Doc says he'll be cautious with KG; may not play him this weekend

[Roy Hobbs]

“The problem for me is that he may get clearance at the end of the week, but we won’t have a practice,” said Rivers, who will give the Celts tomorrow off after playing back-to-back games. “And that’s going to be very difficult for me to play him, even though obviously we need to play him in those games. But right now someone’s going to have to convince me how that’s good.”

The Celtics have a weekend back-to-back beginning Friday in San Antonio and moving to Memphis.

“That’ll be difficult for me to put him on the floor in either one of those games,” Rivers said. “I know I won’t play him in both of those games even if he comes back. And unless the shootaround is better than I expect Friday morning, I don’t know how we play a guy that hasn’t played in four weeks.”

Noting the lack of practice time, the coach added, “We might use the game as that and put him in for 20 or whatever minutes they give us. We’ll see.”

But Rivers will have no problem starting Garnett.

“If he can play, I’m starting him,” he said. “I can tell you that right now. I just won’t play him as long obviously. But if you’re going to play him, you might as well play him with your starters.”

According to Rivers, Garnett hasn’t been doing any basketball workouts.

“He’s been shooting a little bit,” the coach said.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?&articleid=1159400&format=&page=2&listingType=celt#articleFull

[Bankshot]

If KG is ready to play, he better be out there.

[thebirdman]

Keep him out for the weekend and bring him back next week when he gets some practice time...

[Bankshot]

Keep him out for the weekend and bring him back next week when he gets some practice time...

Disagree.  If he's healthy and ready to play, he needs to get on the court and help his teammates, practice or not.

[celticinorlando]

get him back a let him play off the rust. doc...i understand be cautious but if boston is a 3 seed things are going to be very hard

[Cman]

Good.  Be cautious.  I much rather have the Cs enter the playoffs as the 8th seed than the 2nd seed without KG. 

[wdleehi]

Unless he can reinjure himself, put him out there. 


Even 20 minutes for KG will help alot. 

[Scalablob990]

Nah bring him back tonight, it's time for him to have his share of 43+ min games that Pierce and Ray have had to go through.

[RAcker]

Keep him out for the weekend and bring him back next week when he gets some practice time...

Disagree.  If he's healthy and ready to play, he needs to get on the court and help his teammates, practice or not.

I agree that he needs to be back on the court in real games ASAP.  It is the only way he gets his game shape back quickly.  Practice WILL NOT get him in game shape.  He's too emotional for that.

[Chris]

If Powe and Davis are not back (or only one of them), I don't think you can use the lack of practice as an excuse not to play Garnett a few minutes.

I understand not playing him both nights, and not playing more than 20 or so minutes...but right now they are desperate for bodies (particularly tall ones who know the defensive rotations).

In a perfect world, Powe, Davis, and Garnett will all be back for Friday's game, with Garnett playing 15-20 minutes, and then on Saturday, Garnett rests, and then he is able to build up some stamina over the next few games after that.

[CelticfaninArk]

That figures. I go to one NBA game a year to Memphis (2 hours from me) and KG and others will be out.
Just great!

[Big Ticket]

It's not exactly KG's first rodeo.... he's been in the league a long time.  Put him out their and let him rebound, play defense, and take some pressure of Pierce et al on offense.

[Chris]

It's not exactly KG's first rodeo.... he's been in the league a long time.  Put him out their and let him rebound, play defense, and take some pressure of Pierce et al on offense.

Yup.  This is why I think we will hear Doc on Friday talking about how KG looked good in the shoot around, and came to his office to "convince him" that he is ready to go.

Honestly, the whole thing seems like Doc is just trying not to commit, but he absolutely expects Garnett to play on Friday.