gpikeCan the BIG 3 Bring the Celtics Back to Glory?
October 17th 2007 03:18
Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce joins forces
What comes accross your mind when you hear the name of the Boston Celtics? 16 NBA World Championships, 8 straight championships from '59-'66, 3 separate eras of winning tradition, Red Auerbach, Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Kevin McHale, Larry Bird... and more too many to mention.
Those were the golden years of the fabled Boston Celtics. The extraordinary magic brought about by the leprechaun inspired the game of basketball and took it to its most exciting and glorious moments.
That was the past, and as time plodded along, so did the glory days. When Bird, McHale and Parish went out on their own separate ways, a championship became so elusive to the legendary franchise. Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker led the Celt's to as far as the Eastern Conference Final but that is the closest that they can get to bringing back Boston to the top. The dynamic duo would soon part ways with Walker winning his ring in Miami while Pierce stays on with the Celtics who constantly struggled every season trying to find ways to win with a young supporting cast and a few viable acquisitions to roll with 'The Truth.' To no avail, the team suffered in the standings and were reduced to become a ghost of the past in the NBA.
In a desperate effort to save the franchise from another frustrating season, the Boston Celtics finally let go of Sebastian Telfair, Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Ryan Gomes, and two 1st round draft picks in exchange for 2004 MVP and 10-time All-Star "The Big Ticket" Kevin Garnett. Veteran streak shooter Ray Allen also came on board and all of a sudden the once dominant Celtics are back in the hunt to return to prominence.
Pierce, Allen, and Garnett are the All-Stars who have been searching for great teammates to complement them to make a serious title run. Now with the three of them wearing the same Celtic Green jersey this season, they now have the chance to compete for the NBA title that they all hunger for.
But everybody knows that basketball is played by five players at a time and there isn't much roster depth to speak of outside the Big 3. Head Coach Doc Rivers' main concern would have to be the point guard and center position in their first five. If ever success will come along to the Big 3 and the Celtics this season, it would depend on the performance of the other two guys who would join the three All-Stars. Second year point guard Rajon Rondo now has the chance to shine. With Delonte West gone to Seattle, Rondo can now display his passing and defensive skills as a starter. Kendrick Perkins will have his hands full on the defensive end this year especially in the rebounding department as the Big 3 will get most of the touches in offense.
Coach Doc could only hope that his new secondary will click this season. Giving up over half of the team's roster to get Garnett and Allen this season leaves him with a very new and challenging second unit. The tandem of Eddie House and Tony Allen at the guards is quite promising but has yet to be tested. James Posey is a key veteran pick up that could see a lot of minutes while the younger guys in the roster develops. The inclusion of rookie Glen "Big Baby" Davis will be interesting considering his strenght and range could contribute to bench production if KG takes a breather. As for the weird Scot Pollard, he better get that sprained ankle healed and get down to rebounding work.
Barring any injuries to key players, the Celtics will compete for the top spot of the Atlantic Division and eventually make the playoffs but don't count on an overnight success from them. Still expect them to encounter stiff opposition with the Toronto Raptors and the New Jersey Nets residing in their own division. The Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls make up an imposing Eastern Conference that the Celtics must overcome.
Can the BIG 3 bring back the Boston Celtics to glory? Definitely YES! All they need is a healthy year for their key players and they certainly have a shot at an NBA title
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Comment by Dexter
Comment by Evenard M. Panes
bibbzbasketball
Thanks for the comment Dexter