Doc Defends Kevin Garnett, Denies Cereal Rumors; Chris Wilcox Returns to Practice

Posted by Brian Robb on Jan 10, 2013 338465 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2013%2F01%2F10%2Fdoc-defends-kevin-garnett-denies-cereal-rumors-chris-wilcox-returns-to-practice%2FDoc+Defends+Kevin+Garnett%2C+Denies+Cereal+Rumors%3B+Chris+Wilcox+Returns+to+Practice2013-01-10+18%3A10%3A40Brian+Robbhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D33846

A day after Carmelo Anthony was handed down a one-game suspension for confronting Kevin Garnett postgame following a C’s win on Monday night, it appears we may have to put to bed an entertaining but unsubstantiated rumor behind the confrontation. After reports circulated the past couple days from a Black Sports Online post regarding what exactly KG had said to Melo about his wife, which supposively set him off, Doc Rivers was asked the question directly on WEEI-FM in Boston on Dennis and Callahan. (Via Greg Payne at ESPNBoston:)

On the Honey Nut Cheerios Comment: “Well, No. 1, I know what’s been reported did not happen,” Rivers said adamantly during his weekly interview on Boston sports radio station WEEI. “I know that as a fact. That did not happen.”

Why did the rumor come out? “Guys, you know how this works,” Rivers said. “A guy does something crazy like Carmelo did, and the way to get out of trouble is to say, ‘Well, he said this.’ It happens all the time, and what bugs me about this whole thing is this is not a Kevin Garnett issue. And it was made into one, and it shouldn’t have been made into one.”

On Trash Talk and KG: “It’s pretty crude, I can tell you,” Rivers said. “Out there at times, you hear some crazy stuff. But when it gets racial or personal to family, then that crosses the line. But I’m going to say it again: In this case, that didn’t happen.

“(Garnett) does (know where the line is). He does. I will say that. I’ve never heard him cross the line. And usually when he talks about guys, it’s usually about their game or their team or what he thinks if the guy’s a winner or loser.”

With these latest string of denials, hopefully this is an issue that can be put to bed, at least until the Knicks return to town two weeks from tonight.

In other encouraging news, it appears Chris Wilcox is on the mend and getting closer to a return. The forward/center has not played since December 18th in Chicago, a contest in which he sprained the UCL in his right thumb. Reports out of practice in Waltham today indicate that Wilcox could be back in action sooner rather than later, as he plans to try to take part in today’s practice.

Chris Wilcox — with thumb taped — will attempt to practice today. Doc said he’s ahead of schedule. twitter.com/ESPNForsberg/s…

— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) January 10, 2013

#Celtics center Chris Wilcox said pain comes, goes in thumb day to day. Knows it will be uncomfortable for awhile, not sure when he’ll play.

— Scott Souza (@scott_souza) January 10, 2013

Doc Rivers says Chris Wilcox is “ahead of schedule” in his return from a sprained UCL in his right thumb.

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 10, 2013

Wilcox’s return would be the final piece to a fully healthy Celtics roster, a sight I’m not sure Doc Rivers has seen in years during the regular season. With Danny Ainge undoubtedly keeping an eye on the market next month for potentially useful big man additions, seeing Wilcox back in action is important to see just exactly what he can give this group. As I wrote about before Wilcox’s injury, his rebounding and defensive struggles pushed him out of the rotation just before he got hurt.

Now though, with the return of improved defense to the C’s, in large part due to Avery Bradley, Wilcox’s offensive weapons could put him back in the rotation ahead of Jason Collins once he becomes healthy and help silent the need for another big.

Look for Wilcox to return to game-action sometime next week.