Boston Celtics in Trouble Without Kevin Garnett

The Boston Celtics are in trouble. While the C's have tied the series against the Chicago Bulls, thanks to a late three pointer by Ray Allen, who recovered from a horrible game one, to score 30 points , the Celtics have lost home court advantage, and winning on the road in the playoffs, has been difficult for Boston in the past. Last year before eventually winning their NBA Championship, the Celtics were forced to a game seven in each of their first two rounds. Against the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston failed to win on the road against either team.

This year, losing home court advantage isn't the only problem facing Boston. The Celtics are defending their title without one of their stars, Kevin Garnett. The C's will miss Garnett's 15.8 ppg and 8.5 rpg, but more then his measurable production, Boston will miss KG's energy and passion. Garnett plays with visible determination and his energy spills over to his teammates, and raises their level of play.

It's been a pleasure watching Garnett get a chance to play for a winning team after playing for twelve seasons in Minnesota. Seeing Garnett with Bill Russell after Boston won the championship last year was touching, and I'm not even a Celtics fan. When we hear negative news daily about athletes in trouble, or complaining, a player like Garnett is refreshing. He endured what seems like a career lifetime in Minnesota where the team had some success, but never reached the NBA finals. Maybe it was the constant playoff losses in Minnesota that gave Garnett his passion. Wherever his passion comes from, the Celtics welcome it.

At the start of this season Boston had hopes of a repeat, but now with Garnett likely to miss the entire postseason due to injury, a Celtic's repeat seems a difficult task. Whenever he plays again, it will be great seeing Garnett on the floor, enjoying his job and showing it. Garnett has been in the league since 1995, when the Timberwolves drafted him with the 5th pick, and over a decade later, he still plays like a young kid in love with the game.

Sources:

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/gallery/featured/GAL1000263/1/index.htm?eref=sisf
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/players/3007/index.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/viewcast/2009/04/20/index.html?contestId=25068&vendorId=2009042002&vendorVisitTeam=4&vendorHomeTeam=2&pageType=recap