As the Celtics open training camp today in Newport, R.I., Kevin Garnett insists his surgically repaired right knee is fine. Keeping him healthy for the playoffs would be an even bigger reason to celebrate. The Celtics proved in 2008 they could win an NBA championship with a healthy Garnett, and they showed last spring that they couldn't repeat without him.
In May, Garnett turned 33 and had a bone spur removed from his right knee. The bone spur was larger than Garnett anticipated, but he's finally pain-free.
"My knee is really good, my leg is really good," he said during the team's annual media day at HealthPoint yesterday. "I'm on schedule for everything."
The pounding of 14 NBA seasons has taken its toll on Garnett's body. He sat out nine games during the 2007-08 season with an abdominal injury, but was fine by the playoffs. Last year, he strained his right knee going up for an alley-oop at Utah on Feb. 19 and was never the same again. He sat out 14 games, played sparingly in four, then didn't dress again. The Celtics still believe they wouldn't have lost at home to Orlando in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals if Garnett had been healthy and played.
"It wasn't pleasant for me at all to watch that," Garnett said. "None of the Basketball that we played last year that I had to sit and watch was pleasant for me. I didn't like it. I sat on the side because my teammates wanted me to sit on the bench, but other than that, it was pure excruciating."
Garnett was cleared to join his teammates in five-on-five action last week.
"It was like being a little kid again," he said.
Danny Ainge, executive director of Basketball operations, pronounced Garnett ready to go.
"We have every intention of him being involved in every drill and every practice," Ainge said.
"I'm going full blast," Garnett said. "I don't think when you get in camp, you go half-(speed) or anything like that."
Rivers plans to play Garnett and the other older players, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rasheed Wallace, less during the regular season to keep them fresh for the playoffs.
"I thought I did that last year," Rivers said, "and obviously that didn't work because Kevin got injured."
Rivers said he'd like to play the Big Four between 32-35 minutes. Any less than that, they might lose their rhythm.
