Ainge: Don't expect KG return

Larry Joe Bird · Post #1 » by **Larry Joe Bird** » Fri May 1, 2009 1:41 pm

Don't expect the Celtics to have a Willis Reed moment in Game 7 tomorrow night.

Kevin Garnett will not only not be available tomorrow but is done for the season, according to Celtics president Danny Ainge. Ainge said in a text message early this morning that the injured All-Star will not be returning for the rest of the playoffs.

"I'm not planning on him the rest of the season," said Ainge.

LINK

MyInsatiableOne · Post #2 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Fri May 1, 2009 1:58 pm

Just confirms what we knew all along...he wasn't coming back and the C's handled this horribly from the very beginning...

Red2 · Post #3 » by **Red2** » Fri May 1, 2009 2:08 pm

more good news.. there's not much of anything good that's happened to the Celts since that winning streak before Christmas. It's been a steady diet of injuries and bad news since then. If we're at full strength I like our chances even without posey but we're a shell of what we should be right now. just very sad and disappointing and there's really nothing any one can do about it. I guess the most disappointing thing is knowing that if we were healthy we had a legit chance at another title and we're not going to get that chance now

MyInsatiableOne · Post #4 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Fri May 1, 2009 2:13 pm

Yep. The best we can hope for, whether this playoff run ends tomorrow or in the coming weeks, is to rest up and get healthy this summer and gear up for next season...

BillessuR6 · Post #5 » by **BillessuR6** » Fri May 1, 2009 2:31 pm

If we can stay in the playoffs for a couple of weeks more, KG could be back...but with the way we are playing it is obviously unlikely...

anorexorcism · Post #6 » by **anorexorcism** » Fri May 1, 2009 4:16 pm

With the way this series has gone, it won't surprise me at all that in spite of Ainge's comments and all the downplaying he shows up and does it. The drama in this series has already propelled it to one of the greatest of all time, if KG showed up even for just one play it would cement this series' status as GOAT. And I hate his guts.

billfromBoston · Post #7 » by **billfromBoston** » Fri May 1, 2009 4:19 pm

KG sure as **** isn't coming back for any game in the first round...if he was going to come back it would be ECF at the earliest...they aren't going to waste the effort to win a first round series...come on...

Ainge's comment doesn't state anything - "not planning" doesn't mean "will not" its more of the same...this series is a big, fat waste of time, much like this season is fast becoming...

Green Menace · Post #8 » by **Green Menace** » Fri May 1, 2009 4:33 pm

Celtics handled KG situation perfectly, didn´t lower team morale before playoffs.

We don´t need him to win this series, all 6 games were clearly winable.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #9 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Fri May 1, 2009 4:56 pm

Green Menace wrote:Celtics handled KG situation perfectly, didn´t lower team morale before playoffs.

We don´t need him to win this series, all 6 games were clearly winable.

I disagree they handled it perfectly....all the "he's coming back...oh wait no he's not....yep now he is...wait, no..." etc and the fact that Danny and Doc and Wyc would all say different things on the same day to different media outlets...**** disorganized chaos. Awful handling. They all should have pulled a Belichick and shut up and said NOTHING until the final decision was made.

Athanacropolis · Post #10 » by **Athanacropolis** » Fri May 1, 2009 5:47 pm

It's been of a hell of a season regardless, and let me please remind you all, IT'S NOT OVER YET! Relax, take a step away from the ledge, put down the gun and/or the pills, and breathe.

pac213up · Post #11 » by **pac213up** » Fri May 1, 2009 5:55 pm

Athanacropolis wrote:It's been of a hell of a season regardless, and let me please remind you all, IT'S NOT OVER YET! Relax, take a step away from the ledge, put down the gun and/or the pills, and breathe.

Could not agree more! Even with the best of teams you cannot expect to win it everytime. Rondo has matured into a top 5 PG, Perkins has progressed more than anyone could have predicted, and the Big 3 will be back regardless of what happens this year. We will also have a MLE to use on a free agent class with several solid vets available and a full year of Bill Walker getting some PT (Hopefully). Oh yeah we also have the Red Sox, Bruins, and Pats all as legit title contenders. It does not get better than this as a sports fan.

Post #12 » by **shackles10** » Fri May 1, 2009 6:44 pm

Just saw Jackie Mac on ESPN saying she wasn't sure of the flipflopping so she asked Ainge straight up if KG came to him and Doc and said I want to play, put me in, I'm ready to go would they let him play and Ainge said yes. Now that doesn't mean KG will ask him that, but he's delayed surgery, is supposedly working out, but we have no idea on how successful those workouts are. He may be working and nowhere close to being ready to play. He may also be working out hoping he can play because it is at least improving.

I really don't know what I think anymore except that if KG did come back, and played even 10 minutes that just from the perspective of an NBA fan that is the only thing that could make this series better. The noise from the crowd, the momentum he would bring to the team, and if it still managed to be a close game no matter who wins that's the ideal situation for a general NBA fan.

PP34RA10 · Post #13 » by **PP34RA10** » Fri May 1, 2009 6:52 pm

i wouldnt be surprised if they had a video in the celtics lockerroom before tipoff and we see KG flipping out at the team doctors and getting suited up to play.

BillTheGOAT · Post #14 » by **BillTheGOAT** » Fri May 1, 2009 8:21 pm

I don't care what danny says, KGs reaction in game 2 and 3 are enough for me...

celt4ever · Post #15 » by **celt4ever** » Fri May 1, 2009 8:36 pm

Why not? We just need him for 16 min. So perk and baby can rest and no fouled out. If kg is realy injury then send him to surgery as quickly posible so he be ready to next year.

GuyClinch · Post #16 » by **GuyClinch** » Fri May 1, 2009 8:36 pm

The team handled it poorly IMHO. While hindsight is 20/20 and it might seem unfair to Ainge and company clearly he should have had surgery a long time ago. He might have had a real shot at recovery by now.

Cyclical · Post #17 » by **Cyclical** » Sat May 2, 2009 12:27 am

Gotta love this article... It says absolutely NOTHING new.

Ainge: "I'm not planning on him the rest of the season"

Doc: "Yes, he's out. I feel for the season, but we just don't know yet."

Hilarious.

He's definitely not playing in the first round, but after? It's wide open.

TXSun · Post #18 » by **TXSun** » Sat May 2, 2009 3:59 am

man how you guys are missing KGs intensity and killer instinct. you're clutch shooters are just that, but lack the killer instinct.

DarkAzcura · Post #19 » by **DarkAzcura** » Sat May 2, 2009 5:17 am

Alright after hearing what Jackie said on ESPN (that it is basically up to KG if he wants to play) I think KG should just suit up and play a possession or two.

You know how pumped up that crowd would become? The atmosphere would be ridiculous even if KG only came in for 30 seconds.