When will KG be back?

[P2]

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball ... er/?page=2

Garnett is expected to miss his eighth straight game tonight at Indiana, and it's still uncertain when he'll return. He was expected to take a light role in practice yesterday before it was canceled because of the injury woes.

Will he at least be back for the game at Denver on February 19? He has got exactly one week of time. I mean, first it's day-to-day, then he might play the last two games before the ASG, then he is out of the ASG, and finally it isn't even certain if he'll be back after the break.

[CelticsWhat!]

Their 39-9 record has given them the luxury of playing it safe. There's no need to rush him back. It would be nice to have him back for the tough west road trip, but only if he's healthy.

It would be nice to pick up these last two games against Indy and NY without KG before the break to keep our distance from Detroit. Hopefully there's no letdown after the big win against the Spurs.

[cfan79]

Thank God for the great start. It would be sweet if we can clinch the top spot and rest Paul and Ray before the playoffs.

[Matt34520]

How bad is it? First they said they caught it before it got bad. Now its so bad he can't practice. Is this going to ruin him for the year? I hope not, that would be a that ruin are best chance at winning a championship.

[BillessuR6]

Gorman said he wouldn`t be surprised if KG came back after the west coast trip...

I expect the same actually...

[The Rondo Show]

My guess is after the break, but if he needs an extra 2 weeks before he's 100% healthy, so be it. We are finishing, at worst, 2nd in the Conference and we are 5-2 without him...so there's no rush at all.

If anything, sitting out an extra week or 2 will be good as it continues to limit his minutes before the playoffs. Once he returns, I'd let Ray or Paul have a couple game rest as well.

[tombattor]

Well, if you look ahead to our schedule, I think we can afford to let him rest until the end of February. We are pretty much in the playoffs already, so we can look ahead to the playoffs a little bit. IMO, the most important thing we need to do in the rest of the regular season are 1) finishing the season with the Big 3 in good health and 2) getting the home court throughout.

Right now, we have a 3 game cushion (4 games on the loss column) on the Pistons and even more on the Western Conference leaders for the home court.

And when you look ahead to our schedule through the end of February, I think we can hold onto our lead even if KG comes back in March.

We play at Indiana and at home against NY before the break. Hopefully, we'll win both of those games.

Then after the break, we go on a 5-game West Coast trip of Denver, GS, Phoenix, Portland and LAC. GS and LAC are 2nd of back-to-back. I think we can hope to go 3-2 and 2-3 at the worst.

Then we have 5 straight games at home. Cleveland, Charlotte, Altanta, Detroit and Chicago. The last 3 games are in March. We haven't faired too well against Cleveland, so maybe we go 1-1 on the first 2, with KG coming back for the Atlanta or maybe even Detroit game.

That gives us 4 losses while giving KG 5+ weeks off. And even if the Pistons go undefeated in that time, we'll still be tied for the League lead in losses. However, the Pistons go on a similar west coast trip after the allstar break that includes stops in Utah, Phoenix and Denver. So even if KG sits out 'til March, there is a very good chance, we'll still hold onto the best record in the league.

[redsox_24]

I think this injury is going to nag him for the rest of the season. They have already said if it was the playoffs he would be playing. It's a great thing being able to let him completely rest and get back to about 90-95% for the rest of the season.
I know this is kinda selfish but as long as he is playing March 5th against the Pistons I'm happy. I have floor seats for this game!

[sully00]

I have been kind of suspect about this thing all along. I think that sitting the first game was the hardest, it was against Dwight Howard who KG has given some **** to, and it was on National TV. Once they got through that and KG realized that it was still there even though he didn't play it was easier to sit. The next hurdle was the game in MINN, once they got him through that now there is no reason not to go till the ASB. Doc even got caught saying it to Wittman during the MINN game, "the rest is going to be great for him."

Playing 82 games all out every year perhaps has left him flat come the post season. What if he sat out 10 games at the midpoint of the season and built all that intensity back up? Now we will find out.

I don't think he is faking it or anything but I certainly think they are playing it up for all that it is worth, so they can sit him as long as possible and at the same time not have him get heat for cruising through the MINN and AS game.

They sat Ray 4 games over the first half I would expect the same over the 2nd half. Pierce is the issue I dont' think he is going to be willing to sit if he is healthy, at least not till the end of the year. I would expect that Doc will continue to sit him quarters and halfs as he has a couple of times already to build up his rest.