The Celtics are 2-0 since Kevin Garnett returned from a hyperextended right knee injury that kept him out 10 games.

Garnett has restored the team's confidence, which seemed to be lacking after losing eight of their previous 12 games before Garnett returned.

Boston coach Doc Rivers said that he can tell that the Celtics are playing a lot better with Garnett in the lineup than when he was not there.

"Yeah, it's coming," Rivers said. "You know, we're not there, but it's coming. And that's what you want. You want your team to always - you know, as a coach you want to always say it's coming, because that means you're improving and you're taking steps forward.

"So, absolutely. The game the other night, we didn't play great, we won. Tonight, we didn't play great the entire game but we played in stretches. So it's definitely coming. You can feel it; I'll be glad when it gets here."

The Celtics have held their last two opponents to below 40 percent shooting. Garnett is a major reason why.

"We are definitely feeling a lot better about our defensive presences," Boston guard Rajon Rondo said. "It's a whole another ball game out there."

Communication on the defensive end has been a lot better since Garnett returned.

"I think that I am just talking. I am trying to bring a certain amount of defense, and a certain amount of energy to the defensive end," Garnett said.

The Celtics have three big games coming up. They visit Orlando on Thursday and then head to Atlanta. After that, they host the defending world champion L.A. Lakers on Sunday.

"We have to be consistent with what we do," Garnett said. "We can't come out here and do it against the Clippers and then show up in Orlando and do something else. That is just focus. We have to be repetitive in what we are doing. We are not perfect. Some nights we make it look easy and other nights we make it look difficult, but that's what it is."