We Are Watching Unfold, The Beatiful Blending of three Gigantic Ego's into a

[KG Living Legend]

Into a Winning Recipe. When The Big 2 arrived. No not Kevin Mchale and Larry Bird, the would be Gray and old.

When Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen walked through that door, it was most intresting to see how these three "Top Dogs", Kings and leaders of their respected teams would blend together to form a cohesive unit.

Kevin jumped out early and Proved himself the head Lion in the pride. Then the Truth Spoke. And laid Claim to second in charge should the leader die. And Ray settled for third not knowing exactly when and where to assert himself.

Now, after winning the Title and everyone knowing where they fit, and what to do. I have to give a HUGE Congrats to Paul Pierce. He has been an amazingly unselfish person this year. Now feeling more comfortable with the fact that we are the Best team around. And he can always take over when needed.

And like Doc said after the game. We feel more comfortable getting Sugar Ray More shots now. And I think Paul is the one to thank for the improved chemistry this year. He's second on the team in assists with 94. KG has 64, and Ray 65.

And Amazingly look at the shot totals this Year Pierce with 346, and KG and Ray have 343 each. Now that's sharing. Great Job Guys, This will be the Best team this Decade, and the best Celtic team since bird, maybe better. Enjoy it. I am.

[albas89]

 You're right, but last night's game is not representative because every single starter had a good/very good game!! It's not gonna be happening every night...

Talking about Pierce, last night I was surprised too! I know he's become a great team player but last night he was the most mature PP this season! Almost impeccable!! And not only he didn't turnover the ball, he made the best choice on offense every time the ball was in his hands! Great decisions, unbelievably mature!!

Ray Ray is on fire and we had better keep him like that because it seems that no team can stop him when he's on...

And Rajon......no comment about his performance, he's just making fun of every matchup he has played against lately!! Stunning....

[biggs]

I disagree about KG asserting himself as the "head lion", maybe "craziest lion"?  This is and always was Paul's team so don't forget that.

I do agree though, that it's been amazing watching these three players mesh and grow together.  I really think if we had the three of them together 3 years ago we might be the best team assembled in a long time in this league.  Even though we're getting old I still kind of feel that way. 

It's scary to think that we improve every game. 

On PP last night- I'm calling it right now- Paul Pierce will become a coach after he retires and stay a celtic for life

[KG Living Legend]

Anyone that doesn't think KG is the Top Dog the leader of all three is crazy. Not even a question. Pierce knows it too.

[nickagneta]

I think people can't give enough credit to Pierce, Garnett and Allen for the way they have blended their skills and sacrificed their games, stats, and egos for the good of the team.

On the other hand, I don't think Doc Rivers gets anywhere near the credit he deserves for instilling those attitudes within his star players and devising an offensive and defensive system that plays to each of their strengths so well.

Lastly, we cannot forget about Rondo and his ability, offensively, to run the offense and properly and evenly distribute the ball as well as getting these stars the ball in the positions where they can be most effective in utilizing their offensive games.

This has truly been a complete team effort from the front office all the way down to the ball boys.

[housecall]

Timing is everthing, with the acquiring of the 2 superstars at the right time in their  careers,also i noticed the three of them are close in age,and the maturity off the court has something to do with their success as well.I don't think they would have meshed this quickly and easily when these three were in their early to mid-twenties...i give a lot of credit to their maturing,realizing and taking advanatage of this great situation at the right time in their careers without drama.

[Fafnir]

Anyone that doesn't think KG is the Top Dog the leader of all three is crazy. Not even a question. Pierce knows it too.

The really amazing thing is that I don't think they're concerned who is the "leader". Just look at their on court behavior. They'll post Perk up a ton if he's got a match-up they like. Depending on who's hot they'll feed them the ball for shots. They all at times over pass. How many times do you see current/former super-star high scoring max contract players over pass?

[hwangjini_1]

i agree with the idea behind this thread. the big three are showing that they are more than just 3 stars, they are more than the sum of their talents. they key is they all want their team to win, not rack up points and stats and inflate their own ego.

as evidence, we can look at folks such a marbury...stats? yes. wins? no. but he keeps playing the way he does to satisfy his own ego first and foremost. team is secondary.

but beyond the big three's lack of ego, is their desire to play WITH other great players and thereby expand their own game.

with the big three, to understand how they play together you shouldnt just add up their points per game as if they were discrete numbers. ("hmmm... paul score 20, ray puts in 24, kg will give us 18...they give us 62 each night!")

each of them not only makes the other two better basketball players than they would be as the leading, sole star on a team, they give each other the chance to have a bad night, and still make the team win.

none of them have to pull the entire celtics team each and everynight. each of them can have one facet of their game not work, but then emphasize another part of their game since the other two can make up for it.

it is something akin to what larry bird used to do. when his shot wasnt falling, he passed and rebounded instead. he used his talents to only be a great player, but also when needed to make the games of the other celtics better.

when garnet's shot isnt falling, he rebounds, pierce and ray can score. paul does not have to score or control the ball everytime the celtics come down the court, as he often did 2 years ago. he trusts his teammates to succeed.

and even when TWO of them are not doing well, the celtics still have one star to pull the team that night.

if all the celtics had on their team were three stars and not stars-without-egos, the celtics would be the knicks.

ainge was brilliant to pick up not only star players, but star players who love to win games more than individual stats.

[TrueGreen]

i agree with the idea behind this thread. the big three are showing that they are more than just 3 stars, they are more than the sum of their talents. they key is they all want their team to win, not rack up points and stats and inflate their own ego.

as evidence, we can look at folks such a marbury...stats? yes. wins? no. but he keeps playing the way he does to satisfy his own ego first and foremost. team is secondary.

but beyond the big three's lack of ego, is their desire to play WITH other great players and thereby expand their own game.

with the big three, to understand how they play together you shouldnt just add up their points per game as if they were discrete numbers. ("hmmm... paul score 20, ray puts in 24, kg will give us 18...they give us 62 each night!")

each of them not only makes the other two better basketball players than they would be as the leading, sole star on a team, they give each other the chance to have a bad night, and still make the team win.

none of them have to pull the entire celtics team each and everynight. each of them can have one facet of their game not work, but then emphasize another part of their game since the other two can make up for it.

it is something akin to what larry bird used to do. when his shot wasnt falling, he passed and rebounded instead. he used his talents to only be a great player, but also when needed to make the games of the other celtics better.

when garnet's shot isnt falling, he rebounds, pierce and ray can score. paul does not have to score or control the ball everytime the celtics come down the court, as he often did 2 years ago. he trusts his teammates to succeed.

and even when TWO of them are not doing well, the celtics still have one star to pull the team that night.

if all the celtics had on their team were three stars and not stars-without-egos, the celtics would be the knicks.

ainge was brilliant to pick up not only star players, but star players who love to win games more than individual stats.

Well put. It's funny though. When the KG deal went down everyone was saying not enough basketballs to go around. I never had that thought. I thought the problem was going to be over passing. I never saw an ego problem with these guys. And Doc was brilliant by bringing in the theme of "Ubuntu". It probably wasn't needed, but it let's us express our thoughts in one word. It's always been about "Ubuntu", but once the media got going with ego's and "big three", these guys quietly not only realized it wasn't about that and they quietly made sure that everyone on the team was made to feel just as important as the media thought KG, PP and RA were. This is really the sports story of the decade. Your last paragraph about Danny making character part of his selection process is right on and was emphasized last nite when KG laughed at himself in the post game interview when he said that that he only got one rebound. He said Perk and Rondo were grabbing them all. And I don't think KG even realized he only got one, nor did he care. It's just great to be a Celtic fan after sticking with them thru the lean times.

[thirstyboots18]

The thing that has impressed me the most, aside from the meshing of three superplayers, is the willingness of the big three to not only allow Rondo and Perk to become superstars too, but the understanding of the need for them to help them become superstars (and they are well on the way) to truly form a great "Team".  If they win this year (back-to-back) with essentially the same team as last year I think they have to be considered at least on a par with Bird/McHale/Parrish/DJ...teams.

[Michael Anthony]

Good post, and nice work on the shooting and assist stats.

Any Godfather fans on the Blog? KG, Allen and Pierce are like Sonny Corleone, Tom Higgins and Michael Corleone respectively. KG is the brash and emotional leader to those on the outside, Allen is the consummate professional that holds the group together, and Pierce is at his best when the Family is on the ropes.

That being said, is Brian Scalabrine Fredo?

[nickagneta]

i agree with the idea behind this thread. the big three are showing that they are more than just 3 stars, they are more than the sum of their talents. they key is they all want their team to win, not rack up points and stats and inflate their own ego.

as evidence, we can look at folks such a marbury...stats? yes. wins? no. but he keeps playing the way he does to satisfy his own ego first and foremost. team is secondary.

but beyond the big three's lack of ego, is their desire to play WITH other great players and thereby expand their own game.

with the big three, to understand how they play together you shouldnt just add up their points per game as if they were discrete numbers. ("hmmm... paul score 20, ray puts in 24, kg will give us 18...they give us 62 each night!")

each of them not only makes the other two better basketball players than they would be as the leading, sole star on a team, they give each other the chance to have a bad night, and still make the team win.

none of them have to pull the entire celtics team each and everynight. each of them can have one facet of their game not work, but then emphasize another part of their game since the other two can make up for it.

it is something akin to what larry bird used to do. when his shot wasnt falling, he passed and rebounded instead. he used his talents to only be a great player, but also when needed to make the games of the other celtics better.

when garnet's shot isnt falling, he rebounds, pierce and ray can score. paul does not have to score or control the ball everytime the celtics come down the court, as he often did 2 years ago. he trusts his teammates to succeed.

and even when TWO of them are not doing well, the celtics still have one star to pull the team that night.

if all the celtics had on their team were three stars and not stars-without-egos, the celtics would be the knicks.

ainge was brilliant to pick up not only star players, but star players who love to win games more than individual stats.

Brilliant post, TP4U.

And one point that gets forgotten here is that the reason the three players can have off nights and contribute in other ways is because all three of them are amongst the more versatile players in the NBA.

KG is a big man who is a prolific rebounder and defender who has post moves, can hit the 20 footer with consistency, and is an excellent passer.

Pierce is one of the most physically imposing SFs in the game who has always been a plus rebounder with an excellent handle who can be equally dangerous if left open from 25 feet as he can be creating his own shot or shots for others and showed last year that he has always been more than capable of playing exceptional defense. Besides he might be the most clutch player currrently playing in the NBA.

Ray is easily one of the best two to five pure shooters to ever play the game. But it doesn't stop there. He is great finisher, can find the open lane with ease, is an above average passer with an very good handle. And he might be only a slight bit less clutch player than is Pierce. His defense isn't outstanding but he usually is playing great team defense if not individual defense.

I think that's what makes the combination of these three particular superstars so dangerous. They are not one dimensional. Look at other three player tandems in the league that get some hype. In LA Kobe is the best player in the league but Gasol and Bynum, his cohorts in that triumverate, are not very versatile players and in Bynum's case is very one dimensional. In Houston T-Mac is very versatile but doesn't play defense, Artest is versatile but is a head case and a black hole that doesn't make others better. Yao is as one dimensional as Bynum only better at what he does. In New Prleans, Paul can do everything but West and Chandler aren't even close to being the type of extremely well rounded players that the Big Three are, although West gets sloser every year and is a bit undersized. The list can go on and on.

The Celtics Three have size, ability, versatility, heart, clutchness, leadership and unselfishness in copious amounts. More than any other threesome in the league.

That's what makes them so special.