Kevin Garnett Out Two Weeks With Ankle Injury
The Boston Celtics have announced Kevin Garnett could miss up to two weeks with an ankle injury. Garnett is suffering from inflammation in his left ankle and Boston wants to keep him fresh for the playoffs.
Kevin Garnett’s ankle injury probably occurred during the Boston Celtics loss to the New Orleans Hornets last Wednesday. Last Friday Garnett played 29 minutes in a loss to the Minnesota Grizzlies.
After sitting out of the Boston Celtics loss to the Dallas Mavericks the next day, Kevin Garnett was sent back to Boston for an MRI. Team President Danny Ainge later confirmed the severity of Garnett’s injury. He told reporters, “I’ll guess two weeks, just because we want to make sure he’s really ready.”
Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers added that if given him the choice to play Kevin Garnett every three games, or let him rest for two weeks, he would choose two weeks.
Doc Rivers and the Boston Celtics want Kevin Garnett healthy for the playoffs. Boston is currently the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. The eight seeded Milwaukee Bucks sit two games back, and the ninth place Philadelphia 76ers are nine games back.
Because the 76ers are so far back, the Boston Celtics can afford to be careful with Kevin Garnett.
Kevin Garnett, 36-years-old this season, is averaging 14.9 points, 2.3 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. Garnett is in the first year of a three year, $36 million contract and is an integral part of their success. He has missed four games this season. The Celtics are 2-2 in those games.
One thing the Boston Celtics need to consider while resting Kevin Garnett is playoff implications. If Boston falls back to the eighth seed they will face the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. The Heat are currently trying to make NBA history by breaking the Los Lakers consecutive wins record. During the 1971-72 season the Lakers won 33 games in a row. The Heat have won 26 in a row.
Letting Kevin Garnett rest his ankle for two weeks could benefit the Boston Celtics in a first round match against the Heat. He is one of the Celtics best players, and it’s smarter to have him play at 100 percent against a team chasing history.
Do you think the Boston Celtics should let Kevin Garnett miss two weeks in the middle of a playoff run?
