Kevin Garnett Archives April 2008 Kevin Garnett Archives April 2008   KEVIN GARNETT TAKES HOME DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR April 23, 2008 - You can be forgiven if you started experiencing a slight case of deja vu while watching Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. As in Game 1, Atlanta held a brief early lead before Boston quickly took control. As in Game 1, the Hawks hung around for about a half or so before the Celtics put together a decisive surge. As in Game 1, the second half entirely belonged to Boston. And as in Game 1, the Celtics cruised to victory, this time by a 96-77 count. 2008 PLAYOFFS BOSTON CELTICS ROUND ONE PHOTO GALLERY Kevin Garnett had another double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Rajon Rondo again thoroughly outplayed point guard counterpart Mike Bibby, collecting 12 points and eight assists. And the Celtics again thoroughly clamped down on the Hawks, who shot just 38 percent from the field and are averaging 79 points through the first two games. BOSTON CELTICS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE Game 1 : Celtics 104 Hawks 81 : Celtics Lead Series 1-0 Game 2 : Celtics 96 Hawks 77 : Celtics Lead Series 2-0 Game 3 : Saturday, April 26 : at Atlanta, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN) Game 4 : Monday, April 28 : at Atlanta, 8 p.m. ET (TNT) Game 5* : Wednesday, April 30 : at Boston, TBD (TBD) Game 6* : Friday, May 2 : at Atlanta, TBD (TBD) Game 7* : Sunday, May 4 : at Boston, TBD (TBD) * If necessary 1ST ROUND - ATLANTA HAWKS The Celtics got a scare when All-Star Paul Pierce left in the second quarter with a back strain. But he started the second half and scored six of his 14 points in the third quarter, when Boston turned it into a blowout. Josh Smith and Marvin Williams scored 13 points each for the Hawks. Bibby, serenaded throughout by the fans at TD Banknorth Garden, added 12 on 2-of-7 shooting.   KEVIN GARNETT EASILY POWERS OVER HAWKS TO LEAD SERIES April 20, 2008 - The top-seeded Celtics kicked off the 2008 NBA playoffs in grand fashion, walloping the No. 8 Atlanta Hawks 104-81 last night. It didn't matter it was the 1-8 matchup. The Celtics entered the game with fire in their eyes, and kept that killer instinct until the game was well out of reach. "Running through the tunnel (before the game), I had so much emotion that I had to slow down," said Kevin Garnett. "You could hear the crowd, you hear the building rocking and the bleachers shaking. "I'm the last one out so nobody is talking to me. I had to take a minute for myself and thank the Lord I am back in this position. I'm not going to hold back. I'm going to enjoy this ride for as long as it lasts." BOSTON CELTICS VS. ATLANTA HAWKS PLAYOFFS: GAME 1 POST GAME INTERVIEW It was Kendrick Perkins that set the emotional tone early in the first half. After Paul Pierce hit a pair of 3-pointers, Perkins grabbed a rebound and was fouled going up for a dunk. He then took two steps towards the stands, flexed, and let out a loud scream to the elation of the crowd. The intensity was there. The Celtics wanted it bad, and it never felt in doubt. Even when the Hawks cut the lead to two during the second period, the Celtics were not going to let it go. "Our intensity was at a very high level," said Pierce. "We can feel the energy in the building. In the first half we were brushing off the cobwebs, but we are here and we are ready to go." Any prayer Atlanta had was dashed by Allen with 7:47 left in the third. He took an outlet pass, stopped and drained a 3-pointer in front of three defenders as if he were still on the empty court. 2008 PLAYOFFS BOSTON CELTICS ROUND ONE PHOTO GALLERY Allen was a man on a mission. He scored a team-high 18 points, and did not need to step on the court for most of the fourth quarter. "The ball floated my way," said Allen. "We found a play that worked and we exploited it. But I made sure I found another man if he was open and the ball wasn't sticking to my hands. That made the offense run a lot easier." Rajon Rondo hardly looking like a second-year player. He could be seen hollering at teammates, and even physically moved Pierce into position before one inbounds pass. The youngster finished the game just short of a double-double, tallying 15 points and nine assists. BOSTON CELTICS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE Game 1 : Celtics 104 Hawks 81 : Celtics Lead Series 1-0 Game 2 : Wednesday, April 23 : at Boston, 8 p.m. ET (TNT) Game 3 : Saturday, April 26 : at Atlanta, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN) Game 4 : Monday, April 28 : at Atlanta, 8 p.m. ET (TNT) Game 5* : Wednesday, April 30 : at Boston, TBD (TBD) Game 6* : Friday, May 2 : at Atlanta, TBD (TBD) Game 7* : Sunday, May 4 : at Boston, TBD (TBD) * If necessary 1ST ROUND - ATLANTA HAWKS "He was very poised and has become much more of a leader and a general," said Garnett. "Before the series we put him off to the side and had a talk with him about what's at stake. He's been playing tremendous. He took his shots and had a lot of confidence." Pierce and Garnett each scored 16 points while Leon Powe and Sam Cassell each had 10. "In the playoffs the guys realize there is just more at stake," said Pierce. "Not that we don't realize that in the regular season. But our intensity goes up. There are a lot of things to think about when you get in the playoffs. The regular season has ups and downs. You cannot have downs during the playoffs." - EagleTribune.com   KEVIN GARNETT FACES ATLANTA HAWKS IN 2008 PLAYOFFS April 17, 2008 - The Boston Celtics finished the regular season with 66 wins, head and shoulders above the rest the league. They beat all 29 other teams at least once this season and they swept the Texas Triangle. They straight-out dominated the competition all season and were atop the Power Rankings for the final four weeks. They were by far the best defensive team in the league. But none of that means anything now. Regular season records and achievements are being thrown out as the postseason begins. And the 2007-08 Boston Celtics will be measured by what they do from April 19 to June 19. If they don't win the championship, some other team will be known as the best team of this season, and they'll have failed. The Celtics' quest for a 17th championship begins with a First Round series against the young (averaging just 24.8 years of age and less than four years of NBA experience) Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta is making their first postseason appearance since 1999. Are the Hawks just happy to be here and have their coach shave his head, or do they want more? BOSTON CELTICS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE Game 1 : Sunday, April 20 : at Boston, 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT) Game 2 : Wednesday, April 23 : at Boston, 8 p.m. ET (TNT) Game 3 : Saturday, April 26 : at Atlanta, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN) Game 4 : Monday, April 28 : at Atlanta, 8 p.m. ET (TNT) Game 5* : Wednesday, April 30 : at Boston, TBD (TBD) Game 6* : Friday, May 2 : at Atlanta, TBD (TBD) Game 7* : Sunday, May 4 : at Boston, TBD (TBD) * If necessary 1ST ROUND - ATLANTA HAWKS They won 11 of 15 games down the stretch (before finishing the season with three straight losses) to capture the eighth spot in the East, beating some playoff teams along the way, but they were 0-3 against the Celtics, including a 10-point loss at home on April 12 in which Boston's stars played limited minutes. The Hawks will need to get out and run at every opportunity, in order to take advantage of their athleticism, and because the Celtics' defense can be completely stifling in the halfcourt. On the other end, they'll need to find a way to slow down at least two of Boston's All-Stars. Frankly, they'll need to play their best basketball just to win a game. But this series isn't about the Hawks. While it will be great to see playoff basketball in the ATL once again, this series is about the Boston Celtics and the beginning of their two-month quest for the Larry O'Brien trophy. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have each reached the Conference Finals on their own, but they've yet to go through a postseason together. There are many reasons to believe they can win it all, but the discussion ends Friday, because the playoffs begin Saturday. - NBA.com