During an interview with NBATV, Kevin Garnett responded to a question about what triggers the Celtics when things are going right defensively. (NBA.com)

“The conversation.  You know, I can tell we’re going to lock a team down with just how we communicate.  If we don’t have that communication, we just try to come to the huddle and make that repetitive, ‘Hey, let’s talk, let’s talk, let’s make sure we’re talking on D.’

“You can tell guys’ energy from almost the layup line to jump ball, on what kind of night it’s going to be.  But, you know, you’re right.  We’re not closing out the way we used to.  We’re a little bit banged up.  But at the same time, our energy is there.

“You know, we have to be a lot more consistent with our play, man.  I’m not worried about us.  We can’t hit a button and expect us to show up and then it’s going to happen, but we are a team that’s going to fight for 48 minutes.”

Fight for 48 minutes?  Since when?  I’ve seen guys Mike Tyson punched out in the first round fight for longer than the Celtics do most nights.

Let’s hope the Celtics become what Garnett preaches, because they aren’t yet.

(Below is the interview from which I transcribed the above quote.  You should listen, if only to hear Garnett make fun of Sam Mitchell’s cheap cologne — “I smell your cologne through the mic, man.”)