"Kevin Garnett isn't the problem in the Celtics' Eastern Conference semifinal series against Miami. There is too much competition for that title to pick a clear winner.

But Garnett needs to be a major part of the solution if their season is to extend beyond Monday.

Shaquille O'Neal didn't walk through that door for Games 1 and 2. Well, he did, but he was limping. Therefore, even if he does play in Game 3 Saturday, he won't be left out there for long.

Garnett simply must be a larger factor on both ends of the court. The fact that he hasn't been all the Celtics need him to be has the club concerned.

The numbers scream and shout. The Celtics took just 40 free throws in the first two games while the Heat were attempting 68. Considering Miami also hoisted a total of 35 treys in its two wins, the fact that the Heat got 28 more shots from the line is stunning.

And so, too, is the fact that Garnett didn't attempt a single free throw.

Joel Anthony, meanwhile, is 6-for-6 from the line. Chris Bosh has taken 13.

The Celtics said privately coming into Game 2 that Garnett had to take 20 shots from the floor. He did, hitting eight of them. But seven of the makes were jumpers, the closest of those a 9-footer. He took 15 jump shots.

There was one sequence Tuesday when Rajon Rondo made a move to the lane and laid the ball down to Garnett for a dunk. That we so clearly remember the play is troubling. When you say "Rondo pass to KG for a jam," we should be asking, "Which one?"

Oh, the ball did get to Garnett on a number of occasions, but — and here's the part that spreads the blame — if it doesn't come after you've moved the ball and moved the defense, it's like running into a goal-line defense in football."