We're now three days away from the NBA Draft, and with that, I assume less than three days from a decision by Kevin Garnett.
I say assume because we obviously haven't heard from KG. And not just "heard" in the sense that he hasn't commented on potential retirement, but "heard" as in he hasn't spoken publicly about anything since Game 6 at the Garden. To be honest, I'm not sure if KG's spoken at all since then. For all we know, he's spent the last few weeks sitting in a cold dark roomas Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight" plays softly in the backgroundwith his knees wrapped in ice and his mind focused on one question:
To play, or not to play?
And while we'd like to think that Garnett will make a decision before the draft, so that the Celtics can go about their business with a firm grasp on reality, we just don't know. Courtesies aside, the ball is entirely in KG's court. This is without a doubt a decision he takes seriously, andlike DWade with his SportsCenter highlightdeadlines be damned, KG's decision will only be ready when it's ready. (I can't believe I just compared KG's retirement to a Dwyane Wade SportsCenter commercial. If it makes you feel better I just slammed three fingers in a desk drawer as punishment.)
gafjgbgbgbnknvknv
(That was a slammed fingers joke. No good? OK, let's move on.)
Bottom line: We still don't know when Punxsutawney Kevin will emerge from his hole and either see his shadow (two more years of KG!) or see nothing and disappear forever. But while we wait for him to answer that question, here's another to tide us over:
Boston Celtics
Does anyone still think he might actually retire?
Even though we're all sort of nervous and fidgety after these last few weeks of limbo, at this point, isn't it more a matter of just wanting to hear the words: "I'm back!" than actually worrying that he'll walk away?
That's where I am, and I assume everyone else is right there with me, considering it's been weeks since anyone's argued that Garnett will be anywhere but in a Celtics uniform next season.
But either way, here's hoping that these three days finally provide some clarity. Not just for the Celtics draft strategy, but for the mental health of a city.
We've already lost one Kevin this week, KG. We're not ready to say goodbye to another.
Rich can be reached at rlevine@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Rich on Twitter at http:twitter.comrich_levine