Garnett’s knee status may doom C’s playoff hopes

As Thanksgiving approaches, the Boston Celtics find themselves facing more questions than answers in what is quickly becoming a much more difficult than anticipated start to their season.The most difficult question, and ultimately the question that will determine the outcome of the 2009-2010 campaign, begins and ends with the health of Kevin Garnett’s surgically repaired knee. It has become clear in recent games that Garnett is not healthy. While a 75-percent healthy Garnett is still better than most, it is simply not enough, especially in the talent-rich Eastern Conference.The Celtics brass have, quite frankly, handled the Garnett injury like amateur hour from the start. After all, when Garnett hurt the knee in Utah last February, his timetable for a return was officially listed as day-to-day. It was GM Danny Ainge who told fans Garnett would miss two to three weeks with a “sprain.” Ainge’s medical diagnosis consisted of “rest and ice for KG.”With still no “official” word on the nature of Garnett’s injury, Celtics fans eagerly anticipated the return of their leader. Aside from a brief, failed four-game comeback in March, Garnett was done for the season. Still, that did not stop the Celtics brass from dangling images of Garnett dribbling and “lightly practicing,” keeping Celtics fans’ hopes alive for a playoff comeback. Never in the history of Boston sports has an injury to a player of Garnett’s stature been shrouded in so much secrecy.”We were being Belichickian,” Celtics managing partner Wyc Grousbeck said.Nine months after the initial injury, it seems something is still not right with Garnett. While the Celtics will highlight Garnett’s game-winning jump shot to defeat the New York Knicks in overtime, any fan with two eyes saw Garnett dragging his injured leg throughout the overtime. Even Celtics coach Doc Rivers is not sure what to expect from Garnett.”No, he’s not finishing,” Rivers said. “One day he’s explosive, one day he’s not, one day he’s healthy, one day he’s not.”Rivers told the media following Saturday’s practice that Garnett may not be 100 percent healthy at all this year.”I think it will take all year,” Rivers said. “By playoff time, he will be fine. But he’ll have a great stretch, then a tired stretch. That’s just my opinion. I don’t know how long it will take.”Not exactly encouraging words, especially coming from someone who knows just how devestating knee injuries can be. It was Rivers who tore his ACL while playing for the Knicks in 1994. He spent the entire 1995 season out of the league rehabbing, and eventually retired following a disappointing 1996 comeback with the San Antonio Spurs.The good news for the Green is that the season is still young, giving both the coaches and the players plenty of time to get themselves back on track. The bad news is that with only 14 games played, the Celtics and Garnett’s knee still have 68 games to go. While this writer is thankful for the Celtics’ 2008 championship on Thanksgiving, by the looks of Garnett’s knee It could be a while until we see a title again.