Big night no big deal for Garnett

November 03, 2007|Bob Ryan, Globe Columnist

The first shot was certainly interesting.

"I was soooo jacked up," said Kevin Garnett. "As you can see by my first shot, which went off the backboard."

Off? He's lucky it didn't go through it.

But eventually the game came to Kevin Garnett. He got into the scoring column with a couple of free throws. Three and a half minutes into the game, he knocked down a 12-foot jumper as the shot clock was winding down for his first Celtic basket. After that, it was just a matter of playing the game in his elegant, upright, nonfrilly, downright dignified manner.

When his night's work was done, Garnett had a 22-point, 20-rebound, 5-assist, 3-block line and the Celtics had a crowd-pleasing 103-83 Opening Night victory over the Washington Wizards.

But, as far as Garnett is concerned, I'll get back to you when I have some new news.

I mean, it just seemed like a typical Kevin Garnett game to me. He's just wearing a different uniform these days, that's all.

"I've seen him do that a whole lot," agreed Scot Pollard. "Didn't he lead the league in double-doubles?"

About those rebounds: None was showy, you know? There isn't a show-off bone in Garnett's exceptionally long and lean body. He's just a great clinical rebounder, just as he's a great clinical shooter and a coldly efficient passer. You knew he was doing OK on the glass, and then suddenly he had 10 . . . 15 . . . and, finally, 20. I can see a lot of taken-for-granted nights for him as the year unfolds.

Garnett thinks he's going to like playing here.

"This place is crazy," he noted. "Tonight was rockin', man. I couldn't even help it. This place was rockin'. Paul [Pierce] told me what it would be like. I got a little taste during the exhibition games, but this was like a playoff atmosphere."

What he may not grasp is that he was the primary reason TD Banknorth Garden was so electric last night. The building's been open for business since 1995, and anyone who goes there regularly knows how few regular-season games have stirred legitimate passion in the joint.

All the booming NBA noise and screaming PA have never been able to masquerade the fact that the honest, spontaneous, Old Garden-style enthusiasm that was so much a part of the Celtic experience for about 30 years has largely been absent. Oh, there's been a lively night here and there, but this place has been reflective of the fact that the Celtics have been a dismal product for far too long.

Now ask yourself: When's the last time there was an unorchestrated, "Let's go, Celtics!" cheer reverberating through the building before the game even began? I think perhaps when Kareem was playing.