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.