KG Out 2-3 Weeks

by Jeff Clark on Feb 21, 2009 9:33 AM EST in News/Links Comment 30 comments

Kgsuitsm_medium

PHOENIX — Kevin Garnett has a posterior muscle strain and will be out of the Celtic lineup for two to three weeks.

Garnett was supposed to be examined Saturday afternoon, but, according to Danny Ainge, he was instead checked when he landed in Boston Friday night.

The injury is not considered serious.

More here:

Ainge said the initial decision to have him leave the Celtics road trip was designed to protect Garnett from Garnett.

"The biggest reason we’re sending him out of town is that he wanted to play in the second half (Thursday) night," Ainge said. "And he wanted to play against Phoenix (tomorrow), too. So we just decided the smart thing to do was to get his butt out of town to keep him from being tempted to play.

"I don’t think it’s a major thing at all, but we’re just going to be cautious . . ."

"It’s been off and on," Ainge said. "He said he tweaked it in Dallas (on Feb. 12) a little bit, too.

"He’s been playing through it and he wanted to do that again. But, again, we have no reason to believe this is major. He’d have been out there playing no matter what in a playoff game. We’re just being cautious with him."

Here's the schedule for the next 2 to 3 weeks:

This week:

Feb 22    at Phoenix    2:30 pm    ABC
Feb 23    at Denver    9:00 pm    CSNE
Feb 25    at LA Clippers    10:30 pm CSNE
Feb 27    vs Indiana    7:30 pm    CSNE

Next Week:

Mar 1    vs Detroit    1:00 pm    ABC
Mar 4    at New Jersey    7:30 pm    CSNE
Mar 6    vs Cleveland    8:00 pm    ESPN, CSNE

3rd Week:

Mar 8    vs Orlando    1:00 pm    CSNE
Mar 11    at Miami    7:30 pm    CSNE
Mar 13    vs Memphis    7:30 pm    CSNE

As tempting as it would be to have him back for the Cleveland game, I'm actually hoping he takes it easy and sits out the full 3 weeks. I'd rather he get as much rest and rehab done as possible rather than risk further injury. We still have 16 games after the one's listed above for him to get back in the groove.

The team will manage without him. They may lose home court advantage in the East to LeBron and the Cavs, but that's life. Rondo agrees:

"I think we can win on the road," Rajon Rondo said. "We struggled last year in the playoffs, but we’re a team that went through it and we fought through it. When we had to get the wins, we got the wins. So we definitely want to get the homecourt but we don’t want to risk guys in the middle of the season by bringing them back when we’re not ready."

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Confliting info

There’s a difference between a muscle strain and a PCL tear. Even the mildest form of a PCL tear is far more worrying than a simple muscle strain.

by cordobes on Feb 21, 2009 7:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I was just going to write the same thing. There is link provided about the PCL. According to the article, KG just has a muscle strain. He should be fine in a week or so.

by moiso on Feb 21, 2009 8:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

sorry

pulled that link from the forums

deleted now

"Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." Michael Scott

by Jeff Clark on Feb 21, 2009 8:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Now, I don't know what to think

It makes a lot of sense if it’s a PCL tear.

I remember when a few months ago he used a bigger knee brace – they said it was because of a “knee bruise”, wasn’t it?

That could have been a partial PCL tear (that’s how they’re usually contracted, by some trauma) who went misdiagnosed and he’s been playing on it. It’s a somewhat frequent occurrence, because sometimes people don’t even notice the injury happened as the knee remains almost entirely functionary except it loses some stability. So, now he aggravated the severity of the injury, they finally got it with the MRI and are hopping they can “cure” it shutting him down for a few weeks (surgery on the PCL is a nightmare and frequently the positive returns are uncertain).

Let’s hope it’s just some harmstring strain though. 2-3 weeks rest also makes sense as a treatment and when I watched the injury happening I immediately thought it was a possibility (and that it’d be the best case scenario.)

by cordobes on Feb 21, 2009 9:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why can't it just be...

…a PCL strain and not a tear? I just read about PCL’s and they are capable of being strained and causing chronic irritation as well…I seriously doubt the team would give a BS statement about a strain when a tear would certainly mean he’d be done for the year – why further agrivate the public for 2-3 weeks? What’s the upside to that?

by BillfromBoston on Feb 21, 2009 11:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Even if it's a tear...

… it depends on the severity. A Grade 1 tear can be healed in as few as 1-2 weeks.

All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino

by Roy_Hobbs on Feb 21, 2009 11:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But the link you provided was for the PCL tear, no?

Strains are injuries of muscles and tendons. The PCL is a ligament, fibrous tissue. Whether he suffered a muscle strain (as it seems) or a PCL sprain/tear. That’s why it can’t be a PCL strain.

A tear wouldn’t mean he’d be done for the year, especially a PCL tear. 2, 3 weeks may be enough to heal a PCL tear, depending on the severity. But the probability of problems in the future is very high.

by cordobes on Feb 21, 2009 1:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

There's no tear, right?

Were you guys commenting on a bad link? ‘Cause all I’m reading about is a strain of the muscle behind the knee and I have no idea where these PCL tear/strain comments are coming from…

by SalmonAndMashedPotatoes on Feb 21, 2009 1:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who will start in place of KG?

Scal started the 9 games last year when KG had the abdominal strain (in which time the C’s went 7-2), but it was Glen Davis who started in January when KG was out with the flu. Davis was playing well at the time and deserved the start but he has since regressed slightly.

Powe is playing very well lately after a horrid month of January and may even grow more if given the role of starter.

However, I fully expect Scal to be in the starting lineup tomorrow in Phoenix which is fine; he’s having a pretty good season and will continue to do so in the playoffs hopefully.

All the best, KG. Hope to see you soon.

by Ruben Wolkowyski on Feb 21, 2009 9:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I expect Scal to get the starts

but Doc will ride whoever has the hot hand and better matchup

"Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." Michael Scott

by Jeff Clark on Feb 21, 2009 9:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think BB started because Scal was out with the concussion

by twinbree on Feb 21, 2009 10:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank god its only 2-3 weeks…but I dont think this damages our chance at homecourt anymore than if KG tried to play through it…this team is 12-2 without KG in the lineup and he hasnt been all thatt great for a while now, he just needs to get healthy and the other guys just need to take care of buisness and play solid basketball

by TheAncientRivalry on Feb 21, 2009 9:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

good new so far

And C’s are undefeated with Scal starting.

by tommyfan on Feb 21, 2009 9:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

undefeated this year with scal starting??, because ive heard someone say for the last 2 years….which isnt true

by TheAncientRivalry on Feb 21, 2009 10:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm on a boat

Everyone is going to step their games up now, which will help come playoff time.

by Champzilla on Feb 21, 2009 10:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

on a boat, in my flippy floppies. . .

you at Kinkos’ straight makin’ copies

Thank the basketball gods that it wasn’t more serious. Halley Lou Yeah!!

The Dream is Alive fellas. The Dream is alive. . .

by MetroGlobe on Feb 21, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i believe the lyrics are

i got my swim trunks, and my flippy floppies,
im flippin burgers, you at kinkos straight flippin copies

;-)

by beantownboy171 on Feb 21, 2009 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

whatever it is, give it some rest. we need this guy for the long haul. viva scal.

by nazzbo on Feb 21, 2009 10:46 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

This is great news!

To discuss the hc a bit, I really have felt all along that it was key. However, we just aren’t going to get it vs LA. How much does this matter? I am not sure LA comes out of the west for one thing, and even if they do and we are there, I also think the 2-3-2 format makes it pretty neutral. We’d have to win two in LA, probably. One is better but it is what it is.

We have the tie breaker with Cle IF we go 2-2 against them.(We have a much superior conference record). We STILL have a good shot, not just a shot but a good shot, of having hc against Cle. That is going to matter

More than anything else, who we pick up matters. Da made the Ray allen trade with Presti. Presti probably shouldn’t lie to a fellow gm. Bottom line is DA should know whether Smith will shake loose. If he is gonna he is almost certainly coming to Boston. KG will kno wtoo. If he isn’t bought out than Mikki is the next best option.

by wahz on Feb 21, 2009 11:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

we probably arent going to get HC against the lakers, but even thats not out of reach just yet, and the fact that if we even do play them again this season, it isnt going to be until June…they are somewhat irrelevant right now, if both teams make the finals, which isnt a given, then I like the celtics chances either way..
Now in the east, we need homecourt against the cavs, its pretty simple, we havent won a game in cleveland in the big 3 era, and whoever has HC in that series should and will be the favorite in the east

by TheAncientRivalry on Feb 21, 2009 11:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course, that doesn't account for...

…whomever the Celtics add to their roster – if Smith and Marbury are added to Boston’s bench, this team is theoretically superior to last seasons team: A much better starting 5 is already a reality – Joe Smith put up 15/8 for Philly two seasons ago and is a former number 1 pick who carries a career double-digit scoring average – Marbury is the quintisential 6th man PG – jacks up shots and makes plays as a focal point – which will be his role off the bench for at least 15 minutes a night…

I see good things in the future – home court is only good until you lose a game at home – I don’t expect Cleveland to win every home game this time around…

by BillfromBoston on Feb 21, 2009 11:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

why do you assume we’ll add Smith/Marbury…neither are bought out yet, and its really farfetched to assume both will fall into our laps…I wouldnt count on either being here until they actually are bought out and signed

by TheAncientRivalry on Feb 21, 2009 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They'll both be here...

…just have patience…

by BillfromBoston on Feb 21, 2009 5:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2-3 weeks is good bad news.

Jeff,

I agree with you. KG should take the full 3 weeks. Insure health, get rest, and let it play out. This team is pretty damn good even without KG.
From a psyche standpoint, it eases the pressure of the Cleveland and Orlando games. Coming down the stretch, the Cavs, nor the Magic can feel any sense of accomplishment beating a KG-less team. In March, especially with young teams with a shot, the mental edge of KNOWING you’re better is key. Let him be healthy for the last 2 games against them that will matter.

by wondahbap on Feb 21, 2009 11:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Team can survive without KG for 2-3 weeks...

Cleveland is almost entirely made up of role players and they lost West and Z for weeks and weeks and were able to hold the fort down…

Boston still has 3 All Stars in Ray, Paul, and Rajon…there will be many games against mediocre teams that should not be a problem with solid defense and excellent play from the healthy guys – Perkins is also a factor in this equation as he’s been dynamite all year with the exception of the 2 weeks after he came back from the shoulder..they are going to him again and he’s stepping it back up…

I expect that Boston will have Joe Smith and Marbury before KG returns, so re-enforcements are coming – But Scal/Davis/Powe give the team a nice mix of role playing bigs that can support the 3 1/2 stars (counting Perk) and that should be enough to minimize the damage to the record.

Count me as being more concerned with KG being ready for the final stretch run than worried about how his absence effects these next 3 weeks – I don’t believe this team NEEDS homecourt to win it all and I also strongly believe that our impending FA acquisitions are going to make us the best team in the NBA hands-down, so come playoff time I like our chances..

by BillfromBoston on Feb 21, 2009 11:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Lock The Door

Who’s going to lock KG inside his house when the C’s are home? Also, any C can get into the Waltham practice facility 24 hrs a day. Who will keep KG out of there. Anyway it’s the best news we can get of a bad situation. Also remember that when KG was out last year it took him 3 games to become himself again. This could all work out for the best.

"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird

by TrueGreen on Feb 21, 2009 11:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs