'No Life' For Kevin Garnett, Just Basketball
BOSTON (CBS) – For Kevin Garnett, it's all about basketball right now.
"I have no life at this point," the Celtics center said Saturday after the team's 92-91 Game 1 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. "I go home, get treatment, come back in here, study tape, film. No life at all. It's what it is."
But for Garnett, that is really nothing different. When the Celtics hit the floor for Game 2 against the Sixers Monday night at the Garden, the Celtics know they can rely on their big man to perform.
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"We feel like that's our advantage. We feel like that's our advantage every night," Celtics captain Paul Pierce said of having Garnett. "We're going to ride Kevin all the way until his wheels fall off. He's bringing it every night; he understands the sense of urgency with this ball club and he's giving everything he's got out there for us. He's look magnificent; he's looking like the 2004 MVP."
KG Has 'No Life'
Since his move to the center position in the middle of the season, Garnett is not playing like a 35-year-old, 16 year NBA veteran. His fountain of youth performances have not stopped in the postseason either. He leads Boston averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game in the playoffs, and put up a playoff-high 29 points Saturday night, including nine in the fourth quarter.
"He's been amazing; I think he's the hottest guy in the league right now," Philadelphia forward Elton Brand said of Garnett on Sunday.
The one area for concern with Garnett is his minutes. He played 38 minutes on Saturday, and has logged under 30 minutes just once this postseason. He's been on the floor for 265 minutes in the playoffs, averaging 38 per game. But whenever Garnett gets a breather, the Celtics play slides significantly, with opponents taking advantage.
So for head coach Doc Rivers, he really doesn't have an option but to leave his veteran leader out there.
"It's so hard when he's off the floor for those 12 minutes or 10 minutes. I mean, you're in a panic," said Rivers. "And that's an area we have to improve. Our plus/minus with him off the floor right now is horrendous, so that's an area we have to improve. But when he's on the floor he's doing everything for us."
"Any time he's not out there, (with his) defensive intensity and what he's been doing on the offensive end, we have to make a push," said Brand. "Or if we have a lead we have to keep that lead when he's not out there."
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It doesn't help that Greg Stiemsma, who played well as Boston's back-up to Garnett in the second half of the season, has struggled during the playoffs, and although Ryan Hollins has had flashes as of late, he has yet to solidify himself as a suitable Garnett replacement.
All of that has meant more minutes, and more wear and tear, on Garnett. But he knows his career is winding down, and he is willing to do whatever the team needs from him in what could be his final postseason run.
"Whatever is asked of me, that's what I'm going to do," said Garnett. "I'm not really paying attention to minutes and things you guys are watching. I'm in there playing as hard as I can; if I need a blow I tell them. We have time outs, TV time outs –which are longer time outs. I've been playing for a long time now so I know how to (rest) during free throws. So I'm OK."
