (Celtics, KG on bench): 26 points/36 min, 56% FG, 0 TOs/36 min
Jamison '10 playoffs (Celtics, KG in game): 11.2 points/36, 38% FG, 1.9 TOs/36
Lewis
Lewis '10 Reg season: 14.1 ppg, 43.5% FG, 1.5 TOs, 33 min
Lewis '10 playoffs (not Boston): 16.4 ppg, 54% FG, 1.8 TOs, 37 min
Lewis '10 playoffs (Celtics, KG on bench): 17.3 pts/36 min, 48% FG, 1.3 TOs/36
Lewis '10 playoffs (Celtics, KG in game): 5.1 pts/36, 24% FG, 2.0 TOs/36
Let's get the obvious statement out of the way: None of these guys is Pau Gasol. OK? I get it. But for a guy who has lost a step, he took on a younger guy and a couple of experienced guy and held them WELL below their averages for an entire series.
This may well mean nothing since it's a new series and a different player...
But this may well mean KG knows damn well how to play defense and lost step or not, he can get the job done quite nicely, thank you very much.
KG on Gasol may well be the matchup of the series. Winne of that matchup could very well be holding a trophy in a week or so. All things considered... I'm comfortable with our guy.