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By acquiring Kevin Garnett and completing the biggest NBA trade since Shaq was shipped to Miami, the Boston Celtics have put themselves in prime position to win an NBA Championship. Teaming up Garnett with two other superstar forces, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, create what, on paper, appears to be the best trio the league has seen in decades.

Garnett has long been one of the most well-rounded players in the NBA. His talent reaches every facet of the game; with his acquisition, he brings major upgrades to the Celtics on offense, defense, and rebounding. Garnett's athleticism for his size is unmatched and his knowledge of the game is gleaming. He constantly finds himself making the All-NBA team, All-Defensive team, and earning numerous MVP votes.

Brought in instead of a young draft pick, Ray Allen will go down as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. A perennial 20-per game scorer, Allen has both the ability to create his own shot and the shooting threat to draw defenders away from potential double-teams. While he has been the first scoring option on his teams throughout his career, Allen will be able to settle in as one of three superb options that will drive opposing defenses crazy.

Alongside Garnett and Allen, Paul Pierce has established himself as one of the best players in Celtics' history - no small feat considering the team's past: the Bird era, Russell's dynasty, the Cousy years; the Celtics have been the NBA's most storied franchise. His scoring abilities from the perimeter, on the drive, and in the post have already made him Boston's sixth highest scorer in team history. Maintaining career averages of 24 points, six rebounds, four assists, and nearly two steals per game, Pierce is an upper-echelon talent who is finally being given the surrounding talent to bring a championship to Boston.

Just as important has having the strong core of the Garnett-Pierce-Allen trio, the strength of Boston's supporting cast will have a huge say in the Celtics' destiny. Second year point guard Rajon Rondo and center Kendrick Perkins will round out Boston's starting five. Each displays an impressive knack for the defensive side of the game, but Rondo's ability to run an offense as a starter will largely determine whether Boston progresses from extremely talented to extremely successful.

Off the bench, the Celtics will likely play part in a lot of run-and-gun small-ball. Guards and swingmen dominate the bench with three-point threat and defensive talent James Posey, sharpshooter Eddie House, and athletic defender Tony Allen represent their top three reserve options. Role players like Brian Scalabrine and Scot Pollard will be looked to as sources of additional size, though their roles will likely be limited.

With no other team in the Eastern Conference really standing out anymore, the Celtics have the advantage of overwhelming talent in an otherwise mediocre pool of teams. Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Toronto, and Orlando all have the potential to be 50-win teams, but none appear to be strong enough to truly compete with the Celtics. The most prominent challenges come from the Western Conference: the Spurs, Suns, and Mavericks. While the Spurs remain the championship favorites, the Celtics with Kevin Garnett now have the firepower to win an NBA title.

Learn more about this author, Art Vandelay.
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