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Kevin Garnett’s unusual shot patterns 04.11.12 at 3:27 pm ET
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Kevin Garnett's jumpshooting ability has helped the Celtics. (AP)

Everyone knows that Kevin Garnett is one of the best long-range shooting big men in the league. He’s made 48 percent of his shots from 16-23 feet this season, which is pretty much what he’s done every season since he’s been in Boston. Garnett ranks third in field goal percentage from that distance among power forwards (where he’s still listed on HoopData) behind only Dirk Nowitzki and teammate Brandon Bass.

Garnett’s not a power forward anymore, technically. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich put it perfectly when his team was in town last week. “You can pigeonhole him if you want to,” Popovich said. “He’s Kevin. He does what he does.”

With the emergence of Greg Stiemsma as a legitimate backup center, Garnett has been playing more four recently, but for all intents of purposes he’s a center now. Yet he hasn’t changed his game that much. He still guards fours and fives depending on the matchup and he’s still taking those jumpers.

What has changed is the opponents’ having to match up with two jump shooting bigs in Garnett and Bass. That draws the defense away from the basket and creates openings for Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce to work a pick and pops with Garnett and Bass, or allow Avery Bradley room to cut to the basket. Garnett, who is the second-best passer on the team after Rondo, has hooked up with Bradley on a number of occasions.

On his CourtVision blog, Kirk Goldsberry took the time to chart where Garnett actually shoots from and the data offers and interesting look into Garnett’s shot selection. For example, he’s more effective when shooting long range jumpers from the left side toward the basket, but he’s better everywhere else on the right side: deep corners, midrange and on the block. Against the Heat on Tuesday, he took seven shots shots from the right side, four from the left and three at the rim, while making 11-of-14.

Doc Rivers said after the game that his team was doing a good job of keeping things simple, but within that tight structure Garnett is free to move around from side to side and keep things fresh.

The Celtics have had trouble scoring points this season — they shot all the way to 26th in points per possession after dropping 115 on the Heat — but they have been in a decent rhythm lately. In six of their last nine games, they’ve scored at an above-average rate (at least for them ) and have recorded three of their most efficient games in that stretch against Minnesota, Philadelphia and Miami on Tuesday.

Garnett’s role in the offense is a piece of a larger whole, but it’s taken on an increased importance down the stretch. He’s averaging better than 15 shots per game over the last 10 and making better than 50 percent of them while taking on a larger work load. As the playoffs draw close, Garnett is adjusting quite well to his position change, and his increased role in the offense.

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  • Jim

    Hey if he can put the puck in the net, I don’t give a crap how old he is.

  • John

    Koby, regardless of how “old” Jagr is, he has better numbers than 90% of the B’s roster, has 6 ppg, (B’s have a whopping 8 as a team), and which young star is available or would like them to trade for??

  • Koby

    its called charlie coyle, helll ya!!

    • whitey127

      Your a friggin clown!!!

  • Parke Braverton

    What player is being sent to the Stars? Thanks for not rushing the headline

  • ILoveHockey

    what did they give up for him?????

  • Troll Hunter

    Great deal and they gave up practically zip for him….Now just trade that first round pick and a couple of prospects for that top 4 defenseman.

  • brent

    O honestly think he is a better fit then Iginla for us an he cost us so much less. Jagr can still play at a high level an Iginla an Jagr have similar Numbers this season an Jagr cost us just a 2nd rd pick. I like this better then Iginla. I wanted to sign him in the offseason an hope Jagr decides to play another year or two here at a team friendly deal.

    • ILoveHockey

      not sure how I feel about another year- especially not 2 but glad to have him now!!!!

  • ILoveHockey

    I liked Lane, but still this seems like a deal for a player like Jagr

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=814939769 Barry Konowitz

    very excited. YES!

  • Johnny Spygate

    Jagr was phenomenal in Sega NHL 93.
    Now if the B’s can somehow swing a deal for Nicklas Lidström & Pavel Bure they’ll be all set.
    Pittsburgh is laughing at you.

    • NE1935

      Why do you torment yourself rooting for the Boston teams?

      • jimbozz59

        just being a pain in evey one’s butt

      • fab4ever

        Here we go. Johnny Spygate. So predictable. And he thinks we “missed” him. Talk about a self-indulgent lackey. Here’s the pattern; We’ll see him when (pick the Boston team) loses, makes a trade, performs below par….it’s usually the general nonsense like “I told you so”….however, apropos of said pattern; he becomes vapor when (fill in the Boston team) wins, performs above expectation, when his teams (Yankees, Giants and every team that has a rivalry with Boston) fail and fall on their faces…remember, last fall he LIED that he “wasn’t a Yankee fan”….I hurt so much from laughing with that reply…I’ll give him this much; Eli hasn’t thrown a pick since December….he’s hot right now. Expect Spygate to keep us up to date with regards to Wes Welker’s contributions in Denver…that goes without saying. After all, as I said, he is the self-indulgent one who really believes it’s his job…I cannot imagine how bad of a real life this clown lives….

    • Troll Hunter

      Weird considering Pitt gave up more for a player that doesn’t have as good of stats as Jagr…..Now go play in the street douch e….

    • Uncle Buck

      Pathetic effort. You’ve heard of live and learn? Focus on the learning part. What a tool.

  • Dallas Resident

    Live in Dallas. Seen a few Stars games. Jagr still moves well, still strong. Shame to see the Stars fire sale but solid pickup for the Bs. Can only help on the PP.

  • kozlodoev

    I hear MacDermit and Payne for Jagr, but not sure how valid this is.

  • Jimy Krystle

    Koby you are a dope

  • glenn88

    Nice work Peter! Nice improvement for the PP and top three lines and you didn’t give up a top prospect. Lets see if he now gets another d-man before tomorrow.

  • Pete Shephard

    Jagr has more goals, more assists, and a better plus/minus than Iginla this year.

    • Deano42

      I am sorry but Iginla is a far better overall player than Jagr ever was. Hockey is about far more than goals and assists, just ask Patrice Bergeron. Let’s not be delusional just because Iginla is a prick and screwed us over.

      • ILoveHockey

        right now, Iginla is a better choice, but not available. Career vs career- you are delusional if you think Iginla has had a better career. You can make the arguement (and it is valid) that Iginla was stunted by playing on the Flames- but that was his career- you can’t fault Jagr for playing on better teams.
        Even Iginla would tell you Jagr had a better career!

      • fab4ever

        Your argument is moot. It’s like comparing apples and oranges…first off, the B’s would have had to give up a substantial amount of talent for Iginla…not so with Jagr. Secondly, they are 2 entirely different players. Jagr is a mucker…Iginla isn’t. Jagr is going to give them bigtime leadership and scoring…Iginla would give them scoring…Sure, Iginla would have been nice but it didn’t happen….sometimes the best deals are the ones you don’t make. Remember Manny for Arod? How did that work out?

        • Deano42

          I don’t consider Matt Bartkowski, and Khoklachev a serious amount of talent, but you can go there if you want. Secondly, the Bruins should have made the ECF without Jagr, and will certainly make it there now meaning they will end up relinquishing a 1st round pick for Jagr. Anyone who watches hockey, understands that Jagr is slow and old now and is no where near the player Iginla or Morrow is at this point. I would much rather have traded a little bit more for Iginla or Morrow than Jagr.

          I never wanted the Manny for A Rod deal and bringing in baseball deals to justify your point is baseless. Manny was the man, and still is. The Red Sox have been boring since he left.

  • Tell it like it is

    The problem with Jagr is less about him having more points than Iginla so far this season, it’s that Jagr is slow in comparison. The Bs toughest competition is Montreal and Pitt, both teams who are incredibly fast and who will skate circles around Jagr. He simply doesn’t have the top speed anymore to effectively compete against these two teams. And coincidentally, Montreal and Pitt are the only two teams in the East who stand in the Bs way of getting back to the cup final. Chiarelli obviously had to do something here, but even he knows that Morrow or Iginla would have been better fits here.

    • fab4ever

      All good points…however, while Jagr is slow by comparison, he brings a “slot” mentality which is perfect for what the Bruins do…don’t think the Bruins don’t have their share of fast skaters…they do…the problem has been they have been playing poorly…

  • Johnny Spygate

    Bruins fans: best source of unintentional comedy in the city

    • fab4ever

      Johnny Spygate. The best source of ahole in the world!

    • Uncle Buck

      Fun having the troll back. Forgot how ignorant you are. Thanks for reminding us all of what a douchey loser you are. When does the ankle bracelet come off again ?

  • Deano42

    Well I am not a big fan of Jagr at this point in his career, but this move will certainly benefit the third line and hopefully the PP.

    Jagr at this point brings some of the things the Bruins team needed. He certainly has veteran know how. His forte has always been using his body position and size to shield other players from the puck to create space. He was never the fastest but his size and ability to shield the puck has made up for it offensively. Defensively he is a nightmare. He is also a truly finesse player and is not a hitter or a fighter, so unless he is scoring goals he is not contributing. He is a rental so no problem with next year’s cap.

    The biggest question is the compensation. Jagr is not worth a first round draft pick. If Pittsburg got Morrow for a second rounder then Jagr should be worth a fourth rounder at this point. But desperation is a stinky cologne.

    One question moving forward is, is the conditional first rounder for this year or next year’s draft? Can Bruins still move this year’s first rounder for a defensemen before the deadline or do they have to keep their first rounder to possibly compensate the Jagr deal?

    • ILoveHockey

      Your underestimation of Jagr is staggering! This guy has brought it for a long time, granted he is far past his prime but so was Recchi, that worked out well. He is playing well and scoring on a team that is worse than Boston, in theory it should get better on a better team. The price of a Second round pick (possibly first if they make ECF) is due to the fact that not many teams are sellers.

    • glenn88

      Keep in mind Jagr is going to replace Jay Pandolfo in the line up. This is a huge up grade on the 3rd line and power play. It cost the Bruins little compared to the Jerome deal. The package for Jerome included a top prospect, Bartkowski and a guaranteed #1. This package is very reasonable as MacDermid is 23 and probably a popular AHL player and not even a prospect. Payne was a 5th round pick and at age 19 still hasn’t signed. His numbers in Plymouth are good but no off the charts. I thought Peter did a great job with this deal. Nice comeback!

  • http://www.mcclellandmiscellanea.wordpress.com PeterMcClelland

    Crosby is injured and the Bruins have just picked up a scorer. Who’s crying now?

  • Eric

    Dear Chiarelli: We like Jagr, but please stop trading away 1st round draft picks. This is the third first round draft pick you’ve traded away in the (relatively) short time you’ve been with the Bruins. If you hadn’t traded a 1st round pick in 201, it is quite possible you could have moved up to get Cam Fowler and landed the pp quarterback you need. Trading a 1st round pick for Kaberle was particularly indiscreet, thus missing out on a chance at Tomas Jurco. One never knows which players will fall in the draft…Bergeron, Lucic, Kredji, Marchand, Knight, Spooner, Koklechev, Camara, were all second round picks. Do you really want to give up a chance at players like that for a player with an expiring contract? The Rechi trade was good..and you gained a pick there..Please stop trading away high draft picks. These are the life-blood of an NHL team. A GM who trades high draft picks usually does so out of panic…in fear of his job….Like O’Connel…Sinden almost never traded away first round draft picks. You (appear) to have job security. Please stop trading away first round draft picks..and please be very careful about trading away second round picks…

    Sincerely,

    A fan

  • ILoveHockey

    But he also turns a line that gives up a lot of goals into one that gives up a few- so it all equals out

  • Koby

    yawn

  • brent

    Seariously dude made some bad comparisons an comments.

  • http://twitter.com/RandyMotta1 Randy Motta

    Marc Recci was 43 when he retired and he was still a solid player and producer.. if your in your late 30′s and early 40′s and can still play hockey then your in awesome shape and if your in that condition , Age don’t really matter as long as you produce. being in your 40′s doesn’t make you old..

  • whitey127

    Do you have any clue what your taliking about?? The guy has more points than Iginla, but I bet you liked that trade? You could’nt be any further off base!! The guy knows how to score, and he is a strong power play guy, which the Bruins need badly! Yeah, he is 41, but he has 26 freakin points, on a crappy team to boot!! Not to mention, they really paid nothing for him. They will definitely add a top 4 defenseman, and they will bet set..

  • Uncle Buck

    Shut it moron. Please.

  • whitey127

    Great point!! You are right on the money!! Recchi was one of the reasons they won the cup!!

  • fab4ever

    Nope…you’re the sleep inducing Advil PM….now go sit on a steak knife…

  • fab4ever

    This is a good deal and will help…besides his size, his toughness (maybe he can teach Lucic how to be “that guy” again), he’ll bring some veteran leadership…and he can still play at a high level…I’m telling ya, the guy still skates well and will always be a sniper…I saw a game in LA against the Kings early last month…he had 2 goals on 3 shots….hello!!!!

  • Johnny Spygate

    Still an angry, angry man, I see. Maybe you’re not getting enough bran. Either way, it might be time to step away from the keyboard for a little while.

  • fab4ever

    The bran thing is old ahole….maybe it’s time for you to step away from the curb and fall into traffic….

  • Koby

    im not a fan of hockey, its baseball season thanks

  • ILoveHockey

    then don’t comment- better yet don’t read the story. Why do you feel the need to just be an idiot??????? There are plenty of Red Sox stories

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