Breaking Down the Boston Celtics "Big Three"

The Boston Celtics' Big Three has gotten a ton of press early on in this NBA season. With Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen anchoring the roster, the entire country is able to see one of the most potent trios ever to play on the same court together. So who exactly are these three players, and how do they fit together so well to produce superior chemistry?

Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 10^th overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, out of the University of Kansas. He has been a starter in every season he has spent with the Celtics. Pierce quickly became a fan favorite in the Boston area, and was recognized as a true force in the Eastern Conference after he helped to lead the Celtics to the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals. He is a five time NBA All Star (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 seasons), and lead the NBA in total points scored in 2002.

Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett came over to the Boston Celtics this past offseason, in a trade that saw Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, a first round draft pick, a 2009 first round Minnesota draft pick, and cash considerations make their way to Minnesota. He was selected with the 5^th overall pick out of the 1995 NBA Draft by the Timberwolves. Garnett was the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2004, and the All-Star Game MVP in 2003. In addition, he is a 10-time All Star (1997-1998, 2000-2007). From a fantasy standpoint, Garnett was the top overall consensus pick over the past five years, as he can contribute in several ways to a fantasy basketball team.

Ray Allen

Ray Allen was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 5^th pick of the 1996 NBA Draft. He attended the University of Connecticut. Early on in his career, he spent time with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Seattle SuperSonics. He is known as one of the best shooters in the league, and his three point shot percentage is among the highest among the past five years.

Allen is a seven time NBA All Star, qualifying for the game in 2000-2002, and 2004-2007. In the 2005-2006 season, he lead the league in three point field goals made (269).

So how do all three of these players perform so well together?

One important thing to note of these players is that they are all non-selfish players. All three players have been the marquee player on each of their respective rosters over the past few years, and so they are used to performing on the big stage with big expectations. However, all three of these players never found great success being the one star player on each of their teams, so they understand how important the team aspect is to success in the league.

It seems that though all of these players are multi-faceted players, their skill sets all compliment each other nicely. For instance, Allen is the guy who will be relied upon mostly for the three point shooting, but Pierce can definitely pick up the slack if Allen has a tough night shooting from afar. Garnett is a big time rebounder, but Pierce and Allen pick up the slack that Garnett can't cover all on his own.

With a supportive cast around these three players, they become even more integrated into a team-first thinking process. Rajon Rondo, Eddie House, James Posey, and Kendrick Perkins are just as important to keep around if the Celtics want to continue seeing success. In today's NBA, it is more important than ever to have solid contributions off the bench to help your star players.

All in all, after their playing time is done, the Boston Celtic's "Big Three" could go down as one of the best trios of NBA players ever to play together. Enjoy watching this group with every chance you get!