Congrats to the Big Three!

[gar]

Have shied away after the loss to Miami (so apologize if this seems obvious); however I think we need to acknowledge what an incredible season the Big Three had. While everyone is calling them washed up and questioning the trade (dumping on various players). The big three all had career seasons in several categories and while it may seem hollow to many, just wanted to give it up to a group that make you proud to be a Celtics Fan (and a basketball fan) and perhaps to help explain why Doc is coming back.

P Pierce Career High FG% 49.7, FT% 86

R Allen Career High FG% 49.1, 3pt% 44.4 (insane AFG% 67)

KG   Career High FT% 86.2, has consistently shot over 50% (52.8%)

#1 Team in pts allowed


The flaws may seem equally glaring; but after much listening and reflection they have nothing to do with the big three. They also have nothing to do with Jeff Green who had a career high 48.5 FG% with the C's and shot 43.8% from 3 in the playoffs. It may have a lot to do with BBD playing a career high minutes all season (from 20 min. to almost 30 per game); but more than anything it was injuries (again). Yes they need some youth; but the big three are not done.

[Marcus13]

The Big Three are all very good roleplayers at this stage in their careers, unfortunately you just can't count on any of them to deliver game in - game out.  That's what this team is missing.

With that said, Jeff Green is AWFUL

[gar]

The Big Three are all very good roleplayers at this stage in their careers, unfortunately you just can't count on any of them to deliver game in - game out.  That's what this team is missing.

With that said, Jeff Green is AWFUL

I did not write this earlier for fear of being seen as a homer; however I think the numbers speak for themselves. The C's has struggled all season to finish games. This is more a matter of minutes than anything else. Yes we need youth and yes Doc should not ride the starters the way he does; but this does not mean that they cannot get it done if given the support they need.

[hpantazo]

Have shied away after the loss to Miami (so apologize if this seems obvious); however I think we need to acknowledge what an incredible season the Big Three had. While everyone is calling the washed up and questioning the trade (dumping on various players). The big three all had career seasons in several categories and while it may seem hollow to many, just wanted to give it up to a group that make you proud to be a Celtics Fan (and a basketball fan) and perhaps to help explain why Doc is coming back.

P Pierce Career High FG% 49.7, FT% 86

R Allen Career High FG% 49.1, 3pt% 44.4 (insane AFG% 67)

KG   Career High FT% 86.2, has consistently shot over 50% (52.8%)

#1 Team in pts allowed


The flaws may seem equally glaring; but after much listening and reflection they have nothing to do with the big three. They also have nothing to do with Jeff Green who had a career high 48.5 FG% with the C's and shot 43.8% from 3 in the playoffs. They may have a lot to do with BBD playing a career high minutes all season (from 20 min. to almost 30 per game); but more than anything it was injuries (again). Yes they need some youth; but the big three are not done.

I fully agree, the big three had a great season and it's gotten totally overlooked by most. TP

[CoachBo]

Have shied away after the loss to Miami (so apologize if this seems obvious); however I think we need to acknowledge what an incredible season the Big Three had. While everyone is calling the washed up and questioning the trade (dumping on various players). The big three all had career seasons in several categories and while it may seem hollow to many, just wanted to give it up to a group that make you proud to be a Celtics Fan (and a basketball fan) and perhaps to help explain why Doc is coming back.

P Pierce Career High FG% 49.7, FT% 86

R Allen Career High FG% 49.1, 3pt% 44.4 (insane AFG% 67)

KG   Career High FT% 86.2, has consistently shot over 50% (52.8%)

#1 Team in pts allowed


The flaws may seem equally glaring; but after much listening and reflection they have nothing to do with the big three. They also have nothing to do with Jeff Green who had a career high 48.5 FG% with the C's and shot 43.8% from 3 in the playoffs. They may have a lot to do with BBD playing a career high minutes all season (from 20 min. to almost 30 per game); but more than anything it was injuries (again). Yes they need some youth; but the big three are not done.

Great post. TP. They aren't done; they are evolving. There's basketball left in each of them.

The key to the Celtics' immediate future will be Ainge's ability to recognize and adjust to that evolution. The same formula that worked with them on the floor in 2008 isn't going to work any more. His job is to surround them with the right complementary pieces, which are going to have to include at least one accomplished scorer in the starting lineup and off the bench, and a significant rebounder inside. I would anticipate the same numbers, or slightly better, from each of them if Ainge can deliver a fourth significant scoring option in the starting lineup, and a rebounder who can score a little.

If the approach is "tweak the bench and we'll be fine," then the results will continue to decline next year. Playoffs? Probably. First round exit will be likely.

[gar]

Makes you wonder what they could have done with Ronnie Brewer and Taj Gibson coming off the bench.

[paulcowens]

I don't think people are just questioning The Trade.  I think people are rightly calling it a disaster.

And I don't know who is calling the Big Three washed up.   I think everyone actually recognizes that in many ways they had brilliant seasons.  In fact, that's why we are so disappointed at not winning a championship.

But they ARE getting older and I do not think next year's team can be built around the Big Three in the same way.  If they stay together, it has to be as part of a bigger and more complex picture.

As for Jeff Green, I don't think folks are blaming The Trade on him.  Obviously, he didn't make it.

[CoachBo]

The trade had nothing whatsoever to do with the end of the season. Perkins isn't doing anything in OKC except banking garishly huge checks. We got more production out of the 5 with JO than Perkins would have delivered. And please, Ubuntu is something fans fall in love with; players are pros and they play with what they have.

As I've said earlier, if Rondo stays, I see no logic keeping the Big 3 together - this formula worked originally because each of the Big 3 was an accomplished scorer and defender in 2008, so Rondo's strengths were a perfect fit - distribution - and his weaknesses - scoring - were compensated for.

None of those three can score or defend at the 2008 level. So either Ainge had better come up with a fourth accomplished scorer for the starting lineup - Chris Paul, etc - and a rebounder who can score some - four PPG a game isn't enough -  or he's going to have to move one of the 3 to get a scorer who can hide Rondo's woeful outside shooting.

The recipe in 2008 was genius, but it won't work anymore. Gotta shake this group up.

[Dante]

We will become relevant again when the likes of Lebrón, Wade, Bosch, Rose, Noah, Boozer retire. How long will that take?

[Dante]

We will become relevant again when the likes of Lebrón, Wade, Bosch, Rose, Noah, Boozer retire. How long will that take? 

[gar]

Contracts are challenging; but defense was not the problem. Rebounding and finishing games was. There are probably stats that show it is numerically better to get back on defense than to try for offensive boards. What those numbers, don't say is how much it takes out of a team to play solid defense for 24 seconds and then let someone get an easy put back because Doc wants people to get back. Maybe you don't have to do this with a younger team; but he was also releasing Green on defensive rebounds for the quick outlet, so you need young legs for sure and more smartz under the basket.