Tue Jul 31 22:57:55 2007

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Glory days returning to Beantown

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(Sports Network) - Boston's executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge has saved his job with the Celtics by acquiring forward Kevin Garnett. Ainge, who won two championships as a player with the Celtics during his 14- year career, has revitalized the franchise this offseason by making two blockbuster deals for a pair of All-Stars.

On draft night, the Celtics acquired 32-year-old shooting guard Ray Allen from the Seattle SuperSonics for guard Delonte West, forwards Wally Szczerbiak and Georgetown's Jeff Green, who was chosen with the No. 5 overall pick. A seven- time All-Star, Allen, who averaged a team-best 26.4 points in 55 games for Seattle this past season, is still one of the best outside shooters in the NBA and has a few good years left in him.

However, it's the Garnett deal that has pushed Boston, which finished an Eastern Conference worst 24-58 during the 2006-07 campaign and did not qualify for the playoffs for a second straight year, back to the top of the conference.

Boston dealt Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, cash considerations and two first-round draft picks to Minnesota for Garnett. The Timberwolves receive Boston's 2009 first-round selection and will also get back the first-round draft pick the team dealt to the Celtics in a 2006 trade.

The 31-year-old Garnett, who will be entering his 13th season in the league, was the NBA MVP in the 2003-04 campaign. Garnett played in 76 games in 2006-07 and led Minnesota in scoring (22.4 ppg) and rebounding (12.8 rpg), but the Timberwolves missed the postseason for the third straight year.

A 10-time All-Star, Garnett has averaged over 20 points and more than 10 boards per game in nine straight seasons. He led the Timberwolves to the 2004 Western Conference finals, where they were eliminated in six games by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Originally drafted out of Farragut Academy High School by Minnesota in the first round (fifth overall) of the 1996 draft, Garnett has registered career- averages of 20.5 points and 11.4 rebounds in 927 contests. He has played in 47 postseason games, but has won only two playoff series.

The Celtics now have arguably the most potent trio in the NBA. Allen and Garnett join five-time All-Star Paul Pierce, who averaged 25.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 47 games for Boston last season.

Pierce, who will turn 30 on October 13th, now has the help and quality teammates he has been looking for. The Kansas product has been a one-man show the last several years for the Celtics. He wanted to play with better players, and Ainge has now made that a reality.

Ainge has mortgaged the Celtics' future to win now. It is a huge gamble, but one that is worth taking. Allen, Garnett and Pierce will all be in their 30s when the 2007-08 campaign begins. All three players have never appeared in the NBA Finals during their careers, and will be hungry and motivated to get to the next level.

Many of us questioned the deal for Allen. But who knew Ainge was going to be able to add Garnett to the mix. If this was part of the master plan, kudos to Ainge, who was on the hot seat and will surely get the chance to see how his new All-Star lineup will perform together over the next few seasons.

The last time Boston, which has not won a championship since beating the Houston Rockets in six games in 1986, advanced to the Eastern Conference finals was in 2002, when it was knocked out in six by the New Jersey Nets. It has been over 20 years since the Celtics played in the NBA Finals. They fell in six contests to the Lakers during the 1987 championship round.

By putting together a three-headed monster of Allen, Garnett and Pierce, Ainge has pushed the Celtics past the defending conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers as well as the Detroit Pistons, who have played in five straight East finals.

Yet, Boston's roster is still thin. Guards Tony Allen, who played in just 35 games last season, and Rajon Rondo will have to step up and raise their production, while center Kendrick Perkins is going to be asked to rebound and play tough defense.

Perkins collected 4.5 points and 5.2 boards in 72 contests in 2006-07 and will need to provide a physical presence down low. Rondo, who will be entering his second season in the NBA, will get the opportunity to start at the point and play big minutes. Boston is very high on Rondo's potential and his athleticism.

There is still more work to be done during the remainder of the offseason. Ainge will try and get head coach Doc Rivers some veterans who can contribute off the bench. Suddenly, Boston has become a very appealing place to play once again. The opportunity to play for a winner is alive and well. The free agent crop is not very attractive anymore, but there may be some players who can help.

There is currently no eye looking towards the future in Beantown. The time to win is now, as the window will not be open very long for this franchise. There will be no excuses.

The Celtics are once again the team to beat in the East. One of the most storied franchises in professional sports is back on the map.