Garnett gets to take it easy
Another romp means early exit
MINNEAPOLIS - Kevin Garnett hoped to get some rest at his Wayzata mansion on this homecoming mission. But Garnett also got a chance to repose at the Target Center in the fourth quarter of the Celtics' 95-78 victory over the Timberwolves last night.
Garnett and the other Celtics starters also took the fourth quarter off in a 98-80 win over Detroit Thursday night, and Garnett missed the 110-101 win over New York Tuesday because of a suspension. He has not commented on the suspension, levied three days after he tangled with Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut, but he hinted last night he disagreed with the ruling.
"I've had a couple fourth quarters off, a couple days off," Garnett said. "Rest is always good. I'm not one to object to a day off - when it's right. I think I benefited from a couple days of rest and blowouts in the fourth quarter. It definitely saves my legs."
Garnett received a mostly positive greeting from the crowd in his first game in Minnesota as a Celtic. He was with the team last season but did not play here because of an injury.
"A lot of good energy in the building," Garnett said. "I was just blessed - what an honor that people came out and showed their love."
Garnett and Rajon Rondo led the way for the Celtics in a 35-10 third quarter.
"We thought in the first half, I thought we played to their level," Garnett said. "We played to the level of the competition. We were worrying about things that have nothing to do with us - more them. I thought the second half, Doc [ Rivers] told us to get back to Celtics basketball and do the things that we know how to do. I thought also that we were more in tune defensively toward what we wanted to do. Guys were not missing rotations, assignments were fulfilled, we never looked back. Once we get a lead, we like to put the foot on the gas.
"We're a work in progress. I think right now our defense is ahead of our offense. I think, offensively, we're missing that rhythm. We're working on trying to get that rhythm consistently, night in and night out. For the most part, we're playing hard, we're playing great defense."
Growing pains
The Timberwolves are rebuilding around young players, many of them acquired from the Celtics in a trade for Garnett.
Former Celtics Ryan Gomes and Al Jefferson, plus forward Kevin Love, are among the Minnesota prospects.
"[Jefferson] is a terrific kid, a joy to coach," Rivers said before the game. "If you look at where he was when he started with us, and where he is now, it's awesome to see. He's become one of the top-scoring bigs in our league. I feel part of it as far as our relationship, but players have to do the required work to be great. All of us give them a list to work on, and Al did all that. It was that work in the darkness, by himself, that's what makes guys better.
"Ryan's done that. If you look at his shot now compared to when he first started, each year he's improved his range. What I got on him all the time for was the quickness of his shot - it took forever to get his shot off. Now he gets it off as quick as anybody on this team. People don't realize the hours that takes, to increase just the speed of your shot, so he's putting in the time."
Jefferson scored 23 points and is having an All-Star-caliber season. But unless the Wolves improve, it will likely be difficult for him to earn an All-Star berth for the first time.
"I feel no pressure," he said. "It's just something that's going to happen."
Said the Wolves' Mark Madsen, "People talk about the trade and, obviously, we gave up a Hall of Famer [Garnett]. But we have a special talent in [Jefferson], who has the potential to become an All-Star. Really, I think he has a chance to do some very special things in this league. Al Jefferson, I believe, is the best back-to-the-basket scorer in the NBA, on the record. He commands every time a double- and triple-team and he finds a way to score out of it. That's a tribute to how hard he works on his game."
Jefferson returned to Boston last season to watch the Celtics defeat the Lakers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. "It was just a great feeling to be there, to be at an NBA Finals game and to know how it feels, to know every play counts, means something, and to see the better team win the game and win the series," he said. "It was a great experience."
Herrmann OK
Pistons forward Walter Herrmann sustained a mild concussion in Thursday's game and was released from a Boston hospital yesterday after spending the night. 