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Kevin Garnett hasn't came off the bench, when healthy and rested, since January 27, 1996, his rookie year. Since then, over 20 years, KG has started 1,519 straight games, including playoffs.
Is that streak about to come to an end?
Despite a miserable January --Garnett is averaging 5.1 points, 5.2 rebounds in only 17.4 minutes -- he still starts. Friday may have been the low point and the most telling. He played only nine minutes, scored a single point as Brook Lopez, his nominal back-up, scored 35 points, grabbed 12 boards and blocked three shots in 41 minutes.
Lionel Hollins was asked if KG was healthy. Yes, replied the coach. "It’s just a coach’s decision."
Now Hollins will have to decide whether to start Lopez and Mason Plumlee, who are 12 and 14 years younger. It won't be easy. KG remains the team's undisputed leader and still, a solid defender.
- KG, recently glued to Nets bench, isn’t aging gracefully - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
- How much does KG have left? Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
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Nets rewind: Why Garnett should stay in the starting lineup - Tim Bontemps - New York Post