Kevin Garnett sure does love soccer.

Okay, so I’m publishing an old interview from Kevin Garnett…

It’s only a little over a week old, and it’s damn interesting, so don’t get your panties up in a bunch.

In the Sun of London, Garnett conducted an interview with famous soccer player Didier Drogba.  In it, he begins by answering the question of whether or not the Celtics will end the season in first place:

Kevin Garnett:You already know the answer to this. We’re not going to say we’re going to finish anything less than number one and I’m sure Didier would concur.

In an eerie comment that looks ever stranger after Garnett’s second bout with injuries in a couple of weeks (he’d already missed a game before the interview), Garnett continued:

Drogba: You had a bad knee injury last year, how is it now?

 KG: It’s 100 per cent. That was the first surgery of my career so I’ve had to learn to be patient with my recovery but this is my 15th year in the NBA so I’ve still got plenty of old aches.

KG, like all the rest of the Boston organization, will say he’s 100% until his leg’s falling off and he has to watch games from the sidelines in a wheelchair.  But we already knew he was injured and not 100%, so that isn’t the quote that most intrigued me.  It was this:

KG: You guys play so many games, with all your exhibition games. The first time I met you, Chelsea were in LA playing exhibition games and I was up there in the stands with my Chelsea shirt on.

DD: I need to get you a new one…

KG: There’s no need. I was sent one, I’ve got my Chelsea hat, my Chelsea scarf. You need to know, every time I watch the games on TV, I’m sitting there wearing them.

Is anyone surprised to hear that KG goes all out even when he’s sitting in his living room watching a soccer game?  Not me.

In other news, Drogba has now been forced into round-the-clock security to keep him protected from Angolan gangs:

Didier Drogba is being given a round-the-clock armed guard to protect him from gun gangs in Angola. The Chelsea striker and 24 other Premier League stars will be surrounded by unprecedented security while they are in the impoverished country for the month-long African Cup or Nations.

Fears for Drogba, 31, and the contingent of wealthy European-based African players have sparked a crackdown involving 30,000 specially mobilised police, guards and firemen.

They are on a 24-hour alert to combat gangs of robbers who could attack players like Drogba who make more in a week than most Angolans can ever earn.

(h/t Boston Globe)

We recently posted a poll on our blog asking whether or not our readers think Kendrick Perkins should make the All-star team. I’m here to explain to you why he’s earned a spot on the roster. Read more »

The Celtics have gotten rid of their morning walkthrough, but that doesn’t mean we have to. Here are a few Celtics links, and maybe even an NBA link or two, to help wake you up and get you focused for the day.

Paul Pierce wasn't dunking against Toronto, but he still found a way to contribute to the Celtic win. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Jessica Camerato, WEEI – Tony Allen: “‘Oh it was big [to have Paul Pierce sit on the bench with the team]. He’s a motivator. With a guy with that much success individually, you can’t do anything but listen to a guy like that who’s been in the league over 10 years. So I’m looking at it as like, if you can be on the road with us more, just being around being an extra coach, then it’s all good. But we definitely need him back, definitely. … He was just telling me to just stay solid. He told me, get those guys open but stay aggressive. Take what the defense gave me, basic coach stuff. But he’s got that offensive mentality, so he was saying take it to the hole when I can, too. … Six years with that guy, he’s like a big brother to me. But I’m just waiting for him to come back. I want him to take his time but I’m definitely waiting for him to come back.’”

Mark Murphy, Boston Herald – “But make no mistake. [Tony] Allen’s contributions since returning to the lineup during a Dec. 8 win over the Milwaukee Bucks are opening eyes. ‘Tony played great starting at the point guard,’ said guard Ray Allen. ‘He’s got great confidence right now. (It’s difficult to get noticed) on a team of our caliber, with the players we have on this team. (But) the stuff he’s done over the last three years in practice have made me better, and made Paul better. I always look forward to seeing these guys in the game because they do work so hard. These are the moments. You don’t wish for anyone to get injured, but this allows you to step up. You get opportunities.’”

A. Sherrod Blakely, CSNNE – “While there’s little doubt about Hudson’s ability to play in the NBA, his play on Saturday left plenty of room for improvement. Celtics head coach Doc Rivers thought Hudson played well overall but added, “he scared the hell out of me. He’s got to value the ball better.’ Despite limited minutes, Hudson still managed to turn the ball over twice. ‘Lester is still in that home run stage, as most young guys are,’ said Rivers, a former NBA point guard for 13 seasons . ‘Most passes are home run passes instead of just making the simple next pass. That’s where we have to get him to.’ Keeping turnovers to a minimum is a concern for all NBA teams. But it takes on even greater importance for defensive-minded teams like the Celtics. ‘By nature, most young guys, they don’t have value of how important that basketball is, especially when you’re a defensive team,’ Rivers said. ‘You work your butt off to get that ball. The last thing you want to do is give back to them.’”

Julian Benbow, Boston Globe – “Giddens, a binge scorer in college at New Mexico, scored 2 points Saturday night, and he passed up shots he would have taken a few years back. But it was in the interest of earning that trust, which requires him to make strong decisions – for instance gathering a lob pass and turning it into a layup rather than trying to grab it in the air and turn it into an alley-oop. In turn, Rivers said he wants Giddens to look for his shot more. ‘J.R.’s going to be more aggressive the next game,’ Rivers said.’I thought he had some shots. He got to the point, ‘Am I making a mistake?’ I told him, ‘The mistake is not shooting.’ Because he’s a good shooter and I thought he had a couple of them.’”

Have a link I might want to look at? Send it my way by email (jayking@celticstown.com) or Twitter

Kendrick Perkins smiles?

For a month or so, Celtics fans have been clamoring for Kendrick Perkins to get All-Star consideration. After playing solid basketball all season, and far-more-than-solid defense, Perkins has at least played himself into the conversation.

In today’s Boston Herald, New Jersey Nets GM Rod Thorn asserted that Perk is deserving of an All-Star spot:

Kendrick Perkins, who has arguably made strides on a par with Rondo, is also All-Star worthy. And that’s not just a parochial sentiment.

“Perkins is certainly deserving,” Nets president Rod Thorn said. “He’s become one of the best, if not the best, defensive one-on-one centers in the league.”

Beyond his defense, too, Perkins has played solid basketball, leading the NBA in field goal percentage with his improving offensive repertoire.

But is Perk deserving? Could the Celtics possibly have four or even five All-Stars this season?

What do you think?

In this interview before Saturday’s game with the Toronto Raptors, Paul Pierce discusses his injury and when he plans to return. Pierce says he will make the upcoming road trip with the team and the decision to play will be day-to-day.

I’m not going to tell you I wasn’t happy with the way J.R. Giddens and Lester Hudson played; I was.  Both players did a solid job, providing good defense and (mostly) intelligent play.  They brought energy, exuberance and enthusiasm, helping to cancel out the skill and experience lost to injury.

I just wish they’d both been more aggressive.

Read more »