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Garnett will make a difference

Jul 30th, 2007 by Bill Burt

I have not always been the biggest Kevin Garnett backer, but I have to say the Celtics are contenders this winter with the deal, Al Jefferson and Gerald Green (and others), for Garnett.

Jefferson is the key component, but my educated guess is he is going to claw his way onto the all-star team, while Garnett is a given, a top 10 to 15 player in the league.

Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Garnett give the Celtics their best offensive trio, maybe ever, or least comparable to Bird, Parish and McHale.

Anyway, this was a trade the Celtics had to make. But does that make it a good move.

Let me know your thoughts.

Posted in Celtics | Comments

  • Colin
    Please please please tell me you did not just compare Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jesus Shuttleworth to Robert Parish, Kevin McHale and the Basketball Jesus. Sure, they're good -- maybe even good enough to win the Eastern Conference. But Garnett and Allen are past their primes, and none of the three have ever played together before. The best part about Bird, Parish and McHale was their on-court chemistry, and that's something the new trio won't have right away (if ever).

    Don't get me wrong. I like the trade and for once am excited about the start of the NBA season. But let's not get ahead of ourselves thinking this is the Second Coming of the Big Three.
  • Mike
    Colin - Garnett had the 3rd highest PPG average of his career last year (22.4). He had 12.8 rebounds last season, and played 40min/game --- not really past his prime.

    This will be the best shot that the Celts have at an NBA Championship since the Big Three. Think of it this way --- there are 1.2 seconds left on the clock and the Celtics are inbounding, who gets the ball? You have two EXCELLENT options in Pierce and Garnett, and then Allen as the wildcard.

    I would liked to seen Jefferson stay, but that would have been impossible. Even with him included, this deal is a no-brainer.
  • I believe when he said "best offensive trio" ever, that likely just means they can all score at an unbelievable rate (for instance KG is a much better scorer than Parish).
    This isn't comparing them to "The Big Three," in terms of winning etc.
    None of them, obviously, could even touch Bird in terms of passing.
    It's just that Paul Pierce, even before this trade, was/is one of the greatest pure SCORERS in Celtics history...and some people believe he's actually THE best pure scorer (read: Tom Heinsohn, Cedric Maxwell).


    www.sportsguyredux.blogspot.com
  • Mike
    I look at it this way ... those three guys could realistically score between 60-75 points per game. If you could get 20-30 from your other two starters and your bench players, you are going to win a lot of basketball games.
  • Colin
    To quote one of my peers ... That's not what I said.
    I said, offensively, the three they have now compare favorably to The Big Three. I didn't say they were better. I didn't say they had their best years ahead.
    I'm not saying this is a GREAT trade, but I believe they had to do something rather than bank on Jefferson and Green becoming stars. I'm not as sure as some people.
  • chip
    Well....I am just plain psyched for the season. Time to get some of that "Celtic Pride" back....something missing for most of the last 15 years. No negatives....this is just great. Winter and Spring will mean something again....
  • s1c
    This was one of the best trades in the last two or three years. The Celtics are back on the map.
  • Mark
    Sniff........Sniff.........anyone else smell a cigar!
  • I think I just became a Celtics fan. For those of us who weren't alive (or old enough to be paying attention) when the big 3 played, I say keep the comparisons coming. It will help us understand the gravity of this threesome and give us a little insight into NBA history. Hopefully then it will make more sense when they walk to the conference finals.

    This is good for Boston. Good for the NBA.
  • Colin
    I know, Bill, but I just cringe at all the comparisons I'm hearing to The Big Three, calling these guys The New Big Three, etc. What the Celtics have are three All-Stars. It's great. I just think people are getting ahead of themselves whenever they mention Pierce, Garnett and Allen in the same breath as Bird, Parish and McHale.

    The latter comprised one of the best trios in NBA history and were the cornerstone of a dynasty. The former, if they're extremely lucky, could steal one title in the next few years before their bodies break down. Pierce, Garnett and Allen are good and will do wonders for the Celtics, but they will never be legends like The Big Three.
  • Sheryl
    I think that letting Jefferson go will prove to be a big mistake but you have to give up something to get something and is exactly what the Celts did. It will be interesting, at least I won't be the only one watching the green after the sox are done this year haha. I wonder what Red is thinking right now? :)
  • Sheryl,
    The Sox have no worries other than beating the Yankees. They are doing well in a many areas, particularly in the $$$ department.
    As for Jefferson's departure eventually proving to be a big mistake, that will only occur if Garnett is not as good as we expect.
    Take care.
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