Ainge: Don't expect KG return
Don't expect the Celtics to have a Willis Reed moment in Game 7 tomorrow night.
Kevin Garnett will not only not be available tomorrow but is done for the season, according to Celtics president Danny Ainge. Ainge said in a text message early this morning that the injured All-Star will not be returning for the rest of the playoffs.
"I'm not planning on him the rest of the season," said Ainge.
Ainge's comments this morning are consistent with the Celtics' stance on Garnett's status since April 16, when coach Doc Rivers announced that the one-time NBA Most Valuable Player, who injured his knee Feb. 19 at Utah and has been in limbo since, would miss the team's first-round series against the Bulls and very likely wouldn't play at all in the postseason.
"Yes, he's out," coach Doc Rivers said at the time. "I feel for the season, but we just don't know yet."
A strain to the popliteus tendon, which sits at the back of the knee, has affected Garnett's ability to return. The tendon strain must heal naturally, and has taken longer than anticipated. Garnett will likely have offseason surgery on his right knee to remove a bone spur.
Garnett, a 12-time All-Star and reigning Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 15.8 and 8.5 rebounds per game during the regular season. The Celtics have noticeably missed his defensive presence and interior passing skills during this series against the energetic young Bulls.
Garnett missed the final nine games of the regular season and 22 of the final 26 games overall before the playoffs since injuring the knee. He has continued to receive treatment in the slim hopes that he would be able to return at some point.
During this series, he has occasionally tutored fellow big men Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis during practices and shootarounds and also been seen taking jump shots, but he still is moving gingerly. He has sat on the Celtics' bench during games in street clothes. In the past, he has chosen to watch from the locker room rather than the bench when he is injured because it frustrates him to not be able to contribute.
Garnett will have surgery on the knee after the playoffs end, but the date has not been set, leading to speculation that he may try to play should the Celtics advance in the postseason.
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I don't believe you Danny. Not what I want to hear this morning either.
uh oh,...the Celts are in trouble now.....what's the matter....Marbury isn't up to the task?
what's wrong with garnett? does he have a torn acl or a broekn toenail?
I am so mad at Pierce this morning. We're no longer friends.
hey 'Celtics are done' wow, what obvious goof you are! take a stab a Marbury as if we based our season on him your a goof! celtics are not done! Any other team with the key injuries we've had aren't even playing anymore, Celts will take game 7 and for your pleasure I hope Marbury has a good game..YOU Loser
Does anyone know what the injury is with Garnett. I am not questioning that it is real or serious, but I still haven't read exactly what the problem is. I know more about Powe's more recent injury than Garnett's.
garnett is a women
Why wouldn't he be under the surgery knife then? I still think he'll be back for the Eastern Conference Finals if the Celts make it that far.
curious n curiouser
Were you in the top 10 of your graduating class from the Bunker Hill Bar Stool Sportswiters Academy? So many hours of games on TV and that's all you can come up with for a question ? There goes your C- average for the semester.
Back to the bar stool for another shot at success.
Celts can't win without Garnett....get used to it
Why wouldn't Ainge and the Celtics do just the opposite and stat floating the idea out there that KG might play. A little dose of mind games with the Bulls couldn't hurt.
Listen to these DB's....Yeah guys, Marbury & Garnett play the same position....And yeah, Garnett has a "broken toenail." That's what's keeping him out. Or, he has an ACL tear. Which one do you think is more likely? We heard all these taunts last year from the Atlanta fans, and when the C's won the title, they were a distant memory, just like the Bulls will be after Saturday.
Marc - did he say Garnett will not be returning for the rest of the playoffs, or that he's not planning on him the rest of the season?
There's a difference there.
I hope Celtics will loose tomorrow. I just don't want see Orlando Magic pounding us. Hopefully they can comeback next year...GO CELTS
Do or die. You have a 6'7 kid and a 6'5 guard on the bench who can defend. Walker and Pruitt should be spelling the guards and Pierce. House and Stephon kill the team defensively in addition to the fact that Marbury has no confidence in his jump shot. At least these kids can create their own shots - Allen can not. The defense obviously makes the team go, but three minutes of madness by these young kids preserves the legs of the starters and possibly generates some excitement
Time for Garnett to suck it up, and play. Who is playing at 100% this time of the season? No one. Every starter on every remaining playoff team is feeling the effects of 82 games plus the intensity of the first round. For Garnett to just play 24 minutes would be huge for morale.
Seriously, Garnett was a warrior in Minne, but they've wet nursed him here in Boston. When you treat these athletes like fine china, they start distrusting their bodies.
Who would want him on the court? He is a punk...It is sad he is a Celtic..I have lost all respect for the Celtic Organization...Ray is the only class on the team.
Who lets a player like KG act like he does on the bench..What a punk..Win or lose the Celtics have lost many fans across the country! KG you are crap
Ladies, let's remember what the past few years before KG and Ray arrived were like. To be in that game last night thanks to Ray, says volumes about the positive traction we've made and the competive nature of the collective team. There's no quit in them and some of the comments above look like girls who should be cheerleaders at a ping pong match. We have a good chance to take this thing and just because the Bulls got away with the street brawl doesn't mean our guys have stopped playing. If you can't bleed green - then move out of town!!!
Uh, Ray Allen was just suspended for elbowing a dude in the junk, I like Ray, just not sure how classy that is.
Some of the posts remind me why I despise the North East so much.
Ungrateful + stupidity...
If Garnett could play effectively he would. He can't run or jump. And lines from someone named 'Cletics blow" and rick who says "Garnett is a women" and Raja who says "I hope Celtics will loose" reveal more about the intelligene of the poster than Garnett...
KG a punk? you are a freakin idiot. if KG were in thegame, Miller and Noah would be non-factors.
I miss KG and love our team. Go Celtics.
"hey 'Celtics are done' wow, what obvious goof you are! take a stab a Marbury as if we based our season on him your a goof! celtics are not done! Any other team with the key injuries we've had aren't even playing anymore, Celts will take game 7 and for your pleasure I hope Marbury has a good game..YOU Loser"
How many of you "winners" said the same thing about game six?? I can see the fear in your words and smell it 900 miles away.. You put up a good fight but we should never have let you guys hang around this long, so be grateful.
I love all the haters on here. Your just mad, jealous that your cities aren't dedicated to winning the way we are here in Boston. Probably a loser in life yourselves with not much ambition and goals. Just realize here in Boston we are committed to winning not whining and that's what makes us champions. Also, people who have names like Celticsblow and Celtics are done are hiding there identites because they must not be proud of who the are. It's sad!
I love all the haters on here. Your just mad, jealous that your cities aren't dedicated to winning the way we are here in Boston. Probably a loser in life yourselves with not much ambition and goals. Just realize here in Boston we are committed to winning not whining and that's what makes us champions. Also, people who have names like Celticsblow and Celtics are done are hiding there identities because they must not be proud of who the are. It's sad!
Can someone explain to me why Garnett isn't under the knive if he isn't going to play for the rest of the season? Shouldn't he be using this time to have surgery, recover and train for the 2009-2010 season? If he doesn't need surgery how much rest does that knee really need? Is it me?
That's 2 games where they've given Rondo the ball with seconds left to make a play. Maybe they need to work on another option play inbounding the ball. There's the KG gap factor once again.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOG HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Like I've called out so many times before, homecourt advantage means nothing between these two teams. This is still anybodies series.
Lets stop the conspiracy theory. We will not see KG in uniform until next season...
Without Garnett, this team is doomed. Garnett being in the game obvioulsy makes Pierce a much better player than we have seen to this point vs. Chicago. Heck, Garnett makes everyone a better player by fear alone.
---"Ray is the only class on the team."---
Celticsblow,
Props for the great handle, but you have no self respect if you like Ray Allen, the biggest cheap-shot artist in the game!!!!!!!
Did you see what he did to Anderson Varejao during that beating in Cleveland????
And you still say this guy has class???????
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You wouldn't know class if it elbowed you in the nuts!!!!!!!!!!!!
hog
Anyone who thinks a guy like KG, whose intensity is essentially unmatched, is sitting out with a LaDainian Tomlinson-esque hangnail is kidding themselves. There's clearly something serious going on. The guy's one fault is that he's too intense and now you clowns want to paint him as soft? Puh-lease. Also, if you're going to go out of your way to talk trash about a sport you clearly don't understand, you might try spelling "Celticsblow" with some semblance of accuracy. Idiot.
Eric, the problem is he's limping & can't run. Could he do some things out there? Yes - probably hit open jumpers. But he wouldn't be able to run up the court for breaks (on offense or defense) and he would get beat by anyone he is covering who puts the ball on the floor. Why risk making the knee worse for 20 mediocre minutes a night (if he can even play that) where he spends most of his time getting embarrassed? I think they are hoping he will get a little better and, in theory, they didn't want to waste any minutes he might have left in him this season on a first round opponent that they should be able to beat without him.
Anyone who bashes KG is a moron and doesn't deserve to be a Celts Fan !!
Go Celts !!
Class acts.... Miller, Gordon, Heinrich, Rose, Noah, Salmons...
Cheapshot crybabies....Ainge (the biggest of all-time) Rivers, Allen, Rondo, the other Allen, the red headed goon, Perkins, F-Bombing cheerleader KG.
The only players on the celtics that any team in the league would want are Pierce and Big baby. This team is a dried up old sea hag like the city it represents
I must admit that I have not watched the Celtics consistently since LB retired but my impression from watching this Celtics team throughout this playoff series is that they are a gritty and hardworking team that seems to blow critical opportunities every game with tremendously unintelligent decisions (Pierce's exacerbating his poor pass by fouling Noah which resulted in Pierce fouling out and Noah getting a three point play for example) I suppose the fatigue of the overtime games should be factored in and again, not having watched them enough, I'm sure I'm not qualified to make such an assessment but just curious if anyone else had a similar view
hog has his head up his butt again. What a surprise. Ray Allen is 'the biggest cheap-shot artist in the game'? Based on one elbow, that was thrown after he was thrown to the floor? hog, go back to kindergarten.
I love the haters. Without them, winning wouldn't be nearly as sweet.
You can't win those games going with a rotation of 5-6 players.
Those starters are totaly out of it mentally and phisically at the end.
The bench needs to be used much more than it has been, it is the only way those starters can excecute properly at the end.
raja (post #14) you embarrass the real C's fans. C'mon man..please tell me you're kidding.. right? AnyHOO! You knew this series was going 7 games, it just has to be that way. Thank you Celtics and thank you Bulls for the most entertaining 2 weeks of basketball in my life. I will be at Game 7 tomorrow night and cannot wait! GO GREEN!
Half of KG and the series would've been over in 5 games. Why isn't anyone mentioning that the team seriously misses Leon Powe? Our bench has been invisible this entire series...take Baby & Powe off the bench and this is the result. Game 7 with the Bulls. It will be a good game but the C's will prevail.
So... Larry played with a back so bad he spent nights in traction, and this bozo can't drag his butt out their with a little sore knee? Big Three indeed. Give me a break.
K G is a punk....needs to strap it on and stop waving them pom poms..clearly cheerleader material....suck it up and play !! if not keep cheerleading !!!!
i bought a pierce jersey after the finals last year. i wear it under my suit the day of the game.
I don't care what happens. No matter what, I want to thank the Celtics for an exciting series and an exciting season. Now go win one!
This series would have been over a long time ago, in favor or the Celtics, if Garnett was playing. People trying to pin the Celtics' difficulties against the Bulls on their perceived reluctance of Garnett to play due to a "broken toenail" is just ridiculous. A player like Garnett, in a team like the Celtics, would be playing through injuries if he really could. I'm a Bulls fan and I still think we're the underdogs against the Celtics tommorow but whatever happens, I just want all to know that I was as rabid a Celtic fan as anybody out there when they played LA in last year's championships.
This is really weird. Why are we even still talking about Garnett? He must need surgery, so my only question is, why hasn't he had the surgery already? My concern isn't that we're in trouble now, it's that we're in trouble next year if we don't get this knee fixed properly. in case everyone has forgotten, next year is the last year the Big Three will be together. Our window is closing quickly, and we know it's not going to happen for us this year. Go Bruins!
Nothing to see here, folks. Just another "I don't expect him to play" non-denial denial from the brass.
Celtics look old and tired, Plenty of chances to win last night and came up empty. One man show last night for the C's, the rest of the team was not on their game.
He is out, people. Get over it. Our lack of a bench is going to kill us anyway.
"I love the haters. Without them, winning wouldn't be nearly as sweet."
Winning what, bizona? A first round series against a seventh seed? Because that's about all your team can hope for.
Please beat Chicago - then Orlando - so I can watch my Cavs sweep the Celtics.
Dan,
---"He must need surgery'---
He ABSOLUTELY needs surgery!!!!!!!!!!!!
KG is still experiencing swelling and locking in his knee: Two classic signs of cartilage damage.
Of course he needs surgery!!!!!!!!!!!
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---" why hasn't he had the surgery already? "---
Because you are the Celtics!!!!!!!!
You have no idea what the hell you are doing.
Period.
hog
For anyone who asked what the issue is, why don't you try reading the article instead of looking at the pretty pictures on the sides.
"A strain to the popliteus tendon, which sits at the back of the knee, has affected Garnett's ability to return. The tendon strain must heal naturally, and has taken longer than anticipated. Garnett will likely have offseason surgery on his right knee to remove a bone spur."
So he has a strain to the popliteus tendon and a bone spur. Both of those things greatly effect running as well as side to side movement. Pretty critical in basketball. Even with KG out the Celtics have shown the fight they need to stay in this series. Long games take a huge toll, specially on the older guys. After a series like this, it would be a shame not to see the vets rewarded for their hard work in the absence of their greatest leader. GO CELTICS.
"Class acts.... Miller, Gordon, Heinrich, Rose, Noah, Salmons..." Are you f'in kidding me?? You are obviously in some alternate reality if your calling Miller, the biggest faking cry baby in the world a class act. Maybe the c's should hit him in the head again so that when he misses his some more foul shots he doesnt have to fake like he is hurtin from it. Think about what your sayin before you post a dumb ass comment.
at one point Doc said that its up KG if he wants to play or not. Well KG, time to man up before people start to question your toughness.
It's all in the wording.
"I'm not planning on him" but.....if something changes that'll be great.
Saying I'm not planning on him is HUGELY different than saying "He's out and done for. He'll be having surgery on such and such a date".
I still believe there's a chance......a very small chance.
Its old news. This team can do it without him. His presence is enough on the sidelines. GO CELTICS. take game 7 and then we take the Magic after that. GO ATL get us a rematch of last years great series and we do not have to deal with Lebron. Then its on to the finals where anything can happen.
pierce has lost more game than he has won - not good for the sel proclaimed greatest player in the world - salmons is torching him silly - If Pierce could shoot 1/10th as good as salmons series would be over . And why with a great ballhandler like Rondo and a great shooter like Ray Allen does the vball go to pierce for an iso so he candribble into a double team and loose the ball like he does 9 out of 10 times. I blame Doc rivers for this loss- get the ball away from Pierce !
Why is Tony Allen taken shots? WHY?
Celtics are old.... so they can't fight with young athletes within 48 hours after 3 ot game.. they are done in game 7 ... young bulls will win game 7 by at least 10 points.. or if it goes to overtime again.. old guys can't play more minutes.. so they are done for the season... may be better luck next year with KG back in uniform
Not sure if any of these posts are bulls fans but its kind of embarrasing to go to a game 7 with a team without one of the best players offensively and defensively in the league. Not to mention his replacement, Powe, also out. Celtics have the most pathetic big men, baby, scal, moore, and pathetic gaurds coming off the bench who give no help whatsoever to ray and paul. Yet we still have a game 7, at home, in which the Celts will handle the Bulls just like the Hawks... Make sure you haters are on this board sunday morning id love to hear from you.
Bulls all the way
KG, we now can see, is the KEY to the one area that wins championships...DEFENSE.
We win tomorrow, finish out the season, and retool for one FINAL run in the KG/PP/RA era.
Next year, we make the run, win #18, and Ray rides into the sunset. How does that sound boys and girls.
Wait til tomorrow...see who the winner will be then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't believe Chicago will be celebrating!
Yes Celtics do look old and tired, Doc is mismanaging those minutes, regardless of the situation on the court he must use his bench much more to keep those legs and minds somwhat fresh toward the end.
In response to #'s 20 and 21:
No kidding.....some of the moronic entries to this newspaper make me vomit.
Besides being illiterate (and probably inbred), this negative crap is submitted by idiots who don't know anything about professional basketball. Instead of comments re: X's and O's, these buffoons make silly, ignorant statements like
"Garnett is a women....."
You stupid low-lifes!
You just can't see Bird, Russell, or even Paul Pierce in the playoffs saying to his team, "Sorry I can't play, I have strain to the popliteus tendon ...."
Good idea Ainge, keep KG away in readiness for next season. I know Cs are coming back healthy and strong for another run. So far, I like what I have seen. Lakers without Kobe and Cavs without James would have not made it to playoffs. Go Celtics....
I'm from Chicago, a lifelong Bulls fan since the days of Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, Norm Van Lier and Tom Boerwinkle. I remember the sadness for the Celts as they languished at the bottom before Danny Ainge got hold of so many talented players, not to mention Doc Rivers, also a Chicagoan -- we are generally tough SOBs, and so is Doc. i remember him when I was in school in Madison when he was at Marquette tearing it up. The Celts are a great team with KG. Which is why you guys won the championship and why it is so, so hard to repeat. All the stars have to align perfectly, and it's a rare thing when they do. I've never seen a more exciting, tough game as I saw last night, a game which will be burned into any real fan's mind, regardless of which team you supported. It was a shame that somebody had to lose, really, but I am glad that it was not the Bulls. Have pity on us. We are stuck with the loser Cubs forever. At least you guys have the RedSox. Be grateful for small things. KG will return next year and the Celts will once again contend for the title. Not without him this year.
Cetls are done. With or without Garnett, they wouldn't get past Orlando, let alone Cleveland.
WHY IS PAUL PIERCE THE CAPTAIN??? WHY?? THE GUY CAN'T SHOOT AT THE END OF GAMES.... HE NEEDS TO GIVE THAT CAPTAINS BADGE NEXT YEAR TO K.G. - and another thing, why did Rondo take that last shot?? RAY ALLEN HAD 51 POINTS, WHY DIDN'T HE GIVE IT TO ALLEN??
and finally, WHAT THE HELL WAS TONY ALLEN DOING ON THE FLOOR SHOOTING THE BALL WHEN HE WAS THERE TO DEFEND. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON??
I agree with tinisoil. For all we know this could be a ploy by Ainge to mess with the Bulls. If there really was something serious with KG like a torn ACL, he would have had surgery already to get him ready in plenty of time for next year. I wouldn't 100% count him out until he's on the bench in a suit.
The problem with Pierce is he doesn't go to his left as well as his right. Left hand dribble is suspect, getting stripped by Lebron & Kobe last year in final minute of key games. Last night same problem--2 turnovers in OT dribbling left.
Agree with above post re: Rondo taking last shots...WTF? In Game 4 and last night he's trying to win game with a jumper when he hadn't taken the shot for most of the game...plus he hits 18-20 ft jumpers maybe 35% of the time? Not good odds when game is on the line and 2 all stars are standing around on the floor watching him.
The Cavs would destroy you!!!!!!!!! Go Cavs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PUT SCALS IN!!! He's always been the best player on the team. They need to put him in for every single minute of every single game. Celts will win by at least 30 pts!!!!
Hey Rick, (post #7), tell that to Garnett face to face tough guy. It's easy behind a keyboard.
"I'm not planning on him the rest of the season" = Danny Ainge
"Done for the season" = the interpretation of the above quote by the author of column, Mark J. Spears
Two different statements. That's not what Ainge said.
Unless they are up by 20 at the half there is absolutley no question that KG has got to put on a uniform and come out of the locker room just before the start of the third quarter.
Hog,
The Celtics don't know what they're doing? They looked pretty good last year. Very few teams in the last 20 years have repeated. So settle down there buddy. It's only sports, not life and death.
It has been a great run by the Celtics...and I have enjoyed watching them the last two years. Hope they can get to the Eastern Conference Finals and Ray Allen scores 50+ against the cavs.
If KG were TRULY and DEFINITIVELY done for the season, they'd quickly schedule surgery, to maximize his recovery time for next season. Danny, Doc et al keep leaving daylight open by saying things like "I'm not PLANNING on him the rest of the season..."
That said, I think the chances KG will return are slim, but they're clearly not zero.
Anybody thinking KG will return for game seven, however, is truly delusional. He won't be back for game seven OR for the next round. I do think it's not out of the question, however, that he could return for the conference finals should the Celtics get there. Unfortunately, at that point he wouldn't have the opportunity to get back into game shape. So, although I fantasize about a return of the Ticket just like any other Celtics fan, the pieces simply aren't in place for a championship. Given the decrease in depth of this year's squad (Brown, Posey, Powe are missing) AND the failure of the new pieces (Marbury, Moore) to make an impact, they would realistically need KG to be at 100% to have any hope of getting past Cleveland and/or the Lakers. And that's simply not in the cards, folks.
Here's the deal...Dress K-G for game #7...Put him in the starting lineup just for the opening tap..then take him out after the crowd goes CRAZY!!! The uproar over this would be huge and give the C's the necessary momentum to eliminate the Bulls..
I don't know why you people are hating on KG so much. He has a serious knee injury and has been supposedly limping when going up and down stairs and what not. I mean as much as I'd love to have him back for playoffs, what do you really think he'd contribute out there? He definately wouldn't be the same KG that played during the regular season. And if he did play, he could cause more damage and have this knee injury, that could be fixed for next year, be career ending. You guys go and compare him to LeBron, "if LeBron was injured, he'd play in the playoffs" but LeBron is much younger than KG and his injuries would most likely heal much faster. His injuries wouldn't threaten career ending. You know?
I have to admit, I'd feel doomed if it wasn't for Vinny Del Negro.
Dumbest.NBA.Coach.Ever.
I am hoping tha Danny did that because he didnt want The press to get al crazy beacuse KG is playing on Satuday .
"Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish are not walking through that door"
Pretty hi-larious that the city who mocks LT for having the maturity to take a seat when he's unable to contribute gets to watch Tom Brady's knee get blown out, and now this business with Garnet. "Oh noes KG isn't playing, he has no heart," etc. By the way, to the douchebag who wrote this piece---do you mind if I rip your abductor muscle from your pubic bone? I just want to see if you can run between the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacking corps afterward. Anyway, carry on the arrogance and antagonism, the rest of the country can't stand you guys, and I know that's the negative attention you're looking for as New York's inferior, attention starved little sibling.
I'm playing tonight, DEFINITELY.
Danny,
Where's his MRI?? Surgery date?? Boston is known for trying to keep their fans in limbo...then, next thing you know...he's having an MVP performance...I'm sick of it.
so... Kevin Garnett isn't walking through that door?
Until I hear these words: "The doctors have confirmed that Kevin Garnett is OUT for the rest of the season." I simply won't believe it.
The whole team is being vague about it.
First Doc says: "Yes, he's out, I feel for the season, but we just don't know yet." and then and Ainge today says: "I'm not planning on him the rest of the season".
Planning...I feel...all very vague. So either KG has a recoverable injury, or they are playing mind games with the opponents. Either way, until there is an official confirmation that KG is shut down for the rest of the playoffs, I expect to see him back if the celtics win tomorrow.
Celts will take game 7. This has been the "accidental" Great Series. Would've been 5 games tops with KG/Powe in the lineup.
The Cavs/Fakers will have to live with the fact they would win the Championship because of KG's injury. Much like the Rockets did in their 2 Championships when Jordan semi-retired in the 90s.
No one really ever took those two Rockets teams as "true" Champions.
Amazing how one player can change the whole outcome of a season for a whole league.
Hey soxfan, (post #77), tell that to Rick face to face tough guy. It's easy behind a keyboard.
David (and all you other North East haters):
If you hate us so much, why are you hanging around our local newspapers and commenting? Why do you care? Go do your own thing if you don't like the Cs. No one is asking you to like them or cheer for them. By the way, deciding to hate an entire region is pathetic.
Garnett will play tonight. I KNOW THIS. SO, if Pierce loosens up and all fire on all cylinders, we got this series finally. Bye bye Bulls. Noah, shut your mouth and just play.
The Celtics may be old but maybe not old enough. Why waste Heinsohn back there on radio row, suit him up. Quadruple overtime, no problem have the Cooz spell Rondo, forget about Marbury. No KG, bring back Bailey Howell. Big Baby can't handle Noah,speaking of women, bring back Satch. Seriously, all you heroes ragging on KG ought to give back # 17 you don't deserve it.
Yea Celtics fans that old team at home with one day off. Yea those 20 something year olds have no chance in an up and down game on Saturday. That fourth quarter better be a slow one. Turn out the light Celtics fans. The age factor is there. did you see how old they looked walking off the court or were ou all still in disbelief.
These Bulls aint babies anymore they took a punch in the throat and came back. They don't know that they are supposed to roll over. They won't roll over. This is both of these team's NBA finals. These aint the Hawks. Shake the can, the gas tank is empty for that old team after three quarters on Saturday.
Yea count on that home court , count on those old lungs, and legs, count on a up and down slugfest. Don't count on any late heroics after the marathon run last night. Youth, yea youth with stones, and young legs should rule the day. Its game one all over again.
I for one am not disappointed by the C's at all. They are undermanned and have
given it their all. what more can you ask for? This team is representative of it's ethic,and coach Doc Rivers,who by the way has done a great job with decimating injuries to his team. The C's may win and advance to the next round. I will root for them because I am a fan for over fifty years and have been thru thick and thin. the whiners don't help anything or anybody they just whine. Pay them no mind,GO CELTS!
He's like Shaq now, best day's behind him.
Jeremy, I think I love you for that comment about wearing your Pierce t under your suit on game days.
We all want to see KG pull a Willis Reed we wanna see him in that tunnel with his teammates circled around him bouncin back and forth getting amped to play in yet another Game 7. Believe me NOBODY wants to see this happen more than I do. As a transplanted Celtics fan out in Chi-Town it's tough to be at work today and listen to these morons running their mouth. To hear them talk you'd think Joakim Noah is the next incarnation of Scottie Pippen and that Ben Gordon is MJ himself incarnate. Easy Chicago 8 professional sports championships in the past 100 years (6 of them coming from the same team) doesn't exactly put you on par with Boston. Hell, we've won nearly 8 titles collectively in the past 10 years. (3 for the Pats, 2 for the Sox, the C's big win last year). All that being said, I just don't know if KG strapping it on and trying to go tomorrow night is our best option. Again, nobody wants KG out there more than I do. He's a game changer and the entire dynamic of the Celtics on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball changes with KG in there. But I don't want KG who can barely make it up the floor I need the KG who can lock down anybody on defense, who can quarterback our defense from the the paint, and who would lock down Joakim Noah so fast that he'd be terrified to set foot within 10 ft of Garnett.
The formula for the Celts to pull this out tomorrow is simple and it starts and finishes with one person and that's the Captain, the Truth, and one of the all time greats to ever put on a Celtics Uniform none other than #34 Paul Pierce. We need to get Paul off tomorrow and get him off EARLY. I have yet to see the Paul Pierce that I know and love show up in this series aside from the 4th Qtr of Game 5 where he simply decided he was going to take the game over as evidenced by what we saw coming out of that timeout with approximately 2 Mins remaining in the game when Pierce took Rondo aside and simply said to him (you could clearly read his lips on the TNT broadcast) "give me the f'ing ball and tell everybody else to get the f out the way" Where was that last night? This was a winnable game. Ray Ray should not ever drop 50+ in a losing effort. Pierce made poor decisions last night and what on God's green earth could he possibly have been thinking when he fouled Noah and allowed him to complete that 3 pt play which was a true backbreaker. We're gonna need a game from Pierce like we got in last years Game 7 against LeBron. It's gonna take 30+ from Pierce and another big night from Ray Ray for us to get it done. Also, I wanna see some more intensity out of these guys. We need to set some hard screens knock the Bulls on their ass a little bit and get Ray Ray and Paul open looks. Pierce needs to drive the lane hard and let them foul him. They wanna make him earn it at the line I'm ok with that. Paul Pierce has hit some of the biggest foul shots and Celtic history. The key is getting him off early and keep feeding Pierce the ball he's the single best player on the floor and we need him to step up and be the Captain he is and the Champion and Finals MVP we know he can be and has always been. Mark my words 30+ from Paul tomorrow night and the Celtics win going away.
I hope the Celtics win.
I think my comment is going to change minds!
For Garnett not to play, he must be in real bad shape. Hope he can give a strong year next season. We need one more big, don't count on Powe. OH and by the way, If the celtics win game 7 and I do mean IF....They will beat Orlando in under 7 games...Match Ups make everything. I knew Chicago was trouble without KG. They beat us 127-121 in Chicago last reg. season game without KG. Let up points to easy to this team. Orlando will be easier..Only if we get there.
WHY is this even an aritcle??? this is NOT NEWS!!! KG has been out for the season for a month now!! WTF?
but we all reeeeealy know well see KG if we make it to the Easten Conf finalss....
REPPIN
All these LOSERS out there are just jealous! They and everybody else knows that if KG were out there this series would have been over in 5 MAX!!!! The CELTICS had another great season but injuries have caught up with them. I still believe that they will win in 7 but will not go much further. GREAT job guy,s !!! Season not over yet so we will enjoy while we still can. GO CELT,S
Shoul;d have kept "Old Man" Cassel instead of pursuing Marbury. At least you have a guy who is not afraid to take a shot in rythm rather tahn pass it to Rondo for a tear drop that wouldn't cry! Bring back the old Man, you can use some veteran leadership and both on the court and off the court presence that is needed with such a young team!
No cause for alarm: Scalabrine will have 20 points, 20 boards 10 blocks and 10 steals in Game 7. The TV announcers will hail him as the next Russell.
Oh yeah, and a heard of flu-free swine just flew by my window in the missing man formation.
If what Danny says is true then why hasn't he had the surgery now so that he has plenty of time to rehab.........It just doesn't make sense.......
rondo is a punk ha ha hahahahaha the bulls will win game7
what I do everyday is tough - i care for a mother 24/7 - who is paralyzed from a stroke - I feed her , dress her , wash her , do everything for her to make her day worthwhile . She cant walk or talk so its a challenge . And I've had no sleep for the past 4 years . I could have dumped her in a nursing home. But thats the easy way out. I brought her home aon a feeding tube . Sports guys tought talk means nothing to me. Like I said Im sure Garnett is a good guy - didnt mean it like that - I just think he could play thats all.
*****************GO BULLS!!!!!!!******************
Just a quick note coming from a Bulls fan for the sole reason of Michael Jordan (you think MJ would sit out in the playoffs with a sore knee???), I've noticed basically every Celtics fan here stated if KG played the Series would have been over. I like KG, I went to college in MN for four years when they made their run to Western Finals but lost to the Lakers. However, KG is not the same as he was before. Rondo, as much as I hate punk, as put up some amazing stats, I mean basically averaging a triple-double. He's getting more boards than KG during the season, putting up 10 more pts than KG during the season and finally 10 more assists than KG during the season. In short, Rondo is playing as if he's two people, covering KG's absence. Then you got flippin' Fat Baby Davis scoring 20 plus points a game in multiple games, averaging more than KG did during the season. So if the Celts loose, it is not because KG was not there, it will be because the Bulls are better team. Anyhow, I can't concentrate at all until tomorrow's game time and thank the lord it was not a two day gap because I think we all can agree on one thing...and that is CLOSURE!!!!
Now that I have some time to filter through some of this crap, I am astonished at what I'm finding:
#25
---"Your just mad, jealous that your cities aren't dedicated to winning the way we are here in Boston"---
HAHA Dedicated??????????
Lets see:
-Boston let James Posey walk.
-Boston didn't even bother to get KG a second opinion on his injury and let him go on misdiagnosed.
-Boston signed Mikki Moore.
-Boston signed Star"LMFAO"bury!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Doc openly admitted that he doesn't even try to manage his players minutes.
-Boston kept Scal on their roster even though one more conccusion could kill him.
-------------------------------------
Does this sound like a team that is dedicated to winning?????
HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hog
This has been a really good series.
Both teams will be remembered for this one.
Having said that, "Go Celtics, Beat Chicago!!
... What did you expect me to say, I'm from Boston!
Bulls fan ere. Anyway you look at it, this series has truly been a treat - and I don't think any Bulls fans think that KG's absense has no effect. 2nd, for those questioning Rondo, his almost triple double every night is pretty much key to Celtic's winning in this series, so as much as I hate Rondo, how can you not respect him. In terms of crybabies and toughness - well.. I think every player on the court is pretty much a crybaby these days, Celt's whine every play just as much as bulls do - its just what the modern game is these days. And the (flagrant) by Rondo on Miller - well after the Miami, Dallas series I never wanted to see a game decided on free throws ( and for all the bulls fans, we got bailed out on the previous Gordon 3 call anyways) - this is playoff basketball let them play ( Rambis got right up if I remember correctly )._
Half of you commenting here have probably never actually played sports before and don't know a thing about injuries... Kevin Garnett hasn't had surgery yet because he doesn't need too and it's an insurance plan just in case the C's REALLY REALLY need him. Also, YES he is injured if you didn't read the article it says he has a strain to the popliteus tendon (back of the knee) so he doesn't need surgery right now to be ready next season but if he plays he could risk further damage which would spell him missing time in 2010.
Relating Marbury to KG is just plain stupid. No need to delve in further. KG is a fierce and intense competitor but all the players in the league (other than the pesky Europeans) respect and like Garnett. Also, the person that commented on Ray Allen's class for elbowing a guy in the groin doesn't understand sports. Cleveland's Varejao pushed Ray Ray to the ground and Ray Allen made a stupid, instinctive reaction, but he is BY FAR one of the classiest guys in the league.
Also, post 115 canibus hog? HA you got to be kidding me, The Boston Celtics aren't dedicated to winning? That's why they brought KG and Ray Allen into town and took a risk on Marbury. They let Posey walk for $46 million because that would be a stupid investment. They traded for Mikki Moore and Cash for Sam Cassell. Doc Rivers can do and say whatever he wants, im pretty sure he isn't trying to lose.
Your argument is flawed, THEY LET SCAL PLAY WITH CONCUSSIONS BUT HE MIGHT DIE? Well, wouldn't that mean they are TOO dedicated to winning to risk a guys health.
Do me a favor, lay off the pipe and keep your comments to yourself.
curious, that's funny....what's up with Rivers lineup at the end of the game last night, throwing tony allen in there when we need scoring? Give me Steph, ya he's been a touch off, but the guy is capable of scoring at will, and is a threat! I'm pulling for Steph to start playing the way he is capable of, he can be such a huge addition, he's just trying too hard not to screw up the Celts offensive system. he just needs to play. Step it up Steph!
I was surprised to see Pauly miss that jumper to win it, esp. when there was no attempt from little Hinrick. Maybe he was so surprised Hinrick didn't attempt a block he missed.
if rondo would just drive the ball to the hole when there is a couple of seconds left this series would be over it happened two different times
Heres what really had me PO'd last night. OT3, WHY DID RAY ALLEN NOT TAKE THE LAST SHOT?? Why in the world was Rondo, driving in for the winning shot (which was blocked)? You've got a man with 51 points and the hot hand, GIVE HIM THE DAMN BALL.
I mean, Paul Pierce missed 2 game winners...GIVE IT TO RAY. The guys got ice water in his veins, he doesn't look like he feels any pressure at all and he's more than willing to take the big shot. Not only that but he had 51 POINTS! Obviously he was doing something right. They should have designed that last play for Ray, not for Rajon, who was having a HORRID night scoring. His passing all game was great, so let him pass, to Ray, who was having the game of his life offensively.
Maybe if this was a couple games ago, and Rajon had 20+ points, and a triple double, i would trust him to take Derrick Rose 1 on 1 and get the winning score, but honestly guys, I trust Ray Allen to take the game winner on his BAD NIGHT over Rondo on his GOOD NIGHT. I think Rondo is an amazing PG, but NOT an amazing shooter.
Hi im a bulls fan from chicago. I would just like to say this has been a good series all around and fun for both teams and fans. The issue here is Kevin Garnett. He needs to keep his mouth shut and get out of Ben Gordons face. I used to have respect for KG but he has let me down as a young fan of basketball. If he was on the court his antics would be bad but he is sitting on the bench. Also he is the one who dissapeared when the team really would have needed his loud mouth in game 1. Boston sports used to have my respect but not the celtics. Just play the game and dont ruin it.