sportsjabber.net

The Boston Celtics are in trouble! Now, why would I say a thing like that? After all, as of this writing, they have the 2nd best record in the East, the 3rd best record overall, a 7-3 record over the past 10 games, and are on a 2-game winning streak. Normally, all of that by the defending NBA Champions would translate into confidence and a plethora of touts predicting a title repeat.

BUT…The Celtics have a potential terminal illness. It’s called “K-G-Injuritis”!

There is no way the Celtics can win the East, much less repeat as NBA champs without a healthy Kevin Garnett. KG is a leader, the heart and soul of the vaunted Celtics defense, and a major factor on offense. The Celtics have successfully limped thru the latter part of the regular season without a healthy KG, but the playoffs will be, as they always are, a different battlefield. An unrelenting barrage of series with the likes of Dwight Howard’s Magic, D-Wade’s Heat, “Bron Bron’s” Cavs and/or even the suddenly tough Sixers and/or the always pesky-to-the-Celtics-in-series Hawks is too much of a gauntlet for a KG-Ain’t-Right” Celtics team.

And KG AIN’T RIGHT!

I have the utmost respect for Doc Rivers. However, when he says he’s just resting KG until the last few regular season games to ensure KG’s readiness for the playoffs, I say…”PUKE-GREEN BULL STUFF”! With 8 games to go, the Celts are 5.5 games back of the Cavs and just 0.5 games ahead of the 3rd-place magic, and Doc is resting his WARRIOR just to be on the safe side? Yeah…sure…and I can see Russia from my back yard…in MICHIGAN!

The most telling aspect though is KG himself. I just called him a warrior…and he is. The man never complains and can play through pain with the best of them. Yet, he hasn’t uttered a peep about “really being able to play if needed” as Doc claims or even a hint that he’s really not in agreement with Doc’s decision. That tells me that Da Big G is not only hurting, but is far from being ready for a grueling playoff run.

So, perhaps the Celtics aren’t dead yet, but without a healthy & productive KG, they’re definitely on delayed, but imminent life support.

That’s my take. How do you see it?