Garnett, Celtics making it look easy</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div>We knew the Celtics were going to be good, but impressive is an understatement. To start off the season winning their first five by an average of 16.6 per game is enough to make Danny Ainge wonder if he's dreaming, considering the beating he took the first four years as executive vice president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics.</div> When Ainge set out to put a couple stars around Paul Pierce, who often appeared to be playing with bunch of high school kids (because he was), he had to figure the chances of adding stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen without giving up Pierce were minute. But give him credit for hanging it all out there because the Celtics and coach Doc Rivers have immediately reaped the benefits.</p> Granted, they have not played any of the powerhouses just yet, but they have beaten the very good Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets by an average of 13.3 points, so it isn't as if they're playing in the Colonial Athletic Association.</p> This also happens to be the Celtics' best start since the 1987-88 season when Ainge was a starting guard and the "Big Three" were Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.</p> The key would seem to be Rivers and Garnett pacifying the ego-challenged Pierce, who is getting more shots and, at 23.6 points per game, is averaging precisely 1.0 more than his two high-powered teammates. And while it's difficult not to be blown away by the marvelous shooting of Allen — .578 from the floor, .515 from 3-point range and .917 from the free-throw line — we knew that was going to happen considering the combination of the open looks he would get for his exquisite jump shot.</p> Yet, Garnett already has MVP written all over him.</p> Second-year point guard Rajon Rando is blossoming in the presence of such NBA dignitaries, though Rivers smartly has the offense running through Garnett at both the high and low post. Consequently, his stat-line is downright gaudy. The only man in NBA history to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in six consecutive seasons, Garnett has been dominant so far — 22.6 points, .570 from the field and .852 from the free-throw line. He is leading the league with 15.8 rebounds per game, and also averaging 6.0 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.6 blocks.</p> None of this should be a surprise. In situations like these, when special players are put together for the first time, they either start great or struggle unmercifully until they get a feel for one other. The Celtics have avoided that with Pierce being on his best behavior, Allen's consistency and Garnett's leadership.</p> Rivers — who rushed back to the Meadowlands from Chicago Saturday to coach the Celtics over the Nets despite coming from the funeral for his father — has understood perfectly how to handle the three stars. He stressed it before the season and he's sticking to it now.</p> As long as they all have the same agenda, this team will be special. But as they go through the league and teams attack them with a mixture of zones and man-to-man, there will be bumps and slumps. That's when we'll find out what they're made of in the big picture, and not just five strong games</p> </div></p>
It's pretty much a lock if we win 50+ games (and we will). He's pretty much the difference between this being a playoff-maybe to a title contender. Similar to the Steve Nash situation in Phoenix.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Without him theres no title, simple as that.</p> Playoffs we would make with Allen and Pierce.</p> </div></p> But title contenders you'd not be.</p> Yeah he's having a pretty good start.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shookem)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> But title contenders you'd not be.</p> Yeah he's having a pretty good start.</p> </div></p> Yea you're right, just playoffs.</p> </p>
I'm pretty sure if the Celts don't get banged up, and that the Big 3 don't run out of gas, they have a very good chance of going to the finals. I haven't caught any games where they have played and of the western powerhouses though, can someone tell me how they are fairing against the likes of Houston, San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas, etc?</p>
