WALTHAM, Mass. — The Big Three is down to Two.
Celtics star Kevin Garnett, the centerpiece of Boston’s 2008 championship and a key to its hopes of a repeat, could miss the playoffs because of a knee injury that has limited him to four games over the final two months of the season.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Thursday that Garnett will not be ready for Game 1 against the Chicago Bulls and possibly won’t be back at all.
“It’s not official that he’s out for the entire playoffs, but it’s official as far as I’m concerned,” Rivers said. “I just don’t see how. I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t see it.”
Garnett has been the Celtics’ inspirational leader since joining them in a 2007 trade that completed the new Big Three and propelled the franchise to its record 17th NBA title. He averaged 15.8 and 8.5 rebounds per game for the defending champions this season.
“I’m devastated for him,” Celtics guard Ray Allen said. “This is the time of year you’ve been waiting for.”
Garnett injured his right knee Feb. 19 and missed the next 13 games before returning for four and playing a total of 66 minutes, 18 seconds. With the Celtics assured of a high playoff berth, Rivers then held Garnett out with an eye toward bringing him back for the last three games of the regular season; that became the last two, then the last one, but he never made it back.
Boston was 18-7 without Garnett this year, and Glen “Big Baby” Davis has been coming on since replacing him in the lineup.
