Can the Celtics Do It Again – Without Garnett?
April 17, 2009 by Ethan Kendrick
Filed under HP_Featured, Sports & Entertainment
The defending champion Boston Celtics might have to do without Kevin Garnett for the entire postseason according to coach Doc Rivers.
“He’s not going to be ready. After watching him practice, there’s no way,” Celtics Coach Doc Rivers said on WEEI-AM Radio. “The way I saw him move today, I don’t know if he’ll be ready.”
The Celtics begin their first round of the postseason this weekend at the Garden against the Chicago Bulls. They’ve met three times this year and the Celtics won the first two games by at least 16 points. The third game, the only game Garnett missed, the Celtics lost by 6.
Garnett is an essential part of the team, part of the “Big Three” trio of himself, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. The 6-11 power forward is a sure bet for the Hall of Fame and is considered perhaps the best defensive player in the NBA. Without him, the team has won 14 and lost 7 in 21 games.
“If he can’t get through biking and working out without swelling and his leg locking, I don’t know how you can play in the playoffs,” Coach Rivers added. “This was an honest run today, you couldn’t make your way through it. The guy’s a warrior, you see him try to mask his way through it. But after 20 minutes of running, I don’t see it. After today, there’s no way he can play.”
“He was frustrated. He was mad at me, mad at everybody. Then he understood,” Coach Rivers said. “He put up a fight. He’s really frustrated, but that’s Kevin. That’s why we got him, because he cares so much.”
Glen “Big Baby” Davis needs to be given some credit though. After coming off the bench to replace Garnett, he has averaged 13.5 points and 5.8 reounds since the beginning of March. His occasional nights of brilliance will have to become a regular thing if the Celtics want to repeat.
