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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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Kevin Garnett Misses Shootaround, is Game-time Decision Tonight Vs. Heat

The Celtics announced earlier today that Kevin Garnett missed the team’s shootaround in Waltham this morning. It was the third straight day Garnett had been sidelined after being diagnosed with a left adductor strain on Friday. At yesterday’s practice, Doc Rivers told reporters ”We don’t know what he’s going to do for Monday. My guess is he’s 50/50 at best [to play].”

Right now, Celtics PR is calling Garnett a game-time decision, but it’s rare for players to play for the C’s after sitting out a shootaround. Boston has only played two games this year without Garnett in the lineup and has won them both. If Garnett’ can’t go, look for Jeff Green to get his second consecutive start of the season in the frontcourt.

Despite the magnitude of the game tonight, the question presents itself. Should C’s fans even want KG to play tonight?

In my opinion, the answer has to be no. Despite how sweet it would be for Boston to end Miami’s 22-game run, the bigger focus has to be on the long term and Garnett’s health. There’s no question KG likely won’t be even close to 100 percent tonight if he goes, so while he would bring an incredible morale boost if he returns, he could make the left groin injury even worse.

To heal an injury like that, you need rest more than anything else, and given the tough odds Boston will face tonight in trying to defeat Miami as is, getting Garnett right for the long-term has to take priority over an improved chance to win tonight.

Boston has a tough three-game road trip looming this week against Western Conference squads. The C’s will need a healthy KG to have a chance for a couple of those games, especially against Memphis.

Thus, the move for tonight should be to rest the big ticket and hope the rest of the roster yet again finds a way to step up their play against the team’s biggest challenge yet.

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