Garnett’s knee is just fine. It has been a concern in camp, but apparently KG has his explosion back. In a recent practice, he caught an alley-oop and slammed it home. The Celtics’ fortunes depend heavily on the health of Garnett’s knee. Without him at full strength, they’ll have a tough time competing with the Cavs and Magic. As an NBA fan, a healthy KG is good for the league.

Is Russell Westbrook turning into a dependable point guard? The Oklahoman reports that is A/T ratio in the preseason is 5.4. Last season it was 1.6, which is quite bad. It’s a small sample size, but if Westbrook can get his A/T ratio above 3.0, it will reap dividends for the Thunder. From a fantasy perspective, if he were to cut his turnovers in half and have the same number of assists (which would result in a A/T ratio of about 3.0), then he’d be the 15th most efficient point guard (just below Mo Williams) instead of the 21st most efficient.

Stephen Jackson will play for the Warriors, but he’s not happy about it. There’s a good chance the Warriors will acquiesce and try to fulfill Jackson’s wishes to be traded, but the 31 year-old has three more years remaining on his contract at the tune of $9.3 per season, so there’s no guarantee that a playoff team would be willing to make a move for him. Miami could move Michael Beasley, but Jackson’s contract would ruin the Heat’s financial flexibility next summer. The Suns could use Jackson to replace an aging Grant Hill, but they’re in financial trouble. The Hornets probably make the most sense, but are they willing to spend?

Who will be on the court to finish games — Bynum or Odom? This seems to be the annual question with the Lakers. When is Bynum’s game going to mature enough that it demands that he be on the floor to finish games? Odom is the better player right now, and although he’s flaky at times, he shows up when it counts. Bynum has been erratic, and he’s going to have to produce consistently to convince Phil Jackson to go with a “twin towers” approach. Odom can face the basket, which helps the Lakers spacing. When Bynum is on the floor with Pau Gasol, the lane gets clogged and Kobe doesn’t have as much room to penetrate.

Andre Miller isn’t happy being a backup. If I were Miller, I wouldn’t be happy backing up Steve Blake either. But the simple fact of the matter is that Blake is more suited to running the Blazers if they continue to grind-it-out offensively. Blake is a 39% 3PT shooter (Miller is a career 21% shooter from long range), and if Portland continues to play at a slow pace, then they’ll need Blake’s accuracy on the floor to create penetration lanes for Brandon Roy. Miller can post up, which is one way that Nate McMillan could use him in the half court. But he’s a point guard that thrives on the break, and in recent years, the Blazers just don’t push the ball all that much. This will be one of the more interesting storylines to follow this season.

Paul Millsap doesn’t worry about whether or not he’s starting. And he shouldn’t, because he’s still not quite as good as Carlos Boozer. Millsap should just put his head down and go to work, because he will be the starting power forward in Utah soon enough. The team made it clear by the commitment it made in the offseason. Boozer probably won’t be in Utah next season.

But I’m burying the lead. Derrick Rose was the reason the Bulls were able to pull the upset. He posted 36 points (tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most points by a rookie in his playoff debut) and 11 assists. He shot 12 of 19 from the field and made all 12 of his free throws. It was truly one of the best playoff debuts by a rookie in the history of the league, especially considering that he was going up one of the better defensive point guards in Rajon Rondo.

Joakim Noah rounded out the “young core” trio with 12 points, 17 rebounds and three blocks. Ben Gordon chipped in with 20 points and had a great fourth quarter.

The Celtics are in a bad way down 0-1 and without Kevin Garnett for the foreseeable future. Rondo played well (29 points, nine boards, seven dimes, one turnover), and Paul Pierce scored an inefficient 23 points (on 8 of 21 shooting), but Ray Allen’s 1 for 12 shooting killed Boston.

One point that Bill Simmons made in his “woe is me” column about how the Celtics will be without KG in the playoffs was how the truth about Garnett’s injury didn’t come out until the franchise let it out.

There’s a hidden sub-story lurking here: It involves the fall of newspapers, lack of access and the future of reporting, not just with sports but with everything. I grew up reading Bob Ryan, who covered the Celtics for the Boston Globe and remains the best basketball writer alive to this day. Back in the 1970s and early ’80s, he was overqualified to cover the team. In 1980, he would have sniffed out the B.S. signs of this KG story, kept pursuing it, kept writing about it, kept working connections and eventually broken it. True, today’s reporters don’t get the same access Ryan had, but let’s face it: If 1980 Bob Ryan was covering the Celtics right now, ESPN or someone else would lure him away. And that goes for the editors, too. The last two sports editors during the glory years of the Globe’s sports section were Vince Doria and Don Skwar … both of whom currently work for ESPN.

For the past few years, as newspapers got slowly crushed by myriad factors, a phalanx of top writers and editors fled for the greener pastures of the Internet. The quality of nearly every paper suffered, as did morale. Just two weeks ago, reports surfaced that the New York Times Company (which owns the Globe) was demanding $20 million in union concessions or it’d shut down the Globe completely. I grew up dreaming of writing a sports column for the Globe; now the paper might be gone before I turn 40. It’s inconceivable. But this Garnett story, and how it was (and wasn’t) covered, reminds me of “The Wire,” which laid out a blueprint in Season 5 for the death of newspapers without us fully realizing it. The season revolved around the Baltimore Sun and its inability (because of budget cuts and an inexperienced staff) to cover the city’s decaying infrastructure. The lesson was inherent: We need to start caring about the decline of newspapers, because, really, all hell is going to break loose if we don’t have reporters breaking stories, sniffing out corruption, seeing through smoke and mirrors and everything else. That was how Season 5 played out, and that’s why “Wire” creator David Simon is a genius. He saw everything coming before anyone else did.

Ultimately, Garnett’s injury doesn’t REALLY matter. It’s just sports. But I find it a little chilling that the best player on the defending NBA champion could be sidelined for two solid months, with something obviously wrong, and nobody came close to unraveling the real story. We still don’t know what’s wrong with his knee. We just know it’s screwed up. And, yeah, you could say that Garnett has always been guarded — with just a few people in his circle of trust — and yeah, you could say that only a few members of the Celtics organization know the truth (maybe coach Doc Rivers, GM Danny Ainge, majority owner Wyc Grousbeck, the trainers and that’s it). But this was a massive local sports story. Its coverage is not a good sign for the future of sports journalism or newspapers in general.

It’s a good point, and one that has been made before (without the references to “The Wire” — Bill’s specialty). With the death of the newspaper, there won’t be 5-10 hungry reporters sitting in a press room at the Boston Herald waiting to dig into a story. Most reporting is done from a distance these days, and even those with “access,” don’t have that much access. What’s lost here is that franchises are more guarded about information than they’ve ever been, because they’ve been burned by the Bob Ryans of the world before. Ryan was/is just doing his job, and doing it well, but there is little to no incentive for teams to be up front about injury information. For this, we have Bill Belicheat to thank.

The best thing about being a sports fan on the West Coast: Every game comes on three hours earlier. I watched a 12-inning Boston-Oakland game Tuesday night that ended at the totally reasonable time of 11:29 p.m. Had I stayed up for that one on the East Coast, I would have been dead for work the next day, Oh, wait, I don’t have a real job. Bad example. But you get the idea.

The worst thing about being a sports fan on the West Coast: Things happen while you’re sleeping. I never know what to expect upon first glance at my Blackberry. Today, I woke up at 7:10 in the morning, trekked downstairs, let my dog outside, ground some coffee beans, filled the filter, added the water, got the brewing process going, and then, even as I was still wiping the crust from my eyes, these three e-mails were atop my inbox…

It’s interesting to read his stuff on a shortened timeline. (He says he had only 150 minutes to write the piece.) Is it as funny or as good as his usual columns? You be the judge.

Sure, with its seven-game format, the NBA Playoffs aren’t quite as consistently dramatic as March Madness, but there are a number of compelling storylines as we head into this year’s postseason. Will KG return in time to help the Celtics try to repeat? Will LeBron and the Cavs ride home court advantage to the Finals? Can Chris Paul and the Hornets put a less-than-stellar regular season behind them and make a run? Can Kobe finally win a title without Shaq?

The Playoffs start on Saturday, and looking at the matchups, I think I have a pretty good idea how things will play out. Granted, I’m likely to make a few mistakes along the way, but that’s part of the fun, right?

#1 Cavaliers vs. #8 Pistons
Let’s see – the Pistons limped into the playoffs, going 8-9 in March and 3-5 in April. Earlier in the season, they traded away arguably their best player (Chauncey Billups) and the guy they got in return (Allen Iverson) is (rumored to be) spending his time getting banned from the local casinos. If Detroit had held onto Billups, maybe they’d be able to make this a series, but without him, they’re floundering. I hope Joe Dumars has fun with that cap space!

#4 Hawks vs. #5 Heat
Here’s a first round battle between two teams that don’t have a legitimate chance of making the Finals. If the NBA were to adopt a single-elimination format (or even three-game series across the board), maybe….maybe…one of these teams could get hot and make a run. As it stands, the winner will have the right to face a determined Cavs team in the second round. Not that it matters, but I’m going with the Hawks here. They have home court advantage, have won three of four against the Heat this season and are simply a better team. Hats off to Dwyane Wade for willing the Heat this far, but I don’t think we’re going to see a LeBron/D-Wade matchup in the second round. (Not unless Jermaine O’Neal discovers the Fountain of Youth by this weekend.)

#2 Celtics vs. #7 Bulls
Don’t look now, but the Bulls are (kind of) hot. They’ve won 12 of their last 16 games, including home wins against Boston and New Orleans. Normally, I’d take the C’s and not think twice, but with Kevin Garnett out for the foreseeable future, this is suddenly an interesting series. Boston is 18-7 without Garnett (8-5 against playoff teams), so the Celtics are still a solid team without their star forward. I think home court should be enough to allow Boston to move on, but don’t be surprised if Chicago springs the upset.

#3 Magic vs. #6 Sixers
The Sixers were 12-15 with Elton Brand and 29-26 without him. Ouch. Philly had lost six straight games before beating a Cavs team that was resting its starters. The Magic swept the season series. Despite the Orlando’s mediocre play in April, the Magic should advance.

#1 Lakers vs. #8 Jazz
Utah gave L.A. some problems last year, taking the Lakers to six games. Moreover, every game in the series was competitive. The Jazz have the tools to cause headaches for the Lakers, but Utah is 2-7 in its last nine, so I don’t see an upset here.

#4 Trail Blazers vs. #5 Rockets
Houston is 16-7 in March and April, but just 7-6 against playoff teams. Portland is 18-6 (and 6-6) over the same span. What does this tell us? Not much, but I already counted up the wins so I didn’t want the work to go to waste. Something tells me that the Blazers are going to have a tough time matching Ron Artest’s mental toughness, but I’m rooting for a Portland win so they can move on and face the Lakers (whom they’ve beaten twice in the last 39 days). The Blazers have home court, so let’s hope that’s enough.

#2 Nuggets vs. #7 Hornets
At the start of the season, I thought these seeds would be reversed. I can’t believe how well Denver has played since Chauncey Billups’ arrival (and without Marcus Camby). New Orleans limped into the playoffs (going 3-6 in April) and they just don’t look like the same team that took San Antonio to seven games in last year’s Western Conference Semifinals. Meanwhile, the Nuggets have won 14 of their last 17 and have home court advantage. It’s going to be a great battle at point guard between Billups and Chris Paul, but Denver is just playing better ball right now. I’m going with the Nuggets, but I wouldn’t be shocked if the Hornets pulled the upset.

#3 Spurs vs. #6 Mavericks
With Manu Ginobili sidelined, the Mavs have a real shot to upset the Spurs, but I don’t think Jason Kidd can handle Tony Parker’s quickness. TP is averaging 31.3 points (on 52% shooting) and 7.3 assists his four regular season games against Dallas. Parker should go nuts, so if Tim Duncan’s knees hold up, the Spurs will advance, and there will be several shots of Mark Cuban looking unhappy in the stands. (Anyone want to pool some money together and pay for Devin Harris to sit in the same section? That would be awesome.)

#1 Cavaliers vs. #4 Hawks
Atlanta does have the personnel to give the Cavs some problems, but LeBron seems destined for a Finals appearance this season and the Hawks have really struggled to slow him down in the two team’s four meetings this season. (Cleveland is 3-1 in those games.) Mo Williams averaged 23.3 points and shot almost 54% against the Hawks this season, and with the way LeBron is playing defense right now, I don’t see Joe Johnson carrying the Hawks to more than a couple of wins. Cavs advance.

#2 Celtics vs. #3 Magic
Anyone who followed my March Madness picks knows that I’m not optimistic when it comes to pre-tournament injuries. (Damn you, Ty Lawson!) Such is the case with KG’s knees – according to Doc Rivers, he may not be able to play again this postseason, and if he’s not at or near 100%, the Magic have the advantage in this series. It’s true that Orlando is without Jameer Nelson, but Rafer Alston has been an adequate replacement. I’d feel a lot better picking this upset if the Magic had played better down the stretch, but let’s assume that they lost focus late in the season with virtually nothing on the line. Orlando pulls the upset.

#1 Lakers vs. #4 Trail Blazers
The Lakers won the first two meetings (in L.A.) by an average of 17 points, but the Blazers won the last two in Portland by 17 (in March) and by eight (in April). The Lakers have now lost eight straight at the Rose Garden, but with home court advantage, they don’t have to win in Portland. I expect the young Blazers to put up a fight, but ultimately lose this series in six or seven. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol provide a great one-two punch, but the Lakers will need some production out of Derek Fisher or Jordan Farmar somewhere along the line to reach the Finals. Given the state of the teams in the other side of the West bracket, the Blazers (or even the Rockets, if they advance) could give the Lakers their toughest conference test. This will be good experience for the young Blazers who look poised to dominate the West in the not-too-distant future.

#2 Nuggets vs. #3 Spurs
Ugh. I’m not a believer in the Nuggets, and I’m not optimistic about the Spurs given Manu Ginobili’s absence and Tim Duncan’s knees. The Nuggets have home-court advantage in this series thanks to a 2-1 regular season record against the Spurs. Tony Parker didn’t play in either of the Spurs’ losses, and he’s going to have to come up huge for the Spurs to advance. Without Ginobili, the Spurs are in a bad way, but I’d feel worse about picking Denver to advance to the Western Conference Finals, so San Antonio it is.

#1 Cavaliers vs. #3 Magic
With Jameer Nelson in the lineup, the Magic would have had a shot, but they don’t have anyone to contain LeBron on the wing. James averaged 30.7 points in three games against Orlando, but didn’t shoot all that well (43%). Mo Williams has really struggled against the Magic, shooting 38% from the field and scoring just 14.3 ppg. The Magic were 2-1 against the Cavs this season, but both wins were at home. Orlando will want to make this game a grind, but LeBron should be able to get to the line enough to give the Cavs the advantage in the clutch. Given Orlando’s struggles down the stretch, it will be an accomplishment to get this far, so let’s hope that Stan Van Gundy doesn’t give himself another ulcer on the sideline.

#1 Lakers vs. #3 Spurs
The Spurs couldn’t beat the Lakers last year with Ginobili in the lineup and Andrew Bynum sidelined, so I don’t see them beating L.A. without Ginobili and with Bynum back and looking pretty good. Nothing to see here. Lakers advance.

#1 Cavaliers vs. #1 Lakers
With KG hobbled and the C’s looking vulnerable, this is the matchup that everyone wants to see. Kobe wants a Shaq-less title so badly, he can taste it. (No jokes about Shaq’s freestyle rap, please.) It has been his singular focus for the last few seasons, and he can sense that the window is closing. His Lakers fell to the Celtics in last year’s Finals in part because Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen had that same focus, while the rest of the Lakers simply did not. The Cavs should have an advantage at point guard with Mo Williams who is quicker than Fisher and more experienced (and more confident) than Farmar. The Lakers can throw Kobe and Trevor Ariza at LeBron on the defensive end, and have an advantage inside with Gasol and Bynum (versus Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao). The Lakers swept the season series, and LeBron shot a combined 14 for 45 (31%) in the two games, so it looks like the Lakers might have his number from a defensive standpoint. (Keep in mind that LeBron killed the Lakers in the two games last season, so who knows.) The Cavs have better chemistry, but chemistry only gets you so far. Unless LeBron can shake off his regular season struggles against the Lakers and post his usual 29-7-7 line, L.A. should be able to steal a game in Cleveland. The only thing standing in the way is Kobe’s relationship with his teammates. How will he handle adversity? Will the Laker role players come up small when faced with the prospect of failing Kobe on his quest for another title? The Lakers have the personnel (and coaching) advantage, so I think they’ll ultimately triumph, but assuming we do get this matchup, it’s going to be interesting to watch the emotional side of this series.

The Boston Celtics repeat hopes took a hit today as head coach Doc Rivers stated that Kevin Garnett is not ready to play, and insinuated that his star forward may not be ready for the entire playoffs.

“I don’t see it. I just don’t,” Rivers said. “I’ve flipped completely, because I was watching him move (before) and he looked great. But after today, there’s no way he can play.”

“The guy’s a warrior and you can see him trying to mask it, but after 20 minutes of running, there’s just no way,” Rivers said.

This morning, Rivers raised the serious possibility that the layoff would extend through the playoffs.

“It may send a message to our guys that there’s nobody you’re waiting for,” Rivers said in reference to his team’s reaction. “And it can help us in that way. That’s the only way it can help us.”

With a healthy Garnett, the Celtics are title contenders. Without him, they’re just a good NBA team. This is obviously great news for the Cavs, Magic and even the Bulls, who now have a shot at pulling off an upset of the #2-seed in the East.

Doc Rivers revealed that the Boston Celtics plan to shut down Kevin Garnett for a few games due to pain and swelling in his troublesome knee.

Kevin Garnett will miss at least the next four games with a sore right knee and may return for the final three games of the Boston Celtics’ regular season.

The emotional leader and defensive star of the defending NBA champions has missed 15 of the last 19 games, including the last two. The Celtics hope the rest will help him get healthy for the playoffs.

“After watching him move today, we’re just going to shut him down,” Rivers said. “It probably won’t be for the year. He’ll probably play by the end, last couple of games or last three games. It’s just not progressing the way we anticipated it would progress.”

The Celtics began the day in third place in the Eastern Conference, five games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and percentage points behind the Orlando Magic. They resume play Wednesday night at home against the Charlotte Bobcats.

“We’re just going to shut him down until we feel like he’s ready,” Rivers said. “It’s nothing structural. It’s the same thing that it’s been. It’s just not reacting the same way we thought it would react. He didn’t react to the games we thought he would and he’s clearly not reacting to practice the way we thought he would.”

The Cavs look like the favorite to come out of the East given the injuries that both the Celtics and the Magic have suffered this season. Boston will struggle if KG isn’t close to 100%, and right now he clearly isn’t. Orlando lost Jameer Nelson earlier in the season, but are still a threat after trading for Rafer Alston to fill his role.