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I've been saying for a while that something didn't seem right about the Kevin Garnett injury situation. Too much vagary, linguistic dissonance, and general inability on the part of Doc Rivers to not give the Celtics faithful reason to worry.
Turns out I was right. As of right now, Garnett is out for the playoffs. Or, in the ever-steadying words of Doc, "After today there's no way he can play." Rivers added that maybe KG could return after all, but he "was not optimistic."
Well, still not pitch-perfect communication, but there's no disputing the general message: The Celtics are effed, and the East just got a whole lot less interesting. Yes, I know, the Celtics have managed to do some amazing things -- err, win some big games -- without Garnett. But this is the playoffs. Where lives are broken and women cry for days. Garnett is the emotional backbone of that team, as well as the defensive presence that makes the whole team hop to it on that end of the floor. Hyperbole, maybe. Yet in the crude calculus of the postseason, this is about the worst thing that can happen to a team. Everyone else steps up their intensity and focuses their game; meanwhile, Boston is sliding backward.
Oh, you say, I'm being too rough on the Celtics? There's a surrogate Big Three of Pierce, Allen, and Rondo just waiting to scrappily, us-against-the-world-ly, go on a run? Sure, they'll get past the Bulls. I'll grant them that. But could they neutralize the white-hot Dwyane Wade? Take down the Hawks, who now are legit rivals? Both possibile. And both moot, since the Celtics will run smack dab into the Magic in Round Two. And let's face it -- the Magic have more shooters, and with Garnett absent, an unquestioned advantage in the paint. So Lakers, go ahead and breathe a little easier, be prepared for that country club-like, media circus that will result if Cavs/Lakers shakes out.
No one will cry for defending champs. Especially not after they have done so much to piss off the rest of the league this season. Better luck next year, dudes.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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KG has been absent for weeks now. Boston will be fine without him. Glenn Davis will get more playing time now. Boston with or without KG still isn’t better than Cleveland, so what difference does it make?
by Steeler4LifeSC on Apr 16, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions
Yeah, Boston just showed Cleveland how much better they are by getting blown out by 31 points a few days ago in Cleveland. Boston stands no chance of representing the East in the Finals. Glenn Davis picking up the slack for Kevin Garnett? Please.
by rbdonovan on Apr 16, 2009 11:26 AM EDT reply actions
read carefully, donovan…
by canyougetotthat on Apr 16, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions
Well written article, Shoals. I have no doubt that a throng of sportwriters are going to echoing the same sentiments with cliche after cliche. Keep up the good work.
by bellison22 on Apr 16, 2009 1:17 PM EDT reply actions
I think reality lies somewhere between "the sky is falling" and "they’ll be just fine". Boston probably will not win the title. But would they have with a healthy KG? Would a team of five KGs be enough to derail the massive push Stern wants LeBron to get? Doubtful. Not to go off topic, but take a look at the last thirty or so games LeBron played in. In half of those games he had one or fewer fouls called on him. This postseason will be a bigger sham than the 2006 Finals.
by ChiAdam on Apr 16, 2009 1:36 PM EDT reply actions
belison, is that an insult, a compliment, or both?
by bethlehemshoals.tsn on Apr 16, 2009 1:56 PM EDT reply actions
Both. I intended it as a compliment to you and an insult to the mainstream journalists who I can’t stand. What I meant to say was that the majority of sports writers are going to be counting out Boston and coming to your conclusions. But I noticed that this piece was especially well written by even your standards, which made the ideas fresh. Personally, I think that the zeitgeist favors Cleveland and is leaving Boston out in the cold. The Celtics tried to f*ck with the currents of history and is now suffering the penalty.
by bellison22 on Apr 16, 2009 2:24 PM EDT reply actions
I find the Celtics more fun and compelling without KG. Bring back 2001 Paul Pierce. They may not win it all, but they’ll be cooler than any other team in the East.
by fruity_picks on Apr 16, 2009 2:50 PM EDT reply actions
what exactly have the celtics done to "piss off the league" this year? The Cavaliers are exactly as arrogant and obnoxious if not more. The only difference is the cavs haven’t won a title yet. hopefully they’ll win one this year so everybody can start hating them.
by ikew133 on Apr 16, 2009 6:50 PM EDT reply actions
I’m also wondering what you meant at the end of your idiotic dribble when you said, ‘they have done so much to piss off the rest of the league this season.’
I’m assuming you meant spanking most everyone WITHOUT Garnett and STILL finishing with the third best record in the league?
You’re a moron. We’re all dumber for reading your steamy pile of crappy crap.
by Rocketrich on Apr 17, 2009 10:59 PM EDT reply actions
’Tis but a flesh wound….
by L'etat, c'est moi on Apr 19, 2009 10:17 PM EDT reply actions
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