The Celtics postponed Garnett's surgery until after last season, holding out hope he could play if the team advanced deeper into the postseason. But surgery revealed an injury that was more serious than anticipated.

``They evaluate you from A to Z until you actually get in there and see what the problem really is,'' Garnett said. ``It was pretty severe. The best thing about it is I got it out of the way. The leg is almost 100 percent and going forward. Better than anything, I'm playing without any pain, which is something that I haven't had for some time now. So I'm looking forward to this.''

Asked to expand on the difference between what was expected and what was found, KG used the available props.

``You think it's a bone spur the size of this (small digital) tape recorder, and it ends up being the size of this microphone,'' he said. ``That's what I mean.''

According to sources, what surgeons found in Garnett's right knee was very much consistent with the range of possibilities. That's why the team didn't move toward surgery back in February when Garnett limped off the court in Utah. The potential rehab timetable wouldn't guarantee he'd be back for the playoffs, and, judging by his symptoms, it was hoped rest and rehab would calm the inflammation in the knee.

``I think everything was pretty much straightforward with the procedure and taking me through what was going to occur,'' Garnett said. ``Everything's right on schedule. No surprises other than the severeness of it. But as far as rehab and coming back, everything's been on schedule. I feel really good. . . . Last week was my first day to actually get out and play with the guys. I got cleared for that. That went pretty well, so I'm excited. It's like riding a bike. It comes back to you fast.''

Garnett hinted things might have gotten a bit stale last season.

``Togetherness is everything,'' he said. ``I think we lost a little bit of that through the course of a year. It's human. It's always going to happen. But for the most part you learn from it and you move on.

``I think last year did one thing for us. If anything, it humbled us. I think it showed that team is everything - no one or two players can get things done. I'm eager to see how we come in, our minds and how we are in camp and everything. This is all bonding. I'm eager to see what this looks like.''

Garnett certainly didn't like the view from the pine as the Celts fell to Orlando in the second round.

``It wasn't pleasant for me at all to watch that,'' he said. ``None of the Basketball that we played last year that I had to sit and watch was pleasant for me. I did it. I sat on the side because my teammates wanted me to sit on the bench. But other than that, it was pretty excruciating.''

The rehab for that continues today in Newport, as well.

- sbulpett@bostonherald.com