WALTHAM, Mass. -- Celtics forward Kevin Garnett described his summer as "painful" and "dark" on the heels of letting an NBA title slip away, but described his emotions toward the new season as "excited" and "vibrant" while talking to reporters Monday for the first time since Boston's Game 7 loss to the Lakers in the NBA Finals.
Garnett exhibited a newfound bounce in his step that appears to stem from improved health as he enters the 2010-11 season, combined with an unbridled optimism about the potential for this year's team.
"I'm really excited, really excited," said Garnett. "I don’t like us, I love us. I like how we are, I like our depth, and I'm eager to start."
Garnett labored through much of last season while coming off knee surgery that curtailed both his 2008-09 season and Boston's hopes that season of defending its 17th NBA title. He admitted Monday that, at no point last season, did he ever feel 100 percent, something that wore on him mentally, even when his play improved in the postseason.
"More mentally than anything, last year was hard for me, just because I knew I was playing through some difficult times," said Garnett. "I'm not one to make excuses; I'm not one to be out here [expletive] and complaining about things. I'm one to work, to come in here and continue to work, and try to better myself. That's what I did."
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UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOS | 15-17 | 89.4 | 88.5 | 11-8 | 4-9 | L5 | 3-7 |
| CLE | 13-18 | 93.7 | 97.3 | 8-9 | 5-9 | L1 | 5-5 |
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIL | 13-20 | 94.5 | 96.8 | 7-8 | 6-12 | L2 | 3-7 |
| BOS | 15-17 | 89.4 | 88.5 | 11-8 | 4-9 | L5 | 3-7 |
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NJN | 10-25 | 92.5 | 99.3 | 3-13 | 7-12 | L1 | 2-8 |
| BOS | 15-17 | 89.4 | 88.5 | 11-8 | 4-9 | L5 | 3-7 |
TEAM LEADERS
| POINTS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Paul Pierce
|
|||||||||||
| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| Rebounds | K. Garnett | 7.9 | ||||||||||
| Assists | R. Rondo | 9.5 | ||||||||||
| Steals | R. Rondo | 1.6 | ||||||||||
| Blocks | J. O'Neal | 1.7 | ||||||||||
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