The Boston Celtics are currently down two games to none to the Miami Heat. The Los Angeles Lakers are down three games to none to the Dallas Mavericks. While everyone is stunned by Dallas taking it to the Lakers, shouldn’t we be looking back at Boston? While many people would be ready to rip though the Lakers and prepare them for Dwight Howard or Chris Paul’s arrival in a couple seasons, there’s no fall back for Boston. There’s no superstar player who could be linked to Boston for the future, and we don’t even know if Doc Rivers will be back next season. Boston’s young superstar has more questions then Los Angeles’ young superstar, and even though Boston’s going through a movie renaissance, the team isn’t. With Boston’s core superstars winding down, and all their careers seem to be going through it’s last cycle, one must wonder: What’s Boston’s legacy looking back at the Big 3 era?
Let me be the first one to say this: A championship is a championship. While we attack teams who lucked up in the East in the 2002-2007 stretch, teams like Detroit and Miami do deserve credit for defeating western conference teams. So I do give Boston credit for winning a championship in 2008, but looking at the talent they brought in, the players were talking about, one championship? Paul Pierce, the star forward who never had a solid team around him, secretly loved by many around league, Pierce was considered a perfect number two option, but that stench of losing, as well as Boston already trying to cut bait with him the season before raised questions about him behind the scenes. Kevin Garnett, the 20-10 monster, best player in the game at one point, top 20 all time player in terms of talent, former MVP and loyal leader, Garnett turned 30 and the thirst for a NBA title grew. Floundering on a lottery destined Minnesota team, Garnett needed to get out of Minnesota to pursuit his dreams of a NBA title. Ray Allen, similar to Kevin Garnett, was floundering in Seattle and a championship was getting further and further away. The 2008 offseason provided all three with one golden opportunity, the chance to chase all their championship dreams in the city where Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Sam Jones, Tiny Archibald, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parrish roamed and titles were won.
Knowing what we know now, the two players Boston didn’t move away to get Garnett and Allen turned out to be the best players to build around the big 3. Rajon Rondo, developed into a solid playmaker and quickly knew how to get the ball to Allen in the corner or Pierce in his position. Kendrick Perkins was thrown next to Kevin Garnett as a flank in the post to save Garnett’s body. Those five players, as well James Posey (in a contract season), Tony Allen, Sam Cassell (also on his last legs) Eddie House, P.J. Brown, Leon Powe and rookie Glen Davis fit all into the perfect blend and mixture for a NBA title. While winning the title, Boston were tested dozens of times. Going 7 games against a 37 win Atlanta team in game 1, 7 games against a Cleveland team and 6 games vs a declining Detroit team, but eventually got to the finals and 6 games, went over Los Angeles.
Then, 2009 happened.
James Posey left for New Orleans, P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell retired leaving Boston without some core guys. What made it worst was the emergence of LeBron James and Cleveland, and Kevin Garnett’s injury in Utah. What seemed like a simple tweak turned into a season ending injury. Eventually, Boston was bounced in the second round to the Orlando Magic, who made the NBA Finals that season and lost to the rival Los Angeles Lakers. Boston’s title window went from open, to slightly closed with Kevin Garnett’s injury and Ray Allen’s slow decline. We all waited and wrote Boston off, claiming the King of Cleveland is ready for his NBA reign.
Then 2010 happened.
Boston came back slightly healthier then 2009,adding Rasheed Wallace and yet entering the playoffs as the 4th seed. After defeating Miami in round one, Boston met Cleveland and LeBron James. Fate would have it, LeBron had other things and controversies behind the scenes which allowed Boston to get past Cleveland, and meet Orlando in the conference finals. Once again, Boston used experience, as well as a trip in the time machine for Kevin Garnett to get back to the NBA Finals, facing the team that history linked them with in the Los Angeles Lakers. This time, fate was different. Even with Kendrick Perkins injured, Boston lead by as many as 10 in the 4th quarter, but Kobe Bryant and Los Angeles walked off the home court with the NBA title.
Three seasons together, one NBA title. While this season isn’t over, the Celtics didn’t pull multiple championships. While one title is respectable, it isn’t respectable when Los Angeles pulled two championships in consecutive seasons. What do we rate this? While we all place Miami and the “Heatles” under the microscope, one must wonder when that time will come for Boston, but when we look back, what will we say? Might one call Boston’s “Big 3” era overrated?
Only time will tell.