Reggie Miller told Dan Patrick........

[Kefa461]

WALTHAM - Responding to a report by Reggie Miller to Dan Patrick that Kevin Garnett could return if the Celtics made it to the second round, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said this morning that Garnett is still out indefinitely with his sore right knee, adding, "Like I've said before, yeah, there's a chance, it's not a very good one," Rivers said. "I guess you could report that and it's correct but it'd be incorrect." The Celtics will once again be without Garnett and Leon Powe (left knee) tonight when they battle the Chicago Bulls in Game 5 of the first round Eastern Conference series, with the series tied, 2-2. Gametime is 7 p.m. at TD Banknorth Garden. For more, visit the Green Street blog.

[Celts17Pride]

How the hell do we match up with the Cavs better then the Bulls?

That statement on a basketball board is just embarrassing.

That's not embarrassing. I didn't say the Celtics were better than the Cavs. I said they matchup better. The Bulls are a fast breaking team the Cavs are more half court. Perk doesn't have to worry about Big Z or Sideshow Bob beating him down the court like Thomas or Noah. Ray Allen is playing D West instead of Ben Gordon. Rondo plays Williams who doesn't have the quickness of Rose. Pierce has proven he can play LeBron tough. IMO the Celtics matchup better with the Cavs then the Bulls.

Last year the Celtics matched up better with the Cavs then the Hawks. That doesn't mean the Hawks are better than the Cavs.

[Zin5]

I'd worry about his future, but he has an entire offseason to go through surgery and maybe a good chunk of next season. His potential return should motivate this team for the rest of this series and if he can even get in for 15-20 minutes a game like he was doing late in the season after coming back, he'll have a huge impact defensively and mentally on this team.

[threrf23]

I am trusting that our brass would not let him come back if they had reason to believe he could do serious damage.

In any event, I don't want him back until the ECF or until we've lost two games in the 2nd round. I actually, honestly, feel like we will be matched up with Philly round two, and KG isn't close to vital for that matchup Thad Young is good but completely containable without KG, and PP can guard Iggy. Against Orlando KG is more important because shutting down Rashard Lewis while putting a big body on Dwight can almost ensure victory IMO.

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

Here's the problem: Even with a healthy KG in the line-up do I believe we can beat Cleveland. Chances are high but its unlikely. But man anythings possssssssssssssssssssssssssible

...wat?

[DieselCeltic]

Who said Cavs are a better match up then the Bulls ? I almost threw up in my mouth. Cavs have LeBron who is now Jordan 2.0

[MyInsatiableOne]

Who said Cavs are a better match up then the Bulls ? I almost threw up in my mouth. Cavs have LeBron who is now Jordan 2.0

...plus even more ref/Stern love than Jordan had!

[sully00]

How the hell do we match up with the Cavs better then the Bulls?

That statement on a basketball board is just embarrassing.

I think some of you type before you think. The Cavs are a better match up for the C's defensively because they can focus on one player, the complimentary parts in CLE are stand still jump shooters for the most part it is easier to game plan for and defend. This is some of what made the ATL a problem last year and CHI this season. The Celts are excellent at drawing up a plan and executing it, but if they don't know where it is going to come from, what they need to key the win defensively, then they lose that advantage. If you play the Cavs you know you need to get LeBron to give up the ball or take challenged jumpers. Now you may not be able to do it and he may just make those shots but if you don't do that you can't beat him. Now the Cavs are a much better defensive team than the Bulls and will eliminate any margin for error but they are not shot blockers like the Bulls are so it mitigates are shortness some. If Boston was to play offensively against the Cavs the way they have played the Bulls they would be down 3-1 at best.

[MyInsatiableOne]

sully, I agree that as a team with an identity similar to ours, we match up better with the Cavs. But LBJ throws all that out the window...the dude is a **** freak of nature and no one seems able to stop him this year...yet...

[chakdaddy]

Psychologically this is a real win-win situation for fans. We can root for a win with the hope that KG is coming back - but if we lose, we can justify it all by saying it doesn't matter, he was never going to go back.

Saying we match up better with Cleveland doesn't necessarily mean we would have a better chance at beating them; maybe we match up better with Cleveland, but the fact that Cleveland is far better than Chicago overall mitigates the matchup differences...

But I would argue that we match up terribly with Cleveland since Pierce is basically the only guy on the roster with the requisite size to guard LeBron.

[MyInsatiableOne]

With all that Posey did for NO (read: NOTHING) this season, perhaps he (and NO) feel stupid for going after that extra year?

[BeanTownBrawler]

Obviously KG would play... the dude is nuts he would prob try to go with half a leg. Their just holding him out until we really really need him, probably until Cleveland if we can get there without him.

[Avalanche]

yeh i think the same... play out this series knowing we should get past the bulls without him, then play the first few games against orlando and see how the series starts.. if we go up 2-0.. keep him out for the next games and only bring him back if the magic tie the series.

[GetMoney]

I believe we can beat the Cavs without KG.

no

[celticfan42487]

Nope, I thought before I entered that.

[tdfoss]

I believe we can beat the Cavs without KG.

Are you nuts? The Celts are struggling against the Bulls....I said THE BULLS!

[Celts17Pride]

I believe we can beat the Cavs without KG.

Are you nuts? The Celts are struggling against the Bulls....I said THE BULLS!

You mean like they struggled against the Hawks last year. I said THE HAWKS