| BOSTON -- On Wednesday, Hawks owner Michael Gearon Jr. called Celtics Kevin Garnett the "dirtiest guy in the league" during a charity luncheon in Atlanta, according to the Journal-Constitution. "We are playing this old physical team," said Gearon Jr. "They are old. I know what happens when you play basketball, old guys foul. Garnett is the dirtiest guy in the league." How did Garnett respond? Only by producing 28 points (10-19 FG, 8-10 FT), 14 rebounds, five blocks and three steals in Game 6, including a turnaround teardrop in the lane that gave the Celtics the lead for good with 30 seconds left and effectively put the first-round series to bed. "First off, I want to say thank you to the owner for giving me some extra gas tonight," said Garnett in a postgame press conference for the ages. "My only advice to him is next time he opens his mouth, actually know what he's talking about — X's and O's versus checkbooks and bottom lines." Zing. Oh, but Garnett wasn't done. "We're not dirty," he added. "We're firm, we play aggressive, but we're not dirty. You have to understand the word 'dirty' in this game is very defined: Trying to hurt guys, ill intent. That's not how we play basketball. We play very, very respectable to the opponent, to the city. I play with a lot of passion and with force. It's the playoffs. I haven't been here trying to hurt anybody, and neither have my teammates. I found that comment to be a little rude and out of hand, and I wanted to address it." And the ... |
