It's Rebuilding Time in Boston

The Boston Celtics are still a very talented basketball team. There is no doubt about that. The Big 3 of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have all been drinking from the fountain of youth and are continuing to look and play surprisingly young. However, as the playoffs move on and Boston now trails the Miami Heat 3-1 with its own Big 3, one begins to wonder if it is time for the Celtics to break this group up and start the rebuilding process immediately once the offseason begins.

Nothing, however, should be taken away from the talents of K.G., Pierce and Allen. Each one of them could be an outstanding second option on many teams. However, none of them has the young legs anymore to carry a franchise deep into the playoffs.

More importantly, the Celtics don't have what it takes to win a title anymore. The team could probably soldier on like this for another 2, maybe even 3, seasons getting into the playoffs. But, The Celtics are a historic franchise. Making the playoffs is not success. For a Boston team to be considered successful it must win a title. So, if it is obvious that the Celtics don't have another title left in them, doesn't it make sense to start rebuilding the team now?

Many a fan was perplexed and angered by the Kendrick Perkins trade. One of the beliefs behind the motivation for this trade was that Danny Ainge did not want to see the team get old like the Celtics teams that he played on in the 1980s did. Getting Jeff Green, a talented and athletic young player, was believed to perhaps help quell the aging process. Perkins is an offensively limited player, and it was believed that he was already at his ceiling.

Let's assume that the Celtics jettison their big 3 in the offseason. Who's left? There seem to be 3 players that are keepers right now for the Celtics: Rondo, Big Baby and Jeff Green. These are all talented players in their own right, but not exactly the makings of a contender. The verdict is still out on Rondo's ability to carry a team. What will he really be like when the Big 3 are gone? Is he really that good? Jeff Green is a nice player, but not a team centerpiece. Big Baby Davis has developed every year and has become a solid banger in the post and even developed a shooting touch from the outside. However, he's undersized and he is not one of the quicker players in the league.

Perhaps the Celtics can enter their name in the Dwight Howard sweepstakes. This would certainly expedite a rebuilding effort. Nevertheless, it seems like the Big 3 era's contending days are over. It's likely to be a bit of a climb back to the top.