The Missing Piece

By Ian Tasso

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Anything is possible.

Assuming of course, that Kevin Garnett is on the court. Unfortunately for Boston, the 6’11 electric circuit was fastened tightly to the bench during Boston’s postseason ride.

He was still an emotional springboard for the rest of the team. He was still the biggest and loudest fan in the arena. And he still made a difference. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough.

In the end, a weak and inexperienced frontcourt was exposed by a superiorly talented Dwight Howard and a Magic team that features six guys over 6’10. The Celtics just didn’t have enough to make a serious run at a 2009 Championship.

It’s simple really: In 2008, when Ray Allen clunked three after three off of the rim in the first three postseason series, the Celtics were still able to win. Why? Kevin Garnett. In 2009, when Ray Allen clunked three after three off of the rim in the series versus the Orlando Magic, the Celtics were unable to win. Why not? Kevin Garnett.

Still, as any sports fan would, as the seconds ticked off in the Celtics’ final game of the season, I couldn’t help but wonder what if…

What if the Celtics weren’t forced to start second year undersized and underdeveloped power forward Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis?

What if the Celtics had more than two big men to call on when Davis and Perkins ran into foul trouble?

What if the Celtics had a healthy big three alongside a center that is developing right before our eyes and a point guard that continues to amaze day in and day out?

Well, the Celtics probably would have won an 18^th championship, that’s what.

Make no mistake about it – the Celtics put on a performance for the ages without their literal and figurative motor. The fact that they stretched Orlando to a game seven defies even science itself. Unfortunately, when push came to shove, all Garnett could do was watch from the sidelines as his team floundered like a fish out of water in a decisive game seven at the Garden.

Anyone who has watched even half of a game where Garnett appears on the floor is aware of what this guy brings to the Celtics. He makes plays not only because of his outrageous athleticism, but also because of his superior game knowledge. Garnett brings a dimension to the Celtics that few teams would ever even hope to have. He is a motivator and a play maker. He is a true team leader. But most of all, he is a winner.

Garnett’s desire to win is surpassed by nothing and no one. Nobody plays as hard, sacrifices as much, or wants it more than Kevin Garnett does game in, game out.

That’s why it killed me to watch him as a spectator as the Celtics tried to bring home a second championship in as many years. And I’m sure it was even worse for him.

At any given time, I was half expecting KG to rip off his suit, let out apiercing shout, and run onto the court. But that didn’t happen.

And that’s because Garnett’s injury was far more severe than anyone realized. Medically speaking, Garnett actually injured what is called the Patellar Tendon, which is responsible for most importantly, the straightening of the leg from the knee. This tendon actually tore off his bone – but not completely. Instead of a clean rip, the tendon actually took part of the bone with it, making the pain and severity of the injury that much worse.

Whenever someone goes to jump, they cock their legs beforehand. Try it. Notice that you bend before you jump. Now imagine not being able to straighten that leg.

In what proved to be more of a functional issue than anything else, when Garnett cocked his knees to jump and or run, his knee would lock up, and he would be unable to push off his right leg.

Picture this – Lebron James driving to the lane, and Garnett rotating over to cover - James then plants his foot, and goes up to the basket. Like any defender would, Garnett goes to jump up and contest the lay-in. But instead of Garnett leaving the ground, his knee just locks up, buckles, and he falls to the floor. That is probably the most accurate illustration of what would have happened had KG entered the game.

The reason the Celtics opted to wait for surgery? Simply because doctors didn’t know what they were dealing with. This injury is so uncommon, the correct course of action was actually unclear. In what was an assumed 25% chance that the injury could heal enough where he could successfully bend his knee, the Celtics chose to wait it out just in case.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t play through the pain. Believe me, he would have. It was that he physically couldn’t play the game of basketball. It was more of a functional issue than anything else.

An unfortunate functional issue.

Much like the issue that the Celtics faced without the Big Ticket in the game. When Perkins tired or got into foul trouble, the green were forced to call on the likes of Brian Scalabrine and Mikki Moore, instead of having Big Baby as a first option off the bench.

Don’t take it the wrong way. Glen Davis is a tremendous player, and a great asset to the Celtics. He’s just not a starting power forward – at least not yet.

Just remember this. Way back in December, Glen Davis was sitting on the bench getting shelled out by Garnett. It drove the LSU star to tears. With seconds ticking off the clock in game four in Orlando, Paul Pierce crosses over, can’t get a shot off, and instead dishes it off to the open Davis. Big Baby pops, nails the jumper, and is an instant Boston hero.

I can guarantee that shot would have clunked had he taken it in November.

Though much of their 2009 postseason failure can be attributed to the absence of Kevin Garnett, much of their success was actually because of him. That’s the mark of a true teammate.

A true champion.