Kevin Garnett’s got C’s back

The return of Kevin Garnett doesn’t guarantee an instant personality makeover.

The Celtics [team stats], who arguably haven’t played a complete game since Christmas Day in Orlando, can go from fairly good to ugly in a matter of several possessions.

But last night’s 95-89 win at the Garden against the Los Angeles Clippers carried a touch of redemption.

After a spotty first half that played into their worst jump shot sensibilities, the Celtics broke out with one of their finest second-half attacks in recent memory.

Garnett, who scored seven of the C’s last 14 points, boosted an entire building when, after sprinting down the floor to foil a Clippers rush by breaking up a Baron Davis pass, pumped both fists at the crowd and shouted, “I’m back.”

So, all concerned hope, is his team.

“It’s coming,” coach Doc Rivers said. “You know, we’re not there yet, but it’s coming. And that’s what you want. As a coach you always want to say it’s coming, because that means you’re improving and taking steps forward. . . . The game (Friday night against Portland), we didn’t play great, but 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.”

That’s another way of saying this team faces miles of improvement before the real Celtics, at least the team most feel still exists, round into form for a stretch run.

Not coincidentally, that progress will mirror Garnett’s own.

“I think that I am just talking, trying to bring a certain amount of defense, a certain amount of energy to the defensive end,” Garnett said, eschewing the view, accentuated by his on-court proclamation, that he is back. “Two rebounds is not enough for me. I know that I am a better rebounder than that. It’s timing. I am not perfect. I will get better at that as the year goes on, but for the most part I am playing my lane and doing what I am supposed to do.”

The Celtics trailed 44-43 at the half and took a preponderance of quick, early-in-the-shot-clock jump shots, but Rivers called for the necessary adjustments, and they scored all but one third-quarter basket - a Paul Pierce [stats] (22 points) jumper - from the paint. The third-quarter stretch featured some of the C’s finest passing of the season.

Rondo, the primary force during the turnaround, finished with a 16-point, 12-assist double-double to go along with four steals and seven rebounds.

“I thought I counted 12 points (by the Clippers) on our gambles in the first half, and (assistant coach) Armond Hill said there were 11 times when we didn’t make the next pass,” Rivers said. “So our thought in the second half was make the next pass. The game’s simple when you do that. Our guys did it, and they started doing it to a fault. But I would rather fix that problem than the other way.”

The Cs, apparently secure with a 77-69 lead, started to come apart with 6:25 left. Craig Smith, the former Boston College star, scored 11 straight Clippers points. A Smith free throw, followed by a Davis drive, cut the C’s advantage to 80-76 with 4:17 left.

Garnett responded with a 12-footer, followed by a Rondo free throw for an 83-76 lead with 3:40 left. Garnett spun on Chris Kaman, drew the foul and hit the second of two free throws 1:34 later, and with 1:04 left gave the Celts an 86-78 lead with a bank hook off Rondo’s final assist.

Treys from Ricky Davis and Baron Davis, and a deep jumper from Rasual Butler, made the last minute interesting, but the C’s were able to settle this one from the line. Garnett, Ray Allen, Rondo and Pierce combined to hit 9-of-10 free throws during the last 34.8 seconds.