Fortunately, they are about to get that something back, as forward Kevin Garnett practiced with the team on Tuesday afternoon and boarded the team flight to Detroit in preparation for Wednesday's game against the Pistons, according to Boston.com. Garnett will not play against Detroit but is on track for Friday's game against Portland.
"No chance [Wednesday]," Celtics head coach Doc Rivers told the Web site. "No means no. He's just had one practice. I'd rather wait and see. Right now, the plan is Friday. If he gets sore or anything, we'll push it back to the next game. That's why we wanted him to go."
Garnett indicated that he would prefer to play but will ultimately heed Rivers' orders.
"It wouldn't be me if I didn't [want to play], you know?" Garnett said. "I just try and listen — at this stage, where I'm at in life — and just try and preserve, as much as I can, and be smart about injuries so they don't get worse. I think I learned that last year the hard way, so I'm just trying to be patient and actually listen. It's a Taurus quality — so all you Tauruses know what I'm talking about."
Garnett, who has missed extended time do to injury in both of the last two seasons, will never get used to spending so much time riding the pine.
"It's funny, in Minnesota, I missed probably six games and I come here, and the championship air here — you breathe this championship air and get these weird injuries," he said. "Hopefully, I can come back full strength, that's all this says. I'm just trying to listen and be smart."
