Is Kevin Garnett Right About the Shortage of Practice Time Affecting Play?

by NESN Staff on Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 8:45AM

Kevin Garnett has been an outspoken critic of this season's NBA schedule, calling the condensed slate bad for players and fans alike.

He launched another salvo Sunday, blaming two sloppy losses to the Lakers and Raptors on a shortage of practice time.

"This is what I talk about [with] practice and how important practice is," Garnett told reporters after the team's 95-91 win over the Bulls. "Throw the season together, without practice time, and this is the stuff you see. I'm not going to back off that.

"You want a quality product? You have to give time for that quality product to be quality."

The Celtics got a much-needed practice Tuesday on their second straight day without a game, but such lulls are rare this season. After the All-Star break, the Celtcs have consecutive days off just three times the rest of the season.

How does the quality of play in the NBA this season compare to past seasons?