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(Brian Snyder/Reuters) |
They're working in some rest
Leisure suits Celtics' Big 3
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Kevin Garnett's résumé has a lot more than pro basketball player on it.
Garnett worked at Burger King, manned a cash register at a restaurant called Cheers, worked at an
But of all the jobs he has held - including playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves - he says his current gig with the Celtics is the least taxing.
"Since I've been 14, I've probably had seven jobs, and since I've been working, this is the most rest I've ever had in my life," said the Celtics forward yesterday. "It's so much that I don't know what to do with myself. It's coming at a great time.
"You put your heart and soul in this. I'm staying afloat being a vet, being a leader. It's been good. It's coming at the right time for this team."
After having four days off - including Saturday, when the Celtics defeated the Bobcats at Charlotte to clinch home-court advantage throughout the playoffs - Garnett and Ray Allen were back on the floor practicing at Charlotte Bobcats Arena yesterday. Following practice, the Celtics flew to Milwaukee in preparation for tonight's game against the Bucks.
Paul Pierce, who didn't make the trip to Charlotte because of the birth of his daughter last Friday in Boston, will likely meet the team in Washington for tomorrow's game against the Wizards, according to coach Doc Rivers. If he doesn't play until then, he will have been off a week.
But Rivers isn't worried about his conditioning.
"Paul's a guy that works on his body," Rivers said. "Sometimes we've had to tell him to slow down. He comes in a lot at night and shoots and runs. That part of it I'm not that concerned about."
Rivers said one of the three would play tonight; it wouldn't be a surprise if it was Allen, since he was recently voted the third-most popular player in Bucks history and missed the previous game in Milwaukee because of injury. All three are expected to play at Washington.
"We're ready physically for the [postseason] run," Garnett said. "Mentally? I think we are in a good place mentally."
With home-court advantage wrapped up, Rivers plans to give his All-Star trio fewer minutes in the final five regular-season games, but enough to keep their timing down.
"We're in good shape," Rivers said. "We've been in good shape mostly all year. Even if we were in the West and had to play out, I think our guys would be able to sustain because we are in great shape.
"We've had a lot of games where our guys have had a lot of rest. Our practices? We've taken a lot of days off. We've kind of managed through the year, thinking all along for the big picture.
"My [attitude] is always legs over brain and getting mental rest after games. That's why we've had days off, back-to-back days off. We've done that three or four times this year. It's an older group, a veteran group, and I just thought we needed it."
Garnett is averaging 33.5 minutes per game, his fewest since he averaged 28.7 in his rookie campaign with the Wolves, 1995-96. Pierce is averaging 36.7 minutes (fewest since 36.1 in 2004-05) and Allen is averaging 36.6 (fewest since 35.8 in 2002-03).
Garnett also missed nine games with an abdominal injury in late January and February, and while he prefers not to talk about injuries in detail, he insisted that he's very healthy right now.
"Everybody is going through a season, and you're nicked up here and there," he said. "But there is nothing significant to speak about."
Point guard Rajon Rondo also is expected to get his minutes trimmed, with the slack to be picked up by Sam Cassell, Eddie House, and rookie Gabe Pruitt, who took part in his first practice since his third and final stint with Utah of the D-League.
"Rondo I'm not worrying about," said Rivers. "That's why we brought Gabe in, to get Rondo some rest."
Said Pruitt, "All in all, it feels good to be back."
Tickets for Games 1 and 2 of the Celtics' opening playoff series go on sale tomorrow at 11 a.m. There will be a two-ticket limit per customer. Tickets can be purchased at the TD Banknorth Garden box office and Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 800-4NBA-TIX, or by going to Celtics.com . . . Basketball isn't the only thing Garnett is great at. "I'm probably the best at cleaning," he said. "I'm probably one of the cleanest people you've met in your life. I take a lot of pride in that. I know how to vacuum, I know how to mop, clean the kitchen, clean the dishes. I'm cold at that." . . . Rivers shot an impressive 78 at a TPC golf course in Charlotte Sunday. He has a 10 handicap . . . Bobcats rookie forward Jared Dudley, the former Boston College star, said he didn't think Eagles junior guard Tyrese Rice would turn pro this year.
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