Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 at 3:39 pm  |  15 responses

Time Has Passed Boston’s Big Three

The sinking Celtics need a shake-up.

by DJ Dunson / @dunsonchecksin

There comes a time in the life of most children when they realize that their parent or parents can’t take care of themselves anymore. They get weak, fall easily and develop brittle bones. This plight describes the 2012 Boston Celtics.

The Big 3 reached its peak in 2008 and 2010, but they are now tumbling down a dangerously steep mountain. That mountain is called the Eastern Conference standings. Monday’s loss to Oklahoma City was Boston’s fifth in a row, dropped the Celtics to 4-8 and has them sitting in ninth place in the conference.

Nothing’s worse than wasting time and resources on a roster that no longer has championship talent. All Danny Ainge needs to do is consider the current state of Joe Dumars’ Detroit Pistons for a look at Christmas Futures. After the Pistons’ championship window closed, Dumars seemed intent on chilling his aging roster in a cryogenic chamber. The results were disastrous and have left the Pistons whiffing at the wind ever since. Things got so bad, Rip Hamilton demanded a trade and Tayshaun Prince became their go-to-guy.

The harsh truth is that the Celtics’ championship window is closed shut, vacuum-sealed and bulletproof. This off-season, general manager Danny Ainge has to begin renovation by tearing down rusty pillars and turning the “The Garden” into a nursery. It’s time to go young and begin developing talent. By not doing so they’d only be delaying their inevitable collapse and tying themselves to a bolder on hill.

The Dallas Mavericks saw the same light, and instantly dumped nearly half of their aging roster for a shot at forming a big three of their own with Nowitzki, Deron Williams and Dwight Howard in 2012.

Life is cyclical and so is basketball. Developing rookies is just as unpredictable as the decline of veterans. Kevin Garnett is averaging the fewest points per game since his rookie season. Fortunately, Ray Allen’s teardrop shot is still impeccable but unless he’s wiling to take considerably less money, the Celtics don’t need to pay a 37-year old $10 million on a rebuilding team. Paul Pierce is also averaging a career low 15.7 points per game but is still serviceable and has trade value.

The most worrisome aspect has been their first rate defense’s decline into the bottom third of the NBA.

Recently, Rasheed Wallace, who hasn’t played since riding the Celtics pine on the way to the 2010 NBA Finals, said he’d consider mounting an NBA comeback for the 2012 season. Meanwhile, the current Celtics are saddled in the post by Jermaine O’Neal’s injury-riddled knees and the young unknown, unproductive Greg Stietsma at center. They could use Wallace’s size, versatility and talent. After all, the Celtics are the NBA’s second-worst rebounding team. To their credit, the Celtics have not shown any interest. If Celtics fans are bummed about this, they shouldn’t be. If there’s one thing this team doesn’t need, it’s to add another 37 candles to their fire hazard of a team birthday cake. This team has enough experience.

The Celtics have a young superstar of their own to build around in point guard Rajon Rondo. Rondo’s shot accuracy is worse than a B-movie villain’s henchman firing a pistol at James Bond, but Rondo is entering his prime as one of the game’s best distributors and defenders. Ainge can’t afford to waste Rondo’s prime as the caretaker of an assisted living community, feeding Garnett, Allen and Pierce.

Fortunately for Ainge, he will get a reprieve this summer when Garnett and Allen’s $31 million combined contracts come off the books. Hopefully, this was by design. The Celtics can’t count on Jeff Green returning as the final piece of their championship puzzle. It’s not.

Dwight Howard may not have the Celtics on his trade-list but there are other ways to begin building around a young point guard than by spending $100 million on a rebounding machine with equally robotic post moves. Not signing David West hurt this team significantly but look at how the Mavericks, Trail Blazers have done it. Portland scrapped the Jailblazers unit and have stayed competitive despite a biblical plague of injuries raining down on their first-round lottery picks.

Celtics fans deserve better than to watch the Garnett, Allen and Pierce struggle to first-round playoff exits for the next few years. Time has passed them by and so have the Eastern Conference’s elite. This is no way for Celtics fans to live.

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  • paul

    The sad thing is that the Celtics have clearly decided to do exactly what you say they shouldn’t do. Rondo is clearly their best player now, but Doc Rivers and Paul Pierce are at him every game with clippers for his wings. They will not redesign the offense, NOT ONE WHIT, for Rondo. Oh no. They say nice things about how it’s Rondo’s team now, then they clip away at his wings.

    There is nothing worse than selfish, flesh-eating old folks.

  • Heals

    ^^^Kindof, but not really. They hung on the the Real3 for multiple seasons beyond their “glory” years. Plus that narrative has been somewhat overplayed, because what hurt more keeping the Real3 or losing Bias and Lewis to permature deaths (RIP). This year is unique given the schedule and timing of it’s start. Unless they can snag a “choice” draft pick or snag an athletic youngster who’d under contract for at least 2 years what’s the point. And uh Yeah DJ getting 31mil off the books with G and RayRay was by design (no Danny just did it by accident!?!?), also this team would be somewhat more formitable with DWest and JGreen, but things didn’t workout. It’s not Danny’s fault that PP34 is in awful shape right now or Ticket has no legs left and is deciding to go further from the basket than in previous years when all aging players usually try to maintain an inside game. Using Det as an example isn’t trully applicable here since they tried to keep that ship afloat with AI, then made bad coachinng moves and committed themselves to Gordon and Ville with outrageous contracts that hamstring their financial flexiability going forward; none of these things are paralleled by the C’s now or will be in the near future. I was your sentiment but DJ then you finished with “Celtics fans deserve better than to watch the Garnett, Allen and Pierce struggle to first-round playoff exits for the next few years. Time has passed them by and so have the Eastern Conference’s elite. This is no way for Celtics fans to live.” – this isn’t even a remote possibility so why warn against it. I’d be shocked if all3 were back next year, let alone 2 seasons from now, c’mon. Lastly given how most C’s fans jumped back on the bandwagon roughly 4 years ago, they can deal with it 66 (maybe more, but not many) games and thank them for returning the team to relevancy…

  • RunNGun

    I like what @HEALS said on his last sentence…. bandwagons… LOL

  • ripslam

    In my opinion, Pierce, KG, and Ray deserve to retire in Beantown. This is probably going to happen in 2-3 years max anyway. If Ray wants to finish out his career with a contender, then respect his wishes, but otherwise, Garnett and P2 should end their careers as Celtics. By then Rondo will be in his prime, and it’ll be time to rebuild. Doc is onboard for 5 more years. I’d rather give the current core time to finish their careers than awkwardly cut ties with some of the greatest players in franchise history. Just seems wrong to think of the Big Three in different uniforms.

  • RunNGun

    @RIPSLAM It’s a business after all and it wouldn’t surprise me if the BIG TICKET and/or RAY ALLEN aren’t back next season. At some point in time, you have to reload your roster and go back to losing again.

  • Just Sayin

    @RunNGun I don’t see “bandwagons” in the last the sentence but I do see ignorance in the first sentence of yours.

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    The Celtics fall from East power has as much to do with things WITHIN their control (who trade, who to draft, who to resign…) as it does with things NOT in their control (i.e.: the rise of BOTH Indiana AND the 76ers so quickly). Basically the Celtics made moves to win and it worked – they got that championship ring. Now… TIME FOR THE NEW PLAN…. Your move Danny Ainge.

  • hushabomb

    For the Celtics to be relevant again…..

    1) If KG and Jesus want to stay Celtics they need to take a pay cut for their next contract. End of story.

    2) They need to pick wisely for the 2K12 draft. Tim Hardaway Jr is a good start.

    3) Start playing their young kids. Though they are 9th, they aint gonna get better on the bench. Play em in 10 blocks.

    I want the Celtics to be good so Danny, do what ya gotta do and make a hard decision cos this year will make or break future years!!!

  • BBaller

    ever since the Perkins trade
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    the Celts have beeen

  • Mike From Spain

    @ Just Sayin -> what gives? I see ‘bandwagon’ clearly written in the sentence that RunNGun refers to, and I see no ignorance in his sentence. What is so ignorant about saying ‘At some point in time, you have to reload your roster and go back to losing again.’? You can argue it but just saying it’s ignorant with no reasoning is flat out trolling.

  • bull22

    there is a alot of fault in this, danny ainge making bad trades and not signing any worthy players and players like ray allen and kevin garnett writing off the season during lockout which means that half off this team
    probably did not workout thinking they had a year off. but then again i would not want this team in the first round because when they turn it on, they can be dangerous…

  • http://slamonline.com AlbertBarr

    This piece has some great metaphors. Nice writing!

    “Ainge can’t afford to waste Rondo’s prime as the caretaker of an assisted living community, feeding Garnett, Allen and Pierce.”

    ^my favorite

  • red

    i believe jr smith, wilson chandler, and k-mart are all unrestricted fa’s. Boston nuggets anyone?

  • http://www.slamonline.com big_ticket

    still love the big3,,,

  • Celtics_2012

    Celtics struggles are not because they have an aged Big 3. All 3 of them are averaging 15 points a game (not bad considering their age and the fact its hard for all of them to score 20 ppg while being on the court together). Rondo is averaging 15 points (and 10 assists) as well, so the problem turns to the bench play. EVERYONE on the Celtics bench is basically brand new to the organization. Bradley didn’t play at all last year, and there are currently 3 rookies (which look solid but need to play more to get comfortable). Daniels had his injury last year, Wilcox, Dooling, Bass, and Pietrus all only had about 2 days of training camp (except Pietrus who signed late). So they are struggling because the bench is not familiar with each other yet. (Wilcox and Dooling are both injured right now as well). It will get better. They played great against Toronto.

    I agree they need to get strong young talent. But trading right when they might be getting into things does not seem like the answer. I say wait until the offseason to see if KG retires or Ray takes a pay cut or decides to sign elsewhere. I doubt they will ever trade Paul Pierce even if they are dangling him out there (they did this a year or two ago). Its still early in the season, Celtics fans need to just relax and have some faith.

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