When you think of garbage, you don’t think of Kevin Garnett. But after an admittedly poor performance in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night, the Celtics forward viewed himself like a smelly trash can you put out on the street to be picked up once a week.
Garnett, however, has a chance to get back on track in Game 6 in Boston on Tuesday night.
Guard Ray Allen, who rushed from Staples Center after Sunday’s loss due to “health issues” involving one of his three children, is expected to play. Center Kendrick Perkins will be a game-time decision with a shoulder injury that forced him out of Game 5.
The Celtics own a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and are seeking their first NBA title in 22 years.
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“It was trash,” Garnett said after Sunday’s 103-98 loss. “I played like garbage. I can do better and I will.”
For the average NBA player, a double-double performance of 13 points and 14 rebounds would be perfectly acceptable. But Garnett is far from average, and his disappointment stemmed from a line that also included only 11 field-goal attempts, 5 personal fouls and 4 turnovers in 33 minutes. He also missed 3 of 4 free throws, including a pair when Boston was trailing 95-93 with 2 minutes 44 seconds remaining.
While playing in foul trouble in the fourth, he scored just three on 1-of-3 shooting and had a pair of turnovers.
“Those are free throws I know I can hit,” said Garnett. “But I’ll take them again. If you put me in that situation, I’ll have the confidence to knock them down.”
Another thing the NBA Defensive Player of the Year beat himself up about was his defensive play. Garnett has played well in the Finals, primarily guarding Lakers forward Pau Gasol. While Gasol had not done anything spectacular through the first four games of the series and was often described as soft in media reports, he had 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists in Game 5.
“Defensively I know I’m more sound than that,” he said. “I’m not going to sit up here and [complain] about how I played in the game.
“At the same time, I know my presence on the court has to be there for us to be a dominant team. Even though we have guys out there that can get it done, I have to be on the court.”
Asked about being guarded by Garnett, Gasol said, “It’s always tough. I’m getting more used to what he does out there and the pace of the game and facing him up.”
Getting into foul trouble quickly was probably the main reason Garnett had a “garbage” night. He picked up two fouls in the first quarter and went to the bench at the 1:08 mark with Boston down 32-19. He didn’t play in the second quarter until the 7:50 mark, with the Celtics down 43-34.
But after picking up his third foul a mere 13 seconds later, he was back on the bench for the rest of the half. Garnett had 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting and 1 rebound in 11 minutes in the first half.
“Never could really get into a rhythm,” Garnett said. “I was playing on my heels.”
Garnett averaged 21 points in the first round against the Hawks, 19.6 in the second against the Cavaliers, and 22.8 against the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals.
But in five games of the Finals, he is averaging 16.6.
“I always say there’s always room for improvement. But [Sunday] is what it’s about. It’s the present, and it was terrible. I’ve definitely got to do better.”