KG & The Shadow Of Doubt

by Jeff Clark on Dec 23, 2009 7:54 AM EST in Boston Celtics Articles

Once bitten, twice shy. The Celtics flat out lied to us last year about the extent of Kevin Garnett's knee. I understand why they did it. I do think the team hoped to have him back at some point and believed they would. But at some point along the way they let us believe that he was coming back when they knew he wasn't. Right or wrong, that makes you wonder.

Now all indications are that Garnett was just pulled from last night's game for "strategic rest." All indications are that the issue is a thigh bruise and not directly related to his knee. Everything sounds on the up and up. I'm 99.9% sure that is all there is to the story.

However, there's that thin cloud of doubt that creeps in and will always creep in from now on. And the Celtics know it. There's a reason why Danny Ainge addressed the CSN crew last night instead of just Doc. They know they need to be very careful in how they handle situations like this from now on because they know we didn't appreciate them going "Belichickian" on us last year. (If you are going to do that, at least do it consistently. Not just when it is convenient to you.)

For his part, Garnett seems to be dealing with being injured a little better too.

Doc sheds light on KG injury

"He wasn't thrilled with it, but I think he's better this year than he was last year," said Rivers. "[Monday], he actually sat down in practice and [Celtics captain] Paul [Pierce] walked over to him and said, 'Wow, someone's growing up.' You know, instead of fighting it.

"He has such a warrior mentality, sometimes it's to his detriment. [Monday], he did a good job. You know he wanted to fight it [Tuesday], and then he just kind of said, 'You're right.'"

I'm not trying to stir the pot here. I'm not a big fan of conspiracies. I think KG will be back playing on Christmas day. I'm just trying to point out that there's always going to be a shadow of doubt around injuries to Kevin Garnett because of what happened last year.

Update: As it turns out, the team is still prone to using deception. Via the Globe:

The news came as a surprise to teammates, who didn't know they would be taking the court without their defensive leader until about 20 minutes before tip-off.

"I didn't want them thinking,'' Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "I just wanted them to go out and play.''

The curveball seemed to effect the performance on the floor as the team was out of sync the whole first half. Not a huge problem I'm sure, but a strategy that I don't agree with.

I say be open and honest about injuries. Trade rumors, on the other hand, you should keep under wraps for as long as possible (despite my best efforts to root them out).

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interesting

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/12/23/celtics_garnett_sits_out_vs_pacers_with_thigh_bruise?mode=PF

The news came as a surprise to teammates, who didn’t know they would be taking the court without their defensive leader until about 20 minutes before tip-off.

"I didn’t want them thinking,’’ Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "I just wanted them to go out and play.’’

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Dec 23, 2009 8:16 AM EST reply actions

slow start

perhaps the slow start the Celtics had was partly due to the fact that their coach threw a curveball at them 20 minutes before tipoff

I think advance notice is a better policy, but what do I know?

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V

by Jeff Clark on Dec 23, 2009 8:21 AM EST up reply actions

Pierce said exactly that in the post-game interview

by Surferdad on Dec 23, 2009 9:52 AM EST up reply actions

i would tend to agree that it was a big reason for the poor first-half

Pierce’s post-game comments were basically that it took them a whole half to figure out how to play without KG there. Especially on defense were he (KG) is the most vocal at directing people to their spots.

In the long run, it may help them in dealing with an early-game injury.

by mmmmm on Dec 23, 2009 9:53 AM EST up reply actions

Don't understand why Doc informed his team that KG wasn't playing only 20 minutes before the game.

Is he trying to play mind games or something? I was surprised to see the Celtics attribute their putrid first half to KG’s absence in their postgame interviews, but now I understand why they looked lost.

Anyway, I’m still a little bit worried about KG, I will be really reassured when I will see him play.

But I will go with the “trust the staff” mentality. I think they are honest about his injury and that he will be fine. I want to see him play in Orlando on Christmas day though, and if he doesn’t play then I will start to get worried since we all know where the “back next game… nope, finally, the game after this one” statements led us last year.

But like I said, I trust the staff so far and I’m looking forward to see KG on Christmas Day!

by Drucci on Dec 23, 2009 8:51 AM EST reply actions

My Take On This

I believe Doc didn’t say anything to the team because he didn’t want them thinking about it all day. It was also a good test to see how they’d handle the situation.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Dec 23, 2009 10:07 AM EST up reply actions

Yes he actually said that's why he didn't say anything

The “thinking about it all day” part

by Surferdad on Dec 23, 2009 10:40 AM EST up reply actions

What's unfortunate but notable

is that Doc thought it took—and it took—a short, 8-man rotation to win in his absence. The silver lining to these things mid-season is supposed to be the development of the bench, but it doesn’t look like that pertains here.

As a good news aside, however, TA’s looking pretty good.

by clover on Dec 23, 2009 9:00 AM EST reply actions

3 Pointer shooter on the Grassy Knoll behind the arc

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Dec 23, 2009 9:32 AM EST reply actions

Saw it on Sunday

KG was limping every now and then against the T’Wolves, and didn’t have the explosiveness that he had been showing the past few weeks. It doesn’t surprise me that they rested him. And I think Danny coming out and saying what was wrong was really aimed at controlling the media.

I just don’t understand why the 4/5 rotation was Sheed-Perk-Scal.

by amenhotep04 on Dec 23, 2009 9:40 AM EST reply actions

kg is the straw that stirs the drink. they are not taking any chances on him and that’s ok. i would have liked to see some more of sheldon and less of scal. but i know doc was taking care of the perimeter.

by nazzbo on Dec 23, 2009 9:43 AM EST reply actions

Last nights game annoyed me to no end, especially the first half where I knew everyone would be screaming out the importance of KG to this team, overrating him to no end, completly forgetting
1. we lost to the pacers with KG already this year
2. This team has played well above .500 basketball the last 2 seasons without KG in the lineup

The whole fact that doc threw a curveball at them right before the game and they had to start with sheed, someone whos never started with them threw them off…

by takeit on Dec 23, 2009 9:54 AM EST reply actions

KG Overrated?

Couldn’t disagree with you more. Yes, we will loose games even if KG plays and is in the best of health. But the importance of KG to this team is certainly not overrated and the play of KG certainly is not overrated. If you’re looking at stats (and maybe comparing them to the past), it’s not the way to evaluate the play of KG or any other Celtic player. This is a team that really plays team basketball. To me there is only one knock that can be made on KG and it’s his main weakness—-it’s his unsefishness. Every Celtic player has the same weakness. I don’t think that’s bad.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Dec 23, 2009 10:05 AM EST up reply actions

KG is overrated at this point of his career, thats just one mans opinion
I think he does bring alot to the team with vocal leadership and intensity, and he has great chemistry on the floor with his teammates, but his individual skills have diminished to the point where hes just a role player, knocks down wide open jumpers and grabs single digit rebounds…I dont know why other people cant accept that

by takeit on Dec 23, 2009 11:25 AM EST up reply actions

"role player", that's ridiculous

by Surferdad on Dec 23, 2009 1:45 PM EST up reply actions

"overated at this point of his caree"

I’m not even sure what that means.

How is he ‘rated’? How high he can jump?

Whatever – he’s a critical piece to this team. Yes, they can play .500+ ball without him because against more than half the teams in the league, his reach and skills are almost superfluous – unneeded to beat those teams.

But against the elite teams, in the playoffs, where the teams tend to be bigger and faster, this team definitely needs KG. This was what was demonstrated with crystal clarity last spring. With ‘Sheed, we still would have most of the matchup options – because he is one of the few players out there with a very comparable set of skills as KG – but we’d have no depth and you can bet that if we go into the playoffs with no KG and only Sheed that teams would do their damnest to get him into foul trouble as fast as possible.

by mmmmm on Dec 23, 2009 2:01 PM EST up reply actions

KG Injury

I don’t remember the game, but I think I remember KG getting kneed in the thigh and went down. He then limped a bit going back to the other side of the court. I think this is nothing more than what is being said. I forget the medical term, but an injury to a muscle causes inflamation and possibly bleeding. The muscle is contained in a connective tissue envelope and thus there is no place for the muscle to expand. This can be very painful. The treatment is rest, keep the leg raised and heat.

To me something good often comes of something bad. The team had a learning experience last nite. This is a very different team without KG. Sheed doesn’t play the same type of game KG does. I think Rondo’s very first pass early in the game went to a spot he knew KG would be in, but Sheed was not there. Thus, a turnover. The good is that the C’s overcame KG’s absence and a poor start (which could have happened even if KG played) and did what needed to be done to win. The defense in the second half was stifling. Perk took on the point guard away from the basket on one play and the guard couldn’t get by him, couldn’t shoot over him and found it difficult to pass to anyone. That was something Perk does alot that goes unnoticed. Love the “Beast”.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Dec 23, 2009 10:00 AM EST reply actions

"flat out lied" ??

I think that might be a bit strongly worded, Jeff.

They might not have been entirely up-front with all that they knew – or maybe they didn’t really know everything we think they did – but that doesn’t mean they “flat out lied”.

Not saying they didn’t – just that those words seem a bit too … “certain”.

by mmmmm on Dec 23, 2009 10:00 AM EST reply actions

Why didn't Doc play Williams instead of Scal?

Scal was mostly awful as he simply could not compete on the boards and could not hit a shot. I would have preferred more time for Shelden.

by Surferdad on Dec 23, 2009 10:00 AM EST reply actions

Scals Over Williams

Scals was defending a guy who can hit threes and plays alot on the perimeter. I don’t think William’s could do that.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Dec 23, 2009 10:09 AM EST up reply actions

Then why was Troy Murphy raining jumpshots?

On the balance, Scal was a liability out there, at least that what my eyes told me.

by Surferdad on Dec 23, 2009 10:42 AM EST up reply actions

Murphy's points mostly came early

when Scal wasn’t even in the game yet.

by mmmmm on Dec 23, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions

Troy's points came throughout the game

by Surferdad on Dec 23, 2009 1:45 PM EST up reply actions

okay, lets look at the game log and see what actually happened

I was partly wrong (Murphy also scored quite a bit late), but not entirely wrong (Murphy only scored a little bit on Scal).

Murphy started the game.
He had scored 3 pts before Scal entered the game with 4:25 left in the First Qtr.
Murphy left with 4:14 to go.
Murphy returned with 11:16 to go in the Second Qtr.
He scored 2 FTs and a jump shot (4 pts total) before Scal left with 0:18 left to the half.

Murphy started the second half.
He scored 2 FTs, 2 jump shots and an alley oop (8 pts) before Scal returned with 0:11.4 left in the Third.
Murphy then made 2 jumpers and a 3 pt shot (7 pts) before Scal left with 5:51 left in the Fourth. Note that the 3pt shot was while Perkins was guarding him.

So 11 of Murphy’s points came while Scal was in the game – and at least 3 of those came while Perkins was supposed to be guarding him, not Scal. And two of the remaining 8 were free throws. So 6 pts from the field in about 15 minutes of overlapping play constitutes ‘raining jumpshots’ ?

Gawd – I hate getting put in the position of defending Scal – he’s not a great player by any stretch. But he’s a decent one and I wish people would quit exaggerating how bad he supposedly is.

by mmmmm on Dec 23, 2009 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

I try not to exaggerate, and I like Scal too, but

he was pretty awful last night.

by Surferdad on Dec 23, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

Scal ??

I can only think of two reasons for playing Scal:

1. He apparently is faster/better at getting out on the perimeter and guarding the 3 point shooters then Shelden ?

2. He is (cough – I hate to say “show-cased”) being given floor time to raise his value for
a oncoming (or attempt to) trade.

BTW- I LIKE SCAL and think he is a valuable LASTDITCH big off the bench, but LASTDITCH.

by Dipper on Dec 23, 2009 10:08 AM EST reply actions

Defense

Scal’s main role to this team is defense. He’s a much better defender than people give him credit for.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn

by TrueGreen on Dec 23, 2009 10:10 AM EST up reply actions

Absolutely

No question about his team defensive play. But why sit Williams when we’re short already? It’s not like Williams hasn’t produced for this team.

by amenhotep04 on Dec 23, 2009 10:34 AM EST up reply actions

I have to agree

while I’ve found myself defending Scal a lot recently, and I totally understand and agree with Doc’s reasoning on playing him here – I also would have liked to see Shelden get at least a few minutes. Maybe not so much to try to do Scal’s job of defending on the perimeter, but to rest Perk & Sheed in the post.

Sheed ended up playing 36 minutes. We need him to stay healthy almost as much as we need KG. Surely Shelden could have come in for 5-8 minutes of that?

Still, I know that Doc is very conservative about prefering to use his veterans when a game is uncertain, and we were playing from behind until the end of the third.

by mmmmm on Dec 23, 2009 11:06 AM EST up reply actions