The Boston Celtics stand one loss away from a first-round sweep, and Doc Rivers wonders if Kevin Garnett is struggling to deal with a new reality.
BOSTON -- He headbutts basket stanchions before games, holds seemingly endless midgame conversations with himself (and just about everybody else), and just grabbed 17 rebounds in a playoff game at age 36 despite bone spurs that reportedly "float" between his ankle and foot.
Yes, Kevin Garnett desperately desires to win, years ago crying during one interview because his Minnesota Timberwolves weren't accumulating enough victories.
Now the Boston Celtics stand one loss away from a first-round sweep, and Garnett's coach wonders if the center is struggling to deal with a new reality.
"I got the sense that he was getting frustrated, because he wanted (teammates) to be him, in the same spirit," Rivers explained. "But he just kept chugging along. He didn't change. He didn't change his demeanor. He's as competitive a human being as I've ever been around."
Because of health and roster moves, only one of Garnett's teammates from the 2008 championship team remains in Boston's lineup: Paul Pierce. He, Garnett and fellow ring-bearer Rajon Rondo held a chat behind closed doors in Boston's locker room late Friday night.
One can only imagine what the trio discussed. Perhaps they wistfully recalled P.J. Brown's contributions to the title run, brainstormed ways to make NBA history as the first team to overcome a 3-0 series deficit, rehashed Rondo's latest Connect Four victory, wondered how on earth Boston's offense ever crumbled to this extent, or Skyped Kendrick Perkins and comforted him as he dealt with Russell Westbrook's injury. Or maybe they were just three teammates talking nonsense, because that's what teammates often do in the sacred space within a locker room.
What we do know: Garnett isn't very familiar with many of his other teammates. And many of his other teammates aren't very familiar with the postseason. Jordan Crawford, Chris Wilcox and Terrence Williams all made their playoff debuts during this series. Prior to Game 1, Courtney Lee hadn't been to the postseason since his rookie year. Jeff Green's never played as big a role as he needs to now. Avery Bradley's still learning how to run an offense amid heightened intensity.
Through three games against New York, Boston has looked inexperienced and hopeless.
"I’m going to play until it’s over,” Garnett still said. “I’m not usually broken. It’s always been my mentality. It always probably will. That’s what it is. I’ve been to the bottom before. I know what it is. I’m a fighter at the end of the day, but it takes more than one person.”
Was that a dig at teammates unwilling to match his own intensity? Garnett continued to say that he thought his teammates tried hard, maybe too hard, which he thought might have contributed to a batch of missed layups.
"I think everybody had the same mentality, wanting to win, wanting to be home," he explained. "Obviously, I said when we come back home it's going to be pretty emotional. We wanted to win this, obviously, with everything that's been going on here as of late."
Rivers had just experienced one of the more demoralizing losses of his coaching career, but even at a time of utter disappointment he couldn't keep from gushing about Garnett.
"I just thought he played so hard. What did he have, 17 rebounds? He missed some shots, obviously, that he'd like to have back, but he really wanted to win (Friday). I thought there were a couple guys that stood out in that way. And he obviously was - he was fantastic," Rivers said. "It's why you love him."