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9 days ago

Paul Pierce’s Contract: Dispelling The Myths and Stating The Facts

The first domino to fall this offseason is Paul Pierce’s contract. Until Danny Ainge figures out what he’s doing there, little else matters. As we wait for this decision, we also must face the rest of the offseason, which means it is also rumor season. With that time of year, comes plenty of information floating [...]

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9 days ago

Final Grade: Avery Bradley (C+)

In his third year in the league, in which promising players often make brash leaps from benchwarmer to starter, from starter to star, Avery Bradley took a big step back. But his regression might be deceptive. When he returned to the Celtics’ lineup on January the 2nd after two in-season months recovering from offseason shoulder [...]

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10 days ago

Danny Ainge Expects Doc Rivers & Kevin Garnett To Return, Unsure About Paul Pierce

A long, challenging offseason awaits Danny Ainge this summer. Before he dives in head first, he joined Salk and Holley on WEEI-FM 93.7 to discuss the multitude of decisions facing him this offseason, as well as the progress of Rajon Rondo in his rehab from ACL surgery. A few of the notable highlights from the interview. Ainge [...]

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10 days ago

Suns Hire Away Celtics’ Assistant GM Ryan McDonough

In one way or another, there will be change this offseason in Boston. That process started in the past couple days, with the first piece moving out coming as a name most C’s fans might not be familiar with. Yet, it was Celtics’ assistant general manager Ryan McDonough, one of Danny Ainge’s top lieutenants, who [...]

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11 days ago

Doc Rivers Finishes 13th in Coach of the Year Voting

It was a tough season for the Boston Celtics, and that includes for head coach Doc Rivers. The long-time coach battled to find the right fit for a lot of new pieces that were both underperforming and/or failed to pick up his schemes on both ends of the floor. Naturally, an unfortunate plethora of injuries [...]

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12 days ago

Overconfident Answers To Offseason Questions (Part 1)

It seems like every offseason since 2010 we’ve been through this: a myriad of questions and concerns about the Celtics’ roster that usually involve the possibility of the core of the team being dismantled. As we head into the summer of 2013, we’ve got a whole batch of questions, many of which will be familiar.  [...]

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Will KG miss the rest of the regular season?

As the Celtics enjoy their well deserved 4 day respite until next Wednesday’s tilt with New Jersey, there is still news swirling on the Kevin Garnett front. Here’s an excerpt from Marc Spears’ piece in The Globe this morning on his situation:

Unfortunately for the Celtics, Garnett won’t be back practicing when they get back on the court tomorrow. He was slated to return to action next Sunday at Cleveland, but Rivers said he doesn’t expect him to return to practice this week, thus putting his return up in the air.

“Hopefully, we can get Kevin back practicing, not this week but right after that,” Rivers said.

Doc’s admittance that KG won’t practice this week is telling in my eyes for a couple reasons. First off, it makes it more probable that The Big Ticket will be missing the rest of the regular season. My educated guess is that Doc is not going to let KG play in a game until he practices. The final week of the schedule, the Celtics schedule looks like this:

Sunday: @ Cleveland
Tuesday: @ Philadelphia
Wednesday: vs. Washington

Now I’m intrigued to know when the Celtics would practice during that week. I guess Doc could hold a practice on Monday, but given the C’s have 3 games in 4 days, I would consider it unlikely. So if number 5 plans on returning during these last couple games it will have to be without practice (doubtful to happen) or the more likely scenario which is KG won’t be returning during the regular season.

Clearly this is mostly speculation at this point, but I would not be upset at all if this scenario were to occur. I touched upon this situation last week and also when I appeared in a NBA Today podcast last Wednesday but I will reiterate my stance that KG sitting out the rest of the regular season could be a good thing.

In my mind, there is every reason imaginable for Doc and Danny to be overly cautious with KG right now. The Celtics have very little to gain ( earning the 2nd seed) compared to what they have to lose (another setback with the injury) if Garnett were to return before the playoffs.

This team without KG at 100 percent should have no trouble dismissing any potential 1st round opponent. Clearly it would be nice if KG had a game or two under his belt before the playoffs begin but I don’t think its necessary. Might it take longer with KG at 80-90 percent and shaking off some rust to win in the 1st round? You bet. But the Celtics would still win that series, and win rather easily.

I guess the more disturbing news about this whole situation is that it shows the magnititude of the soreness of KG’s knee. Doc and Danny have put on a strong front about the setback, stating how they would be “shocked” if KG did not play in the 1st round. That’s fine that they did that, it’s in their best interest to be optimistic about their star’s prognosis.

However it is probable that no one really knows (outside of the organization) the severity of KG’s knee injury. An extended absence for the rest of the regular season could be the Celts playing it safe with the knee which is a smart move. The problem is that it could also be a sign the injury is worse than any of us know. I, along with all Celtics fans pray it’s the former, but even those with a positive outlook on KG’s ability to return to full strength this year have to be disturbed by these latest developments.

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