Garnett looking forward

By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff  |  June 4, 2009

Kevin Garnett's recovery from right knee surgery apparently is going well. Garnett expressed optimism in a recent conversation with team owner Wyc Grousbeck, who spoke yesterday at a corporate sponsorship event at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

"I talked to [Garnett] and he guaranteed the championship in 2010 and in 2011," Grousbeck said. "He was as fired up as he's ever been."

Doctors removed bone spurs from Garnett's knee May 26. He is expected to be ready for training camp in late September.

Guard Ray Allen confirmed he was playing with a hamstring strain during the second round of the playoffs.

"It was something I had to deal with," Allen said.

Allen did not talk about the hamstring problem during the playoffs and said it was not serious enough to be revealed. After the Celtics had been eliminated by the Magic, coach Doc Rivers announced Allen had been injured.

Asked if the injury affected his performance, Allen said, "It wasn't anything that was going to keep me from playing."

Allen averaged 18.2 points and shot 48 percent from the field (40.9 percent on 3-pointers) during the regular season. In the seven-game series against the Magic, he averaged 13.1 points and shot 34.4 percent (19 percent on 3-pointers). Allen scored 23 points on 9-of-18 shooting in a game-high 41 minutes in Game 7.

Guard Tony Allen underwent arthroscopic right ankle surgery yesterday at New England Baptist Hospital. Team physician Brian McKeon performed the procedure . . . Point guard Rajon Rondo will join Houston's Aaron Brooks and Detroit's Rip Hamilton on a Nike-sponsored tour to China beginning tomorrow through June 13.

Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com.