Rivers: strong possibility KG will miss the postseason

Post #1 » by **dockingsched** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:31 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4073024

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Kevin Garnett isn't ready to start the playoffs, and Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Thursday that there's a strong possibility that he will miss the entire postseason.

"He's not going to be ready. After watching him practice, there's no way," Rivers said on WEEI-AM. "The way I saw him move today, I don't know if he'll be ready."

When asked to clarify, Rivers said there was a chance Garnett could be out for the rest of the season. Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss said he could not elaborate on Rivers' comments.

Garnett injured his right knee Feb. 19 and missed the next 13 games before returning for four, but never playing as many as 18 minutes. With the Celtics assured of a high playoff berth, Rivers then held Garnett out with an eye toward bringing him back for the last three games of the regular season; that became the last two, then the last one, but he never made it back.

Rivers said Thursday he watched Garnett run at the team's practice facility and said he had to shut him down after 20 minutes.

"If he can't get through biking and working out without swelling and his leg locking, I don't know how you can play in the playoffs," Rivers said. "This was an honest run today, you couldn't make your way through it. The guy's a warrior, you see him try to mask his way through it. But after 20 minutes of running, I don't see it. After today, there's no way he can play."

Garnett's reaction?

"He was frustrated. He was mad at me, mad at everybody. Then he understood," Rivers said. "He put up a fight. He's really frustrated, but that's Kevin. That's why we got him, because he cares so much."

The defending NBA champions begin the best-of-seven first round series against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.

"We're going to move on without him," Rivers said.

hermes · Post #2 » by **hermes** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:37 pm

well thats a big loss for the celtics

how far can they get without him?

Post #3 » by **Kilroy** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:25 pm

I'll believe it when I see it...

To me Rivers sounds a little too definate... I think he's taking a page from Phil Jackson's book and it's a bit of gamesmanship...

I could see him resting until it looks like they might have a tough series...

But you gotta belive KG is going to play this post-season... It's just not in him to sit...

fareweatherfan · Post #4 » by **fareweatherfan** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:04 pm

If true, this SUCKS!

I remember I was pissed when PP went down with the now infamous knee injury last year during the finals.

I want to beat the Celtics at full strength! We all thought we could have won last year with Bynum, now if we play the C's in the finals and win they'll think they could have beat us with Garnett (which we all know is FALSE).

I'll keep my fingers crossed that he's ok!

Sedale Threatt · Post #5 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:09 pm

I'd love to pile on right now because I loathe the Celtics, but if true that's too bad.

It's always lame when key injuries take their toll. I'll always remember how deflating that was when Magic and Scott went down early in the 89 Finals. Playing arguably the best ball of the Showtime era, Riley decides a relaxing boot camp in Catalina would be nice and bam, over, just like that.

At any rate, I fully expected Cleveland to beat them anyway, so in the end, all this probably does is give Boston fans a convenient excuse as to why they didn't repeat. We shall see.

Sedale Threatt · Post #6 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:10 pm

fareweatherfan wrote:We all thought we could have won last year with Bynum...

I don't. That was a great Celtics team that more than deserved their rings.

Minhee · Post #7 » by **Minhee** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:41 pm

I don't believe this either, Kilroy said it I will believe it when I see it. I'm calling his bluff. Should the Celtics not repeat rest assure that they will use this as an excuse, Boston fans are second to none when it comes to making excuses.

And no way we win with Bynum lastyear, celtics was on a mission just like LeBron is on his this year.

fareweatherfan · Post #8 » by **fareweatherfan** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:47 pm

Sedale Threatt wrote:
fareweatherfan wrote:We all thought we could have won last year with Bynum...

I don't. That was a great Celtics team that more than deserved their rings.

I never said they didn't deserve the rings, they were incredible and deserved the ring and every accolade that came along with it.

You really don't think "we could have won last year with Bynum"????

I find that hard to believe.

Desiderium · Post #9 » by **Desiderium** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:48 pm

im sorry but lebrons mission is going to have to wait, we're also on a mission!

Tommy Trojan · Post #10 » by **Tommy Trojan** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:52 pm

CLE VS LAL FINALS!

Anyone remember Bynum, when we lost him for the playoffs last year?

I did not hear any excuses from non Laker fans last year.

And i'm sure most of you know my feelings for the Celts and KG

Sedale Threatt · Post #11 » by **Sedale Threatt** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:13 pm

fareweatherfan wrote:
Sedale Threatt wrote:
fareweatherfan wrote:We all thought we could have won last year with Bynum...

I don't. That was a great Celtics team that more than deserved their rings.

I never said they didn't deserve the rings, they were incredible and deserved the ring and every accolade that came along with it.

You really don't think "we could have won last year with Bynum"????

I find that hard to believe.

Fair enough. Concievably, anything "could" happen. I could walk down to my garage and find a brand new Mercedes waiting for me. But I highly doubt it.

Hunter103 · Post #12 » by **Hunter103** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:15 pm

Kilroy wrote:I'll believe it when I see it...

To me Rivers sounds a little too definate... I think he's taking a page from Phil Jackson's book and it's a bit of gamesmanship...

I could see him resting until it looks like they might have a tough series...

But you gotta belive KG is going to play this post-season... It's just not in him to sit...

I can see it now, down 0-2 in the ECF, game 3 is going on in Boston, Cleveland is up big at the half...then KG shows up, crowd goes wild, momentum shifts, C's win :roll:

lakersfanatic · Post #13 » by **lakersfanatic** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:19 pm

yet again.. another possible wheelchair story.. Is that what it takes for them to get all riled up to win a championship?

Sorry for being less caring and passionate about it but we kinda heard something similar last year with mr. pierce and then all of a sudden the guy lit it up and play like nothing had happened to him... i'm not being a mr. bitter but if kobe did the same... the world would be against him yet again.

I guess we'll just have to see when the post season starts to see how serious his injury is. I really want them to play the cavs and see how they play out.. but if he's out all season.... it's going to be Magics vs. Cavs in my book.

TonyMontana · Post #14 » by **TonyMontana** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:24 pm

If true its a hard blow to the Cs and their fans, I really dont think they can pull it off without K.G and as a fan of the game, I wish he was healthy incase we meet them in the finals, cause it would be a great game to watch.
As a fan of my team I could careless if him or King Crab or Brandon Roy or Billy Bob plays or doesnt play............. We're on a mission to win The CHIP this year and I dont care who we go through to get it, healthy or not everybody is going down.

Gus McCrae · Post #15 » by **Gus McCrae** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:56 pm

You don't think we could've won with Bynum last year? of course we could have. Doesn't mean we would have for sure. But that series woudl've been MUCH different. As we all recall the Lakers were rewarded with the "soft" tag after losing that series due to whining about calls and getting bullied around. Adding a 275 lb 7 footer may have changed that just a little.

That Nicka · Post #16 » by **That Nicka** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:40 pm

I would rather have played the Celtics in the Finals and beat them when they are 100%... but I cant say I'm disappointed to find out that they wont be repeating... Bring on the Cavs

Post #17 » by **Danny Darko** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:53 pm

Jeesh. This sucks. I feel bad for them and worse for us.

I do recall them saying that we were exaggerating their age concerns and it was all a bunch of bull, but ahh.... Ray is slipping, KG is hurt, and their bench is balls including Starbury.

I don't think they'll any more noise than the fading Pistons have over the last two years. Too bad for ratings and revenge. This is no way to take out a despised opponent, this sucks.

The Skyhook · Post #18 » by **The Skyhook** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:59 pm

Damn it Garnett get well. Lakers want to see the Celtics in the Finals. The Lakers as a team want the Celtics. We want our revenge. I can care less about Kobe vs Lebron in the Finals.

TruSkool · Post #19 » by **TruSkool** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:26 pm

on a serious note, i really think we could beat the celtics WITH KG and us WITHOUT BYNUM this year...i also hope kg is okay, so i dont have to hear the bs from all the haters that KG(although my fav player lol) was injured...unless they lose to the magic or cavs...
2009 has lakers champs written all over it !!!!

Post #20 » by **Slava** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:07 pm

I'm not convinced about this but if he does sit out it'd be fun to watch Cavs and Magic fight it out in the ECFs.