The big news from out of Beantown: No Kevin Garnett. Ray Allen, his stroke as pure as ever, can't keep up with Dwyane Wade to save his life; actually, no combination of the Celtics vets can. Paul Pierce will be around, but come on -- for all the team records he's closing in on, Pierce doesn't lord over games anymore. His greatest impact sometimes seems to be his ability to swing games by laying down on the floor.In last year's playoffs, we got our first hint at a post-Big Three Celts. Tonight, time grinds on, and we might be get our first real look at the rest of Boston's life.
That should not be cause for sadness. There's no question that, despite having traded away its young core to nab Garnett in 2007, the Celtics have dudes in the chamber. Rajon Rondo is already an All-Star, but Kedrick Perkins is among the league's toughest, nastiest centers. Tony Allen, finally, is emerging as an ace defender and capable slasher. Glen Davis is always better than you think -- though at what, it's not entirely clear. And Marquis Daniels and Nate Robinson still have much to offer the world, even if it remains unclear exactly what that is. Whatever, Daniels as a Mavericks rookie remains one of my favorite players ever.
Share Is that the look of a contender? No. For one, it needs a scorer, which is why Paul Pierce remains integral. But Pierce is on a slow boat to Michael Finley -- the question is whether he, or the franchise, will actually take notice of this. The same goes for Garnett's decline. Allen is gone this summer; Pierce might be, too, if he decides to chase that last decent-sized contract. That leaves KG and the kids. Unfortunately, the C's won't have cap room to sign up anyone new, but at some point, they need to start changing their team's identity.
Rajon Rondo is cornerstone, the prized diamond, and the wild card. His ability at both ends of the floor, and tooth-gnashing determination, are rare things indeed. I've called him "the KG of point guards." Rondo was exactly that in last year's playoffs. At the same time, this year Rondo couldn't replicate his success when KG went down. Maybe it's the structure of the team, which persists even when KG is out; maybe its respect for his elders. Or, to extend the Garnett analogy, perhaps he's also a codependent All-Star, requiring certain accessories for his gifts to really matter. Maybe Rondo needs the team retooled to really take advantage of his skills.
Boston should be able to beat the Heat even without coming face-to-face with its future. Still, as with 2009, these playoffs give that team a chance to see what's ahead for the Celtics when the Big Three recede into history. If the organization is smart, that's a process they'll want to get going sooner rather than later.
PHOTOS: Tornado Aftermath Leaves Trail Of Destruction
WATCH: Tornadoes Rip Through Central U.S.
PHOTOS: Tornadoes Wreak Havoc On Central U.S.
Oklahoma Senators Face Difficult Options On Disaster Relief
Bomb Blasts Claim More Lives In Iraq
Yahoo-Tumblr Deal Is Official: We Promise 'Not To Screw It Up'
Court Annuls Rios Montt Genocide Conviction
Elementary Schools Hit By Oklahoma Tornado
Did Pope Francis Perform An Exorcism?
Police END Search For Susan Powell
Sequestration Weakens Government Watchdogs, Making It Harder To Detect Waste And Fraud
Obama Signs Oklahoma Disaster Declaration
Dem Gov Signs Landmark Bill Into Law
Sarah Palin: 'Global Warming My Gluteus Maximus'
FBI Now Involved In Michele Bachmann Investigation
Treasury, IRS Reportedly Spoke Multiple Times About How To Handle Scandal
WATCH: Even The TV Anchors Had To Evacuate
Someone Just Made An Even Better 3D-Printed Gun
WATCH: Robert Gibbs Takes Swipe At Maureen Dowd
IT'S OFFICIAL
Stop-And-Frisk Judge Sharply Questions City Lawyers
Godfather Of Slain Student Blames NY Police
The DOJ's Targeting Of Fox News Reporter Risks Criminalizing Journalism
Feds Say Trespassing Peace Activists Are A National Security Threat
Wall Street Beating Families To Houses During Recovery
Ex-Senator Laments 'Unfair' FAA Budget Fix
Senate Report Reveals Apple's Unusual Tax Structure
NYU Researchers Gave Secrets To Chinese Competitors, Feds Say
Walmart Slammed For Handling Of Bribery Case
Facebook Group Reunites Tornado Victims With Their Belongings
