The Boston Celtics are trying to win back-to-back NBA championships. However, if Kevin Garnett’s ailing knee doesn’t cooperate, those hopes may be dashed before the playoffs even begin.

Kevin Garnett Injury News (Image: Newcom)

After Garnett struggled through a series of games and practices, the Celtics have decided to shut him down for the time being. Boston announced that he will miss at least the next four games. In the best case scenario, Garnett would be ready to return for the last three regular season games.

For fantasy basketball purposes, Garnett isn’t very valuable at this point. The only way he holds any value at all is if your team will need production in the very last week of the regular season. Even then, it doesn’t sound certain that Garnett will be ready to go.

The Celtics right now are concerned only about getting Garnett healthy for the playoffs. If he isn’t healthy, the postseason run this year won’t be nearly as long as it was for Boston last year. With that in mind, don’t expect the Celtics to risk anything during the regular season. Even if Garnett is active for the last three games, it’s doubtful he would play extended minutes.

If you are looking for a fantasy basketball player who may be able to step up in Garnett’s absence, consider Glen “Big Baby” Davis. Big Baby is averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds per game over the last two outings. In both of those games, Garnett wasn’t able to go and Davis got a lot of the minutes. Another option is Mikki Moore, who is averaging seven points and 10.5 rebounds in his last two outings.

Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics is dealing with an injured knee that will sideline him for two to three weeks. Garnett’s injury is a strained muscle behind his right knee and while it isn’t considered serious, he has to take his time rehabbing it to make sure it doesn’t get worse.

This is obviously bad news for both the Celtics and Garnett fantasy owners. Although Garnett isn’t having a hugely impressive statistical season, he’s arguably the piece of the puzzle that makes Boston tick.

For the season, Garnett is averaging 16.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Those numbers aren’t very close to his peak numbers while with the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, as long as the Celtics continue to win, don’t expect Garnett to be upset with his production.

With Garnett out, expect Leon Powe, Glenn Davis and Brian Scalabrine to get more minutes. Powe, of the three, has the most upside. His per minute numbers are good and with extended playing time, he could become viable in fantasy basketball.

The other ripple effects on the team will be a bigger role for Kendrick Perkins and more shots for Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo.

Kevin Garnett has a new commercial for NBATV that is getting plenty of airtime. The video of the Garnett commercial can be found at the end of this entry.

The commercial splices together Garnett talking about what it takes to win an NBA championship. And right now, Garnett would have to be considered an expert after the Boston Celtics won the 2008 NBA Championship.

In this upcoming season, the Celtics will try to repeat and Garnett will remain a very good fantasy basketball player. Ironically enough, the tougher it is for Garnett and the Celtics to win during the regular season, the better his stats and the better his fantasy production.

Here is the Kevin Garnett commercial video from his NBATV spot:

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5) Bruce Bowen, San Antonio Spurs
At 37, Bruce Bowen’s chance of taking home the Defensive Player of the Year award has probably come and gone. But if the voters want to give it to a player who has been close plenty of times but never got the award, Bowen is the one.

4) Marcus Camby, Los Angeles Clippers
Camby won the award just two years ago and now that he’s heading to a larger market, he may get some votes yet again. If he plays with a chip on his shoulder and stays healthy, he has a decent shot.

3) Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
Paul is the huge favorite to lead the NBA in steals in 2008-09. If he does, voters often look at steals before casting their vote. Paul will get extra points if the Hornets improve as a team defensively.

2) Ron Artest, Houston Rockets
As one of the most interesting stories in the 2008-09 season, a lot of attention will be paid to Artest. If he plays as well as he possibly can defensively and the Rockets are again one of the best defensive teams in the league, Artest has to be considered a very strong candidate.

1) Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year could take home another one at the end of this upcoming season. The Celtics will likely be one of the best defensive teams once again and Garnett is the leader of their defensive unit.

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5. Charlotte Bobcats
Larry Brown will turn around the Bobcats. That said, it likely isn’t a one year project. Expect a few headaches this year until LB can get the team playing the way he wants.

4. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are starting to assemble a nice amount of talent. If Pau Gasol’s brother pans out, the Grizzlies could surprise.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder
The former Seattle Supersonics still won’t be ready for the big time. However, with a future Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook, the future is bright in Oklahoma.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves are still reeling from the Kevin Garnett trade. Although they have good talent, that talent isn’t going to provide many wins this year.

1. New Jersey Nets
The Nets don’t seem too concerned with winning basketball games. The summer of 2010 and a shot at LeBron James can’t come soon enough for New Jersey.

The Boston Celtics lost a big part of the their championship core on Wednesday when James Posey signed with the New Orleans Hornets. The Hornets signed the defensive specialist to a four-year, $25 million deal.

With Posey, the Hornets instantly become a much more physical team. They gain a player who has been in the playoff wars and has two championship rings to his name. Posey may start or he may be used as the team’s first player off the bench.

The Celtics will miss Posey’s toughness and heart. Even more of the overall leadership next season will have to be handled by the Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. No longer will they be able to lean on Posey’s experience.

In terms of fantasy basketball, Posey won’t have very much value. He likely won’t play huge minutes and even if he does, most of his contributions don’t show up in the stat sheet. For that reason, this move is much bigger in terms of the NBA rather than fantasy.

Here is more information via a James Posey video:

Although Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett got a lot of publicity during the Boston Celtics’ 2008 championship run, the Celtics were comprised of more than simply three star players. One such player, who was arguably just as important as anyone on the team, was James Posey.

Posey is a rugged, physical defender who has knack for hitting clutch shots on the offensive side of the court. He’s not afraid to sacrifice his body and lay it all on the line to get the win. His two championship rings prove that Posey is an elite winner in the NBA.

However, now Posey is a free agent and is getting interest from a lot of teams around the NBA. A lot of teams value his winning ways and view him as the ultimate role player. That said, chances are Posey will end up back in Boston. At the end of the day, it’s difficult to imagine that the Celtics would get outbid for a player that means so much to what they do.

If Posey does decide to leave, which teams make sense as possible destinations? The teams that would most likely value Posey would be teams that are on the brink of winning a championship. The New Orleans Hornets could plug Posey into their starting lineup and they would do well to add his toughness to their bunch. The Utah Jazz could also use a savvy perimeter player who can defend. The Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons and even the Los Angeles Lakers all make sense as possible Posey destinations.

Kevin Garnett would be sad to see James Posey leave Beantown.

Photo: Newscom

Manny Pacquiao easily dismantled David Diaz in the ring and then once outside the ring, he joined with the Boston Celtics to celebrate. Flashbulbs burst as pictures were taken of Pacquiao with various Celtics including Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Sam Cassell and Rajon Rondo.

Watch the complete video of Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao with the Celtics here:

While the 2008 NBA Finals is still underway, it’s not too early to look at who will be named the 2008 Finals MVP. If the Los Angeles Lakers comeback from the 3-1 deficit to beat the Boston Celtics, Kobe Bryant will undoubtedly win the MVP. If the Celtics win, the race isn’t nearly as clear cut.

Boston’s Big Three — Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen — can each make a case for why they should win the 2008 Finals MVP. Here is a look at the stats so far in the Finals through four games:

Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett is averaging 17.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game against the Lakers in the Finals. The problem is he’s only shooting 38.2% from the field.

Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce is averaging 19.0 points, 5.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game in the series. He’s shooting 45.3% from the field, 46.7% from beyond the three-point arc and has played very good throughout defense throughout the series.

Ray Allen
Ray Allen is averaging 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He’s shooting 52.1% from the field and 48.0% from three-point land.

Conclusion:
Ray Allen is currently in the lead in the MVP race. However, Paul Pierce can overtake him if he has another big game to close out the Lakers. Kevin Garnett would need a monstrous game to get back into the hunt.

Ray Allen is shooting himself to the Finals MVP

Photo: Newscom

Much like the Kobe Bryant and Vanessa Curry rumors, internet rumors link Kevin Garnett and a Timberwolves cheerleader named Krissy. According to the rumor, Garnett and Krissy have had a four-year relationship and she even moved to Boston to continue the relationship. Garnett nor his wife Brandi have commented on this internet based story.

Obviously, this is bad timing for such a rumor. Garnett and his Boston Celtics teammates are in the 2008 NBA Finals and are playing against the Los Angeles Lakers. After winning Game 1 of the series, the Celtics need just three more wins before they are named the 2008 NBA champions.

If Garnett has to go on the defensive about this rumor or admit guilt, one would have to imagine that his play might be affected on the basketball court. On the other hand, if the rumor is bogus, it shouldn’t affect Garnett at all.

If you are playing playoff fantasy basketball, this story should have no impact on whether you play or not play Kevin Garnett.

Photo: Newscom