SPORTING NEWS BLOG

By Bethlehem Shoals

updated 4:32 p.m. ET March 31, 2009

Kevin Garnett missed some games, then came back not looking himself, then sat with soreness. Now, Boston's announced that they're "shutting down" KG, but will bring him back just before the playoffs to make sure he's ready. There are 82 games in an NBA season; the Celtics have played 75. The exact quote from Rivers:

"After watching him move today, we're just going to shut him down," Rivers said. "It probably won't be for the year. He'll probably play by the end, last couple of games, or last three games. It's just not progressing the way we anticipated it would progress."

So there is a hint of uncertainty, or dread, here. It "probably won't be for the year", but still could be. No clarification of whether "year" means "regular season" or "until 2009-10", which frankly should terrify Celtics fans. "Not progressing the way we anticipated" is never a good thing to hear.

So this could be a big deal. Most of all, why even bother to use the term "shutting down" if Rivers is just talking about, say, 3-4 games? That's not really "shutting down" in my book; "shutting down" is dramatic, definitive, or at least involves a long stretch of time. A Freudian slip worth noting, perhaps?

But assuming everything works out just fine, this is the best move for the Celtics, who aren't going to catch the Cavs and probably aren't too worried about the Magic (in terms of home court advantage).

I'm not saying they shouldn't be concerned, but they aren't. The real irony here, though, is that while Celtics fans are insisting the Cavs are screwed if Bron doesn't rest, since he plays so much and all, this might be those veteran Celtics showing their age.

It's fine and dandy if KG's ready for the playoffs, but given what a long, thankless slog their trip to the Finals was last season, might this not be an omen of more perilous things to come?

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