HiEnd
Bench Warmer
In an interview this morning on Boston sports radio station WEEI, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said it was likely that Kevin Garnett would not be available to play at all in the playoffs.
"After today there's no way he can play," said Rivers, who left open the possibility his star could return at some point in the postseason but was not optimistic.
An NBA source confirmed to the Globe this morning that Garnett was only about 70 percent healed from the knee injury, which occured during a Feb. 19 game in Utah, and that the Celtics All-Star would likely miss the entire postseason.
Garnett worked out his injured right knee this morning, Rivers said, after which the coach made the radio proclamation.
"This is the first time I've said it, because it's the first time I've really watched him," Rivers said. "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.
"If he can't get through biking and working out without swelling and stiffness and his leg locking, I just don't know how you play in the playoffs."
Rivers added that Garnett would continue to get treatment in the hopes that he would be able to return at some point.
"Yes, he's out," Rivers told the Globe. "I feel for the season but we just don't know yet."
Despite the discouraging news about Garnett, Rivers was positive about the team moving on without him: "I think we're going to be fine ... we have some mentally strong guys, very tough guys."
The second-seeded Celtics open their playoff series against the Bulls on Saturday afternoon at the Garden.
"We'll be ready I can guarantee you that," Rivers said.
"After today there's no way he can play," said Rivers, who left open the possibility his star could return at some point in the postseason but was not optimistic.
An NBA source confirmed to the Globe this morning that Garnett was only about 70 percent healed from the knee injury, which occured during a Feb. 19 game in Utah, and that the Celtics All-Star would likely miss the entire postseason.
Garnett worked out his injured right knee this morning, Rivers said, after which the coach made the radio proclamation.
"This is the first time I've said it, because it's the first time I've really watched him," Rivers said. "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.
"If he can't get through biking and working out without swelling and stiffness and his leg locking, I just don't know how you play in the playoffs."
Rivers added that Garnett would continue to get treatment in the hopes that he would be able to return at some point.
"Yes, he's out," Rivers told the Globe. "I feel for the season but we just don't know yet."
Despite the discouraging news about Garnett, Rivers was positive about the team moving on without him: "I think we're going to be fine ... we have some mentally strong guys, very tough guys."
The second-seeded Celtics open their playoff series against the Bulls on Saturday afternoon at the Garden.
"We'll be ready I can guarantee you that," Rivers said.
arty6:
