Boston Sports Fan Blog

Tonight marks the start of the NBA Finals. The matchup of the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers is one that we have seen before, twelve times to be exact. The Celtics beat the Lakers in the 2008 finals 4-2. The series was highlighted by a 24 point comeback win in game four to take a 3-1 series lead. The Celtics eventually closed the Lakers out in game six in Boston.

I expect this series to be very highly competitive, much like the one in 2008 was. This time however, I expect the outcome to be different. The main reason I see this series ending differently is due to the fact that Kevin Garnett is no longer a dominant player. In 2008, Garnett was still a very capable offensive player and was armed with many weapons in his offensive repertoire. In 2008, Garnett was able to play above the rim and caused the Lakers front line issues. Now, Garnett is merely a spot up mid range shooter on the offensive end. The Celtics lack of a post up scorer who commands a double team will allow the Lakers length to disrupt the Celtics perimeter offense. The only way that the Celtics can win this series is if Rajon Rondo not only keeps playing well, but actually elevates his game and becomes more of a scorer. Rondo is the one Celtic who does not live by the perimeter shot on the offensive end. If Rondo is able to continuously get to the basket and finish, the Celtics may be able to take this series. I, however, do not see the Celtics being able to match the Lakers athelticism and scoring options. Lakers in 6.

Celtics forward Kevin Garnett has been suspended for Game 2 of Boston’s first-round playoff series against the Heat for landing an elbow to the face of Miami’s Quentin Richardson in a fourth-quarter fracas during Game 1 on Saturday.

The announcement was made Sunday by Stu Jackson, NBA executive vice president of basketball operations.

Richardson was fined $25,000 for his role in the altercation.

Garnett earned a double technical and ejection in the melee that unfolded after Paul Pierce tumbled to the ground near the Miami bench with 40 seconds left in Boston’s victory at the TD Garden.

Click here to read the full article – By Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com

Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett returned to practice Tuesday, engaging in full activity for the first time since hyperextending his surgically repaired right knee late last month.


By all accounts, Garnett looked fluid and he even expressed a desire to return to game action as soon as possible, though Celtics coach Doc Rivers indicated it will come no sooner than Friday night against the Portland Trail Blazers. Boston is waiting to see how the knee responds in the next few days before making a decision on that contest.

“Felt good to be back with the guys today, [my] first real practice, it felt good,” Garnett said.

Asked if he would push Rivers to put him in the lineup Wednesday night on the road against the Detroit Pistons, Garnett joked, “It wouldn’t be me if I didn’t … [But I'm] being smart about injuries, so they don’t get worse. I think I learned that last year the hard way. I’m trying to be patient and actually listen.”

Click here to read the full article – By Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com