MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota crowd - as friendly a group as exists in the NBA - will always love the Timberwolves' first true star, Kevin Garnett. The Target Center fans cheered his introduction as well as his first shot in the Celtics' 92-90 win last night over the home team. But the forward later made it clear that sentiment matters little in his makeup. ``It's easy to come in here and focus, because they don't have any of my old teammates here now,'' he said. ``My history from here has passed. I did take a moment tonight to look around, but there are so many changes here that I can't relate to, so I have no reason to.'' Garnett (12 points, 11 rebounds) expressed hope that Timberwolves fans will be vocal in their demand for owner Glen Taylor and his new management team to put a winning product on the floor.
``There was separation for me the moment I was traded (to the Celtics ),'' Garnett said. ``The guys I had a special relationship with had moved on, and I never looked back. When a new page in my book turns, I try to embrace that.
``Minnesota's home, or my second home, or a home for me, but I don't think of anything right now but playing in Boston. But this was nice.''
Asked if he ever thinks about what might have been accomplished if he had stayed with the Timberwolves, Garnett shook his head and replied in the negative.
``I'll tell you a story. One time I was in the middle of the road and I saw a car coming, and I just took off,'' he said. ``My mother said never to second-guess a decision.
``The past is past.''
Rest is best
The Celtics aren't the first NBA team to eliminate shootarounds, or to experiment with ways to maximize sleep.
But by virtue of their success, the C's are the best example, along with talent, of what rest can do for a veteran team.
``They know what they're doing,'' first-year Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis said. ``They obviously know their plays and everything that they're supposed to do, so they don't have to come to a shootaround.''
Celtics coach Doc Rivers appreciated the compliment.
``I guess that's true, but it's a pretty natural thing for us to do,'' Rivers said. ``There are days when we will walk through things in (the hotel) ballroom, but there's something to be said for rest.
``One thing this extra rest has done for us is that our practices have been unbelievable. The guys love it.''
Good attitude
J.R. Giddens will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, after the Celtics decided against picking up the option on his contract. The second-year forward remains remarkably poised despite the situation.
``I can't control it,'' Giddens said. ``I can't let it affect my day-to-day. Everything I've gone through has made me a better player, a better brother and a better son, so I just have to go with it.
``It's not like they don't like me. It's a lesson. I pay attention and work hard. That's all I can do.''
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