Was Garnett's injury the reason we didn't win it all in 2009?

[celts10]

I often think of the Celtics 2008-09 season as the "what if?" year. Up until Garnett's injury against the Jazz, we were one of the top two teams in the East and a sure bet to reach the Finals. If we had a healthy KG for the postseason that year, would it have been enough to beat the Cavs and eventually the Lakers in the '09 Finals? I know our bench wasn't very good that year though.

[perks-a-beast]

Absolutely. People forget how good that team was. Started the season off 27-2! If KG and Powe don't go down the Celts would have won it all. People also forget how they took the ECF champs to 7 games without KG. That knee injury was a [dang] shame.

Our bench wasnt all that bad. We still had Baby, TA, House and Powe.

[RebusRankin]

Yes absolutely. Would have had a 3peat in 2010.

[TheBig5]

Yes, injuries have not been kind to this team.

[xmuscularghandix]

Yes

Celtics were 44-13 with KG on the floor that season. They were right on track to face The Lakers back in the NBA Finals.

[Smutzy#9]

No doubt about it. KG a monster back then, If he didnt go down make a finals appearance easily probably would of stopped the lakers getting another ring.

[hpantazo]

KG's injury for sure, and Powe's injury that year sealed the deal for us.

[TripleOT]

Yes to 2009 and yes to threepeat if KG never went up for that alley oop in Utah and came down funny (or if Rondo never threw it <appeasing the Rondo haters>)

[bello_man09]

Yes to 2009 and yes to threepeat if KG never went up for that alley oop in Utah and came down funny (or if Rondo never threw it <appeasing the Rondo haters>)

paul threw the alley i can remember that game like it was yesterday....

[Cman]

Yes, but thank goodness for that first year. That was special.

[Onslaught]

I think Boston would've won the east. I think the Lakers would've won still anyway.

Not only did we not have KG but we lost Leon Powe as well and that hurt us with what size we had. And the Lakers had defeated us both times in the regular season and just looked better then the Celtics did then. They didn't let us push them around or intimidate them like the year before.


Add these things and a weaker bench and LA having home court and  I'd say we'd lose.

[gar]

Having Green and Wilcox would have sealed it this year. Guess we will have to wait and see if KG and PP have another run left in 'em.

Edgar

[drza44]

Yup.  It's also the reason that we didn't win in 2010.

It's often overlooked that KG could only average 5 or 6 boards per game in the 2010 Finals...his knee was still struggling.  A healthy KG, and the Cs win that one in 5 or 6 games.