Boston Celtics Forward Kevin Garnett Turns Back the Clock to His Heyday

Kevin Garnett had 20 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and a block last night against the Chicago Bulls. He looked like the Kevin Garnett of old, and that has been a common theme throughout the entire season for Garnett.

For the year, KG is averaging 15.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and is shooting 52.3 percent from the field. He is playing like a man possessed and is one of the biggest reasons that the Boston Celtics have been so successful.

"He’s playing at a high level," teammate Shaquille O'Neal said. "Especially when the young disrespectful cats come out, he steps his game up. You know, he’s playing well. He’s playing very well."

After seriously injuring his knee in 2008-2009, Garnett was forced to watch the playoffs from the bench. There was talk of a comeback, but that was all smoke and mirrors to keep Celtics fans at ease.

He ended up making his actual comeback last year, and was okay but it was obvious that this wasn't the Kevin Garnett fans knew and loved. He played timid at times, didn't have as much athletic range, and became an average rebounder because he just didn't have the lift.

By the look of things, this year Garnett has put the injury behind him physically and mentally.

"I'm not even paying attention to what I'm doing out there. I feel well. I'm out here giving everything I've got. I'm not paying attention to how high I'm jumping, or how I'm moving laterally. I just know I'm not in so much pain," Garnett said.

Teammate Rajon Rondo has noticed a change in Garnett's play this year as well. He said he's always had a knack for the ball, but right now he's so explosive. He's jumping over people to get rebounds.

With a not-so-healthy KG last year, the Boston Celtics made the NBA Finals and took the Los Angeles Lakers to seven games. With KG healthy and rejuvenated, the possibilities are endless for this Boston Celtics team.

"That's only a good thing for us, a bad thing for the rest of the teams," Rondo said.