Kevin Garnett Could Miss Entire Playoffs

Kevin Garnett's knee injury has been a source of consternation for Celtics fans over the past few months. The nagging issue has kept K.G. on ice, with the due date for a return pushed back multiple times.

But no one expected the due date to be pushed into next season. That looks to be the case, though, as this morning Doc Rivers told WEEI listeners that "there's no way [Garnett] can play" in Boston's postseason run.

Rivers left open the possibility for a Garnett return later in the playoffs, but hardly seemed optimistic.

"He's not gonna be ready. After watching him run, there's no way. So, we're gonna move without him. And the way I saw him move today guys, I don't know if he'll be ready... he's just limping. He just can't run. ...

"This was an honest run today, you couldn't fake your way through it ... and the guy is a warrior, you can see him trying to mask it, but after 20 minutes of running, there's just no way. I don't see it. I just don't. And I've flipped completely because I was watching him move, and he looked great, and then ... after today, there's no way he can play.

This is brutal news for Boston, to say the least. Garnett was a consensus Defensive Player of the Year last season, and would have garnered a host of votes this year had he not missed so many games. Further, he's an emotional leader on a team built on emotion. He leaves a huge crater in his absence.

To be honest, Chicago still doesn't stand much chance against the Paul Pierce-Rajon Rondo-Ray Allen core. But whatever chance existed before has grown. Orlando and Cleveland, of course, have much simpler paths to glory with Garnett out. And you know Pau Gasol is breathing a little sigh of relief.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

4-16-2009 @ 11:29AM

dess133 said...

interesting to see how the C's respond now that they KNOW garnett won't be back. Up until now they've been in a holding pattern, waiting for him to rescue them, and their play has reflected it. Thankfully they'll have pretty much everybody else healthy. I actually think they'll be fine up until Cleveland.

4-16-2009 @ 12:49PM

LADubbz45 said...

good job boston for beating yourselves up

4-16-2009 @ 1:07PM

steve said...

too bad, I wanted the Celtics at full strength when the cavs rolled over them in the playoffs.

4-16-2009 @ 1:47PM

the cavs are overconfident. they have no interior defense.

4-17-2009 @ 8:09AM

shepardtrent said...

Um..Ben Wallace will be back and close down the interior....

4-16-2009 @ 1:53PM

Michael gifford said...

"pau gasol was breathing a sigh of relief" Oh Really? I think the Celtics are breathing a sigh of relief that they have a built in excuse for losing to either Cavs or Lakers if they made it that far...Celt fans could do well to remember that both Ariza and Bynum, key defensive players, were out for Lakers last year. It didn't excuse the loss but now they will know what it's like to play without your best team on the floor...let's see how far THEY get under those conditions...

4-16-2009 @ 1:59PM

FLACO said...

Don't worry everyone, the Cavs will find a way to lose again in the playoffs...

4-16-2009 @ 2:03PM

It's NEVER really good to see a key player down. While fans might like to see an opposing team at less than full strength with their best, I contend that TRUE fans of the sport want to see the BEST against the BEST not the BEST against what's left of their opponent due to injuries. It makes the outcome much more indicative of who's really better. Otherwise it's like two fighters, one of which can't move one arm and the other has both...not quite the same contest. It's why I'm looking forward to the potential ( not guaranteed by any means) matchup between Cavs and Lakers...BOTH teams are almost completely healthy and ready to go. I'd love to see Big Ben back for it to round out the complete Cavs...then, let the best team win.

4-16-2009 @ 7:09PM

dj kahn said...

AMEN.

4-16-2009 @ 2:09PM

The Lakers need to get out the west first in order to get a chance to play the best conference champion... THE EAST....

4-16-2009 @ 2:39PM

caninescreed said...

With all due respect Michael Gifford, Bynum is not KG. Even Kobe would laugh at that one. It is not just what KG provides physically, but even more so emotionally. Bynum is too young still to provide the stability that a veteran like KG provides. And remember that Bynum was not playing consistently well last year, not like he is playing this year. The Lakers losing him this year was much tougher than losing him last year because he is playing so much better now. All that being said, assuming the Celtics just can not go deep into the playoffs and it is the Cavs and Lakers, I think the Lakers will win. No way they are letting it slip away if they get the opportunity. that's an emotional edge that can not be measured. And I am going to so enjoy watching Lebron lose, so the Lakers better not let me down.

4-16-2009 @ 2:45PM

demzrdopes said...

without KG, the celtics are toast..they have no shot.

4-16-2009 @ 3:22PM

cahillio said...

oh no..who is going to bully players he feels arent as good in the playoffs now? Fake a$$ tough guy..guess that's what you get when you rely on a walking used pipe cleaner as your best player. Glad the team i root for relies on a complete freak of nature, a drunken foreigner, and a Krusty the Clowns sidekick..Go Cavs! Bahston can suck one..

4-16-2009 @ 4:58PM

lakergregg said...

Don't throw in the towel Celtics fans remember you got that great coach Doc Rivers.
Yeah, lets see if the Great Doc Rivers turns back into the crappy coach he always was pre K.G.?
The man I call Coc Slivers.

4-16-2009 @ 7:15PM

really? seriously dude, you need to get out of mom's basement and enjoy life. Do you really spend your time bad-mouthing people like Doc Rivers? who is a championship-winning coach? and dude, seriously:"Coc Silvers?" Is that supposed to be funny or mean, because it is neither.

seriously, man, you're just embarrassing yourself.

4-16-2009 @ 6:32PM

welcome said...

Cavs and Lakers will choke again like always. Celtics have played well without Garnett and will continue to do so in the playoffs. Nonetheless, KG isn't missing the entire playoffs. There's no friggin' way.

4-16-2009 @ 7:10PM

Man, is it me or are all of the Lakers fans like 12 years old? I honestly find that most (not all) of the Lakers fans I know or encounter are not fans of basketball, they are fans of being fashionable front-runners that think a Kobe jersey or Lakers cap confers upon them the achievements of said team. I'd be interested to know how much basketball these people would watch if the Lakers stunk.

4-16-2009 @ 7:56PM

MRENSHAW said...

win or lose im still a Celtics fan go ahead all u people under estimate them we like it good luck to all the playoff teams!!

4-16-2009 @ 8:12PM

Yes "Coc Slivers" is funny,its very funny.
Do you honestly think that had the Celtics never acquired Garnett and Allen that "Slivers" would still be your coach? He would've been fired last year and Isiah would probably be your coach now.
I also find it hillarious how rascist ass Boston always point the finger at Lakers fans as front-runners.As if the second largest city in America and its surrounding counties can't possibly support its team.Oh sorry Boston I forgot you had the pattent on team loyalty.
We're were you loudmouths during the 2 1/2 decades that you guys absolutely sucked.Myself I watched plenty of bad Lakers teams between the time Magic retired and the summer of '96 when we got Shaq and Kobe.Yeah, the Van Exel and Sedale Threatt led Lakers with Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell,Vlade Divac and Ced Ceballos.By the way those awful teams only missed the playoffs once.
I'd wager dj Kahn wasn't even old enough or born yet during the 80's Magic and Bird led rivalries much less a twinkle in his daddy's eye during the Baylor-West-Chamberlain and Havlichek-Cousy-Russell years.
"Slivers"....."COC SLIVERS"...Yep,still funny.