"KG pain-free for the first time in years"?

[Drucci]

I found this quote in Ian Thomsen's article about Rondo, published on the frontpage.

"The obvious story on the opening day of training camp Monday was the return of Kevin Garnett from knee surgery, because he had had nothing to say since the procedure repaired a surprisingly large bone spur that sidelined him for the latter half of last season. But that's one of those issues that will take care of itself one way or the other. We know Garnett will continue to rehab religiously coach Doc Rivers will limit his minutes responsibly, and with KG pain-free for the first time in years, the outcome of this particular incident is likely to be favorable for the Celtics."

What do you think? Is it just an expression used by the writter or could it really mean that even during the championship season (and the last ones in Minny) KG was already playing hurt, or diminished?

Interesting quote anyway, and a great news concerning KG's health. This season is gonna be great, especially if the team leaves up to its expectations!

 

[screwedupmaniac]

KG did say that this is the best he's felt in a long time, and that it's the first time he's been without pain in a long time. i wish i knew exactly when and where he said it, but i read/watched it the other day in the mix of all the media day stuff...

[drza44]

I do believe it is an accurate quote, as it fits what we've known about the situation over the last few years.  In fact, here is something that I wrote on Monday, before this current interview with KG was done.

"I know people are concerned about KG's knee, and I am too, but until I know something for sure the other way I'm expecting Garnett to have his best season in a Celtics' jersey this year.  He's been playing with knee issues (at the very least tendonitis) for several years, and we have confirmed reports that he has been playing with bone spurs for at least a year.  Now, the spurs have been removed. If the tendon issues really were due to rubbing from the spurs (which, all hyperbole aside, is probably the most likely explanation), and they really have been taken care of surgically...by the end of the year we could be looking at a fully healthy Kevin Garnett for the first time in years. "

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=31968.0

Now, at this point this is all lip service, because we don't know how the knee will hold up to the wear and tear of a season or how many of the tendonitis issues are just chronic at this point.  But from the info that we already knew, and now what KG is saying, it is feasible that KG's knee could be healthier this season than it has been since the mid 2000s.  That's certainly the possibility that I choose to see with my green glasses on...

[WeMadeIt17]

I wish I really knew what was going on.. You get this quote from KG but on Media day he says that its sore a lot.. I just don't get it?

[Donoghus]

Not to rain on anybody's parade but don't we always here this from players in various sports after coming back from surgeries or prolonged lay-offs?  "This is the best I've felt in years", etc....

I don't exactly buy it but it's definitely better than reading about set-backs or the such.  I'll take it for now.

[crownsy]

I wish I really knew what was going on.. You get this quote from KG but on Media day he says that its sore a lot.. I just don't get it?

Have you ever had major surgery and then tried to use the limb operated on after a long time off it?


It can feel better than it has in a long time, but still stiffen up and get sore after practice, they did, you know, scrap out two bone spurs and (depending on who you believe) reattach his tendons. That's going to be sore for awhile after use.

[droopdog7]

This is not surprising to me in the least.  One could tell that KG was not playing all out for the past two years.  Double digit rebounds were automatic and there were many games where KG would get under ten.  This was especially true in games where he was not needed.

Tranlation?  KG was taking games off.  And I think injuries had more to do with it than age (which could also explain it some).

[LarBrd33]

Not to rain on anybody's parade but don't we always here this from players in various sports after coming back from surgeries or prolonged lay-offs?  "This is the best I've felt in years", etc....

I don't exactly buy it but it's definitely better than reading about set-backs or the such.  I'll take it for now.

agreed totally.  It's pretty standard pre-season hype stuff.  KG could be close to ending his career and we'd still be hearing about how he's feeling the best he's felt in years. 

[LarBrd33]

Not to rain on anybody's parade but don't we always here this from players in various sports after coming back from surgeries or prolonged lay-offs?  "This is the best I've felt in years", etc....

I don't exactly buy it but it's definitely better than reading about set-backs or the such.  I'll take it for now.

agreed totally.  It's pretty standard pre-season hype stuff.  KG could be close to ending his career and we'd still be hearing about how he's feeling the best he's felt in years. 

I was trying to think of an example and it just came to me.  Vin Baker.  Every offseason we heard about how he was rejuvenated and felt better than he'd ever felt.  Any player who has been plagued by injuries also gets that same kind of pre-season "better than ever" hype.

[paintitgreen]

This is not surprising to me in the least.  One could tell that KG was not playing all out for the past two years.  Double digit rebounds were automatic and there were many games where KG would get under ten.  This was especially true in games where he was not needed.

Tranlation?  KG was taking games off.  And I think injuries had more to do with it than age (which could also explain it some).

Well he averaged under 10 both seasons here, so there must have been a lot of games he took off. While I think a lot of that "decline" is attributable to going to a very good rebounding team (Perkins, Pierce and Rondo for their positions), and thus having more competition for boards, I think you're right that since he's been here, he hasn't been able to do absolutely everything he used to do. When I think about what he could do for us if he had to, I can't help but think of the season opener against Washington last year, when KG went for 20 and 20. He obviously put everything into it, and that was the glimpse of what he could do. Not over a season obviously, but he could still be a 22-12 force if that's what his team needed. He just doesn't have to and with the pain, had no reason to blow his knee out trying. If the pain really is gone, and it's just soreness from getting accustomed to that amount of running and jumping again, well then there's a decent chance Garnett does put the pedal back down this year and have his best season in Boston - something more like 19 and 11 than 16 and 9. I mean, honestly, pain free I think Garnett can be an MVP candidate again next season because a painfree KG, Wallace and Daniels added to the team that took the East Champs to 7 could be nearly unstoppable.