Let the mind games begin: Rivers, C's mum on KG replacement

By Marc D'Amico
April 19, 2010
Celtics.com

WALTHAM, MA - Will it be the "Ticket Stub" or will it be the "Wily Veteran?" That is the question.

With the expected suspension of Kevin Garnett being handed down by the NBA Sunday evening, Doc Rivers is now forced to answer that question when he etches in his starting lineup for Tuesday night's Game 2 against the Miami Heat. His two options to replace Garnett are Glen Davis, who is the self-proclaimed "Ticket Stub" (a moniker he bestowed upon himself while filling in for Garnett last season), and Rasheed Wallace, who proclaimed himself as the "Wily Veteran" at Monday afternoon's practice.

No one is spilling the beans on which of those two players will claim the starting power forward position Tuesday night - although they probably already know - but there are leads pointing in both directions.

If you want to go by what reporters saw with their own eyes at today's practice, Glen Davis will be the starter. After all, when the blinds went up in Waltham and the media was allowed to watch the final segment of practice, Davis was running the power forward position with the guys in green (the starters), and Wallace was watching from the sideline with a white reserve jersey.

Davis also was the better of the two during Game 1, when he displayed phenomenal energy en route to an eight-point, eight-rebound game that was highlighted by a three-point play that gave Boston the go-ahead lead. Today, Davis spoke about his alter-ego as if it will emerge Tuesday night the way it did during last season's playoff run, when he... err, the Ticket Stub... averaged 15.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG and 1.8 APG in a starting role.

But Davis shouldn't count his stubs until they're torn, because Wallace has plenty of ammo backing up his claim to the starting spot, too.

When Garnett missed a matchup against Miami on Jan. 6, Wallace was the player who replaced him in the starting lineup. He dropped 16 points, nine rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot on the Heat that night while limiting Miami's starting power forward, Michael Beasley (who Wallace admitted today is "quicker" and "more athletic" than he is), to only five points and five rebounds in 25 foul-plagued minutes.

Rivers, who will make that crucial decision, didn't give any indications of which direction he is leaning toward while speaking at today's practice. He was so incredulous, in fact, that it sounded as if he believed he was gaining an advantage by not going public with his decision.

"Don't know yet," was Rivers' response when asked who would claim that starting spot. A sly look emerged on his face as he continued to answer the question. "Yeah, we used three or four or five different guys (today). Oliver (Layafette) right now may be the guy, but we're just looking."

With Rivers seemingly keeping secrets to gain a last-minute advantage for Game 2, it begged the question of if he had Davis at the starting spot when the curtains went up in Waltham today to plant a seed in the media and Heat's minds. Most media outlets will report the fact that Davis was in with the starters at practice, which could possibly lead Heat coach Erik Spoelstra to believe Davis will hold that spot tomorrow night, too. Rivers, in turn, would then have the advantage of starting another player, Wallace, that the Heat may be less prepared for.

But that's all skepticism. The truth of the matter is that Rivers' Lafayette comment was about as serious as he (or anyone else, for that matter) got when talking about the starting lineup, so we have no actual knowledge of which way he will go.

He did, however, speak candidly about that one win Boston accrued against Miami when Wallace started in place of Garnett.

"Rasheed was terrific in that game," said Rivers. "So, yeah, it's funny... you have Kevin (Garnett) out and we have played them one time without Kevin, and we did well, so that gives us a little bit of confidence. But it's a whole different game, obviously, now (in the playoffs). It's played at a higher level than that game that was played, so we have to be ready."

Whoever starts in place of Garnett will certainly have to play at a high level to replace his production and defensive know-how. KG scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, tied for the game-high with nine rebounds and also notched two steals and a block in Game 1. Davis noted that Garnett's characteristics will be difficult to replace, but he believes the team is more than capable of making it happen.

"Kevin is a big loss for us, because he's a big energy guy on our team," said Davis. "He's a go-to guy on the post. You know, but he's out, and it's time for the old guys to step in... We've got a lot of options. We've got Rasheed, [Kendrick Perkins], the Ticket Stub coming through. So I think we're going to be OK."

So on the eve of Game 2, the answer to who will replace Garnett continues to be unknown. To make up for Garnett's absence in Game 2, Rivers will have two proven options from which to choose: the Ticket Stub or the Wily Vet.

The proof is already in the pudding that Boston can take down Miami without KG in the lineup, we'll just have to wait and see if this is where amazing (coaching decisions) happen, helping the C's grab a KG-less win over Miami once more - this time in the playoffs.