Plan C

[crownsy]

My reference to the Cleveland LeBrons was an aside. The real point is that we profess concern about losing KG for the first round of the playoffs. The most likely scenario at this point, given the regression of KG's knee, is that he will be shut down for the year. It hurts when I type those words, but just the same...

Yes, we can beat Cleveland if KG is 100%. But come on, does anyone realistically believe that KG will be 100% if we get to the Eastern Conference finals? Anyone? And if KG is not 100%, does anyone (including you, Roy), believe that we will beat Cleveland?

so you think the celtics are also lying to thier own players about his availablity as well then?

because marbury and pierce seem pretty confidant he could play tonight if it was a playoff game as of 3 hours ago on twitter, and that while he won't get to 100% anytime soon, he's good enough to go, just a foolish idea.

so either the blog doctor dignosis is better than the teams doctors or the team is lying to its players or paul and steph are in on the conspiracy theroy to the point that they are lying through a social site about his health.

I pick the far more likely option that he's dinged up and they are resting him as long as possable to try to get the best they can out of him over elabroate consipracy theroy to throw other teams advance scouting off i guess.

[celticinorlando]

not so sure this is lebron's year...i still think if the play the lakers in the finals they don't have the size to matchup esp if Bynum is back. i can see kobe getting one game in cleveland and then taking care of business at home. the cavs have had a great regular season....but 60 percent of teams that had home court have not won the NBA playoffs...clevland still hasn't proved they can beat the elites (boston, orlando and lakers) on the road...they will need to win a game or two against 2 of those teams on the road inorder to win it all

[timpiker]

The season's over.  We've been lied to all along and KG's injury.  Start thinking about the draft and free agents over the summer and next season.

I absolutely cannot believe that a knee strain could turn into this.  And I cannot imagine getting past the 2nd round without a healthy KG.  No way no how.

[RAcker]

The season's over.  We've been lied to all along and KG's injury.  Start thinking about the draft and free agents over the summer and next season.

I absolutely cannot believe that a knee strain could turn into this.  And I cannot imagine getting past the 2nd round without a healthy KG.  No way no how.

Wow...the Cavs' blog is that way.   

[EJPLAYA]

It seems quite obvious that it is hurting worse than they initially wanted to announce, but I think their game plan is to rest him as much as possible when it doesn't matter so that when it does matter he can give us 15-20 minutes. Look what he did in those minutes for those games! 10 and 4 in 15 minutes vs. SA, 10 and 4 in 17 min vs Memphis, 12 and 2 in 18 min vs the Clips, 4 and 8 in 17 min vs Orlando.

Even not at full strength and in limited minutes he made a difference to this team. He will play when needed, but they will give him a lot of rest so he can play a little more later in the playoffs. Then he gets a lot of rest in the offseason. If he needs surgery he gets it done and will be back. No way I believe that he is going to be shut down for the year. Even in small doses he is the lifeblood of our team and attitude. Without him there is no way we repeat.

[RAcker]

It seems quite obvious that it is hurting worse than they initially wanted to announce, but I think their game plan is to rest him as much as possible when it doesn't matter so that when it does matter he can give us 15-20 minutes. Look what he did in those minutes for those games! 10 and 4 in 15 minutes vs. SA, 10 and 4 in 17 min vs Memphis, 12 and 2 in 18 min vs the Clips, 4 and 8 in 17 min vs Orlando.

Even not at full strength and in limited minutes he made a difference to this team. He will play when needed, but they will give him a lot of rest so he can play a little more later in the playoffs. Then he gets a lot of rest in the offseason. If he needs surgery he gets it done and will be back. No way I believe that he is going to be shut down for the year. Even in small doses he is the lifeblood of our team and attitude. Without him there is no way we repeat.

And in the playoffs, he WILL play down the stretch and not be shut down after the 3rd.  We have to keep all of this in mind.  I am not worried about him playing.  I just want to win or lose without excuses.  Unfortunately, we do have several legit ones right now.

[Roy Hobbs]

The most likely scenario at this point, given the regression of KG's knee, is that he will be shut down for the year.

Again...  what makes you qualified to offer this opinion, especially as a "most likely" scenario?  It seems to me that you're hollering before you're hurt a bit.

[vibefromboston]

i think we can beat cavs if we lower our turnovers, play the celts defense. i think someone mentioned that i thght was pretty cool ie. let KG be the bench player and play against the bench of the opposite team.  i think that whud be amazing..
starting 5, pp, ray, bbd/leon, rondo, perkins
bench kg, steph, house, leon/bbd, tony, mikki

with kg would kill the other team when their bench is on and also make our bench 100 times better...
what u guys think

[BballTim]

My reference to the Cleveland LeBrons was an aside. The real point is that we profess concern about losing KG for the first round of the playoffs. The most likely scenario at this point, given the regression of KG's knee, is that he will be shut down for the year. It hurts when I type those words, but just the same...

Yes, we can beat Cleveland if KG is 100%. But come on, does anyone realistically believe that KG will be 100% if we get to the Eastern Conference finals? Anyone? And if KG is not 100%, does anyone (including you, Roy), believe that we will beat Cleveland?

  If KG's even at 80% and able to play 30 minutes a game or so we could give them a run for their money. But wht evidence is there that KG's knee has regressed? Aren't we still in "hasn't progressed as fast as hoped" mode?

[MMacOH]

I am not sure why everyone is so confident that the Celtics will beat the cavs in the playoffs if healthy.  The Celtics barely got past the Cavs last year and the Cavs are a completely different team this year.  Delonte, Wally and Ben have all been playing together for over a year now as compared to a couple of months like last year.  Mo Williams is a completely different player than Wally (remember, he started for the Cavs last year).  The Cavs are a completely different team.  Plus the Cavs will have home court.  The Celtics may be 2-1 against the Cavs this year but come talk to me when one of these teams beats the other one on the road.

As for KG coming off the bench, I am okay with Andy guarding him and holding his own.

[MMacOH]

I just realized my post seemed very Cavs biased.  My point was that I am now confident the Cavs can beat the Celtics in the playoffs, the teams are just too close talent wise.  I am surprised that Celtic fans don't feel the same way

[crownsy]

I am not sure why everyone is so confident that the Celtics will beat the cavs in the playoffs if healthy.  The Celtics barely got past the Cavs last year and the Cavs are a completely different team this year.  Delonte, Wally and Ben have all been playing together for over a year now as compared to a couple of months like last year.  Mo Williams is a completely different player than Wally (remember, he started for the Cavs last year).  The Cavs are a completely different team.  Plus the Cavs will have home court.  The Celtics may be 2-1 against the Cavs this year but come talk to me when one of these teams beats the other one on the road.

As for KG coming off the bench, I am okay with Andy guarding him and holding his own.

that entire first paragraph can be replaced with celtics you know MAC, we were a team new to playing with each other last year too, the only returning starters we had were perk and pierce. (rondo was marginaly the starter the year before, at best)

also, i don't feel the two teams are close talent wise by position. Lebron is clearly the best player, but he's one dangerous option. He can be attacked, and i don't trust his teamates to shoulder the load.

if we were healthy (looking like a huge if) we have 3 guys who can do that.

[Roy Hobbs]

I just realized my post seemed very Cavs biased.  My point was that I am now confident the Cavs can beat the Celtics in the playoffs, the teams are just too close talent wise.  I am surprised that Celtic fans don't feel the same way

What are you surprised about?  That Celtics fans don't immediately roll over and concede the title to Cleveland?  Again, we're 2-1 against you this season.  I see no reason to believe that a healthy Celtics team can't beat the Cavs.

[footey]

The most likely scenario at this point, given the regression of KG's knee, is that he will be shut down for the year.

Again...  what makes you qualified to offer this opinion, especially as a "most likely" scenario?  It seems to me that you're hollering before you're hurt a bit.

I'm not a doctor. I just look at the facts, and draw my own conclusions, based on my broad experience watching NBA basketball for about 43 years. I take into account Garnett's age, the fact that he has had a sore knee since before February, that he took a month off, and tried to come back, and it is not better.  This is not a sprain like Pierce sustained in the Laker series last year.  That they have leaked out that cartilage is floating in his knee. Something like that usually gets scoped.  I do not recall any player who has had a very sore knee involving floating cartilage for several months suddenly getting better until he has surgery. Does that mean that he will not play in the playoffs? No. It does mean, in my opinion, he is very unlikely to be close to 100% throughout the play-offs, and that if KG is not close to 100%, I don't think we can repeat. I imagine Danny and Doc are thinking the same way.  At the point in time they determine they could be doing harm to KG's knee by letting him continue to play with a bad knee, they will shut him down.  Who in their right mind would not?  

[Roy Hobbs]

Does that mean that he will not play in the playoffs? No. It does mean, in my opinion, he is very unlikely to be close to 100% throughout the play-offs, and that if KG is not close to 100%, I don't think we can repeat.

You're entitled to that opinion, although I think you're taking a more-pessimistic-than-necessary position.  However, that's different than saying it's "very likely" that KG will be shut down and held out for the remainder of the year.