Garnett attempted to perform with the injury, returning for second-half warmups after hobbling off the court in Salt Lake City last Feb. 19. The Celtics then allowed Garnett to return to action for four games in March, during which he was all smiles. But he was masking his condition, and coach Doc Rivers ordered him to cease and desist.
But Garnett was not just grinning yesterday, following his first official practice since surgery. He was the gregarious, guffawing Garnett. Patellas and popliteus tendons were forgotten. Garnett trained at full speed, along with everyone else, through about three-quarters of the two-hour workout.
“He looked great,’’ Rivers said. “I took him out with about 75 percent of practice gone and just told him to sit down. He didn’t like that, obviously.
“I just think we’re going to be together, hopefully, until mid-June. No use wearing him out in one day. He looked great. Actually, for a first practice I thought it was terrific. When he’s on the floor, you know he’s on the floor and makes a difference with everybody.’’
Rivers expects Garnett to play in most of the team’s eight exhibition games, starting with an Oct. 7 matchup against Houston in Hidalgo, Texas.
“I think he has to play,’’ Rivers said. “I always have guys miss one or two games in preseason, anyway, so he’ll be on that same schedule. But, as far as playing, he’ll play 24 minutes, in that area.’’
Rivers clearly wants to have Garnett pace himself during the preseason, and the two differed on how that was accomplished yesterday.
“I thought Doc tried to kill me a little bit,’’ Garnett said. “But, you know, first day of camp, it went well.’’
Told that Rivers said he was reluctant to be removed, Garnett laughed and said, “If he says so.’’
Rivers insisted that Garnett resisted.
“I struggled getting him off the floor,’’ Rivers said. “He didn’t want to get off the floor.’’
Nor did it seem Garnett was eager to depart the Salve Regina University gym.
“You know, all in all, it was fun to just get back out there with the guys, the drills,’’ Garnett said.
