Venerable Nets star Kevin Garnett will miss his third straight game Wednesday against Memphis. But Nets honchos insist they’re not worried about their aging power forward, saying it’s part of a plan to get him – and keep him – healthy for the playoffs.
Though a 37-year-old big man suffering from a bad back and struggling through his career-worst statistical season normally would raise all sorts of red flags, there is reason to believe Garnett’s layoff is as much maintenance as recovery.
After Garnett was ruled out of Saturday’s game during the team shootaround, coach Jason Kidd initially said it was due to rest, before the team hastily switched that label to “back spasms.”
He sat out Monday as well, and despite not practicing Tuesday, Garnett reported improvement.
“It is what it is. That’s the plan. We have to come up with a game plan, and that’s the plan,’’ said Kidd, who insisted he wasn’t worried at all about Garnett’s back woes becoming chronic or threatening his availability for the postseason. “Nope. No concerns.’’
Why not?
“It’s March,’’ Kidd shrugged with a laugh. “He has to play all 82?”
It’s actually been 49 of 59 games, averaging a career-low 21.0 minutes after logging 29.7 last season. Still, after struggling in 2013, he’s been much better in the calendar year of 2014, shooting 57 percent since the Nets caught fire after the New Year and playing his usual tenacious defense that will be needed in the playoffs.
“Ticket has played since I’ve been with the team, what, two games?’’ backup big man Jason Collins asked rhetorically, invoking Garnett’s Big Ticket nickname. “So we have a lot of depth on this team with regards to bigs. And obviously we play a lot of small ball as well. It’s a matter of we need Ticket for the playoffs.’’
Collins – who was signed to another 10-day contract on Wednesday – is one of several big men who will be asked to step up as Garnett recovers/rests/whatever.
Rookie Mason Plumlee is expected to start his third straight Wednesday in lieu of Garnett. The Nets’ reserve bigs – challenged by Kidd to pick up their defense in Garnett’s absence – held the Bulls to just 80 points on Monday and were looking for an encore Wednesday against the Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.
“Game situations dictate a lot, so we’ll see what happens,” Collins said of his minutes. “But regardless, I have to be professional and ready when my name and number get called upon. We have as much talent as any team in the league. Recently the team’s been playing really well, so we just want to keep that going.’’
Garnett’s status can only be considered iffy for Friday’s game at the Celtics. With the aging veteran contemplating retirement at season’s end, it could very well be his last game in Boston, where he starred for years and won an NBA title.
“I think a lot of those emotions will still be there,’’ Collins said. “But it’s good that [Garnett and Paul Pierce] already have made the trip there. I, too, being a former Celtic, am looking forward to going back. It’ll be one of those things where you really have to focus on the game.’’