Quiet on home front

Garnett shifts focus to Game 1

WALTHAM - With his focus on the Hawks, Celtics forward Kevin Garnett asked the media to focus on something besides his family.

Garnett returned to practice yesterday after missing the previous two because of what he and the team are calling a family matter. An NBA source said that Garnett's wife, Brandi, has given birth to the couple's first child during that time. Garnett, however, is very private and declined to talk about the matter.

"Family issues are never public, so I ask [the media] to respect that," Garnett said. "I'm looking forward to playing. I'm excited to play."

Garnett worked out and watched film Friday night at the Celtics' practice facility to prepare for Game 1 of the Atlanta series tonight. The NBA MVP candidate said his conditioning is "fine" and he was "ready."

"We got edits, we got film," Garnett said. "Like I said, I had family issues, but I stayed in the loop through booklets and edited tapes. I haven't missed a beat.

"Playoff time is when you get your homework in. It's like class. You go in, you study, you prepare."

On Garnett's return to practice, guard Ray Allen said, "We just clicked in like we normally would as if Kevin was here the last two days."

Tonight's game ends a four-year postseason layoff for Garnett. He was a part of the playoffs with Minnesota for eight straight years, culminating in the Timberwolves' trip to the Western Conference finals in 2004.

But last year, Garnett was more focused on finding a new city to play in.

"I didn't watch any of the playoffs last year," Garnett said. "I watched some of the Finals. I watched a game here and there. I could care less about the playoffs last year. Mentally, I wasn't into watching some of my compadres.

"I was totally numb to the playoffs last year. I was focusing on making my situation and basketball life better."

A yea vote

The Celtics were one of 28 teams that voted to approve the SuperSonics' move from Seattle to Oklahoma City. Allen, a former Sonics star, was "very disappointed" about the news.

"I see the people [of Seattle] are trying to sue the team and force the ownership to honor the last two years of the lease," Allen said. "Even when I was there, there was none of that going on. Everybody just kind of pushed it to the side and assumed it was going to be taken care of.

"It's just like a basketball game. You're down 8 at the end of the third quarter and you think it's going to happen and that urgency goes into effect.

"With that situation, it didn't seem like anyone was going to step up. Now people are trying to step up and trying to affect things in a positive way. Everybody in America that sees this happening and in Seattle knows it's a tragedy for them to lose an NBA team as good as that city is."

First and foremost

The Celtics-Hawks series will be the last first-round series to start. Regarding the wait, Allen said, "I just try to do like I normally would do. I try not to anticipate it too much because you get too antsy. Nerves can build up. The time will come." . . . Doc Rivers said the Celtics are in good shape. "Right now, everyone's healthy," Rivers said. "Everyone has their bruises, like any other team. But we're pretty fortunate. We're healthy right now." . . . The Celtics will have shootaround this morning at their practice facility in Waltham, while the Hawks will have a shootaround at TD Banknorth Garden . . . After Game 2 is played Wednesday night, the Celtics will depart Friday afternoon for Atlanta in preparation for Game 3 Saturday.