Feeling Green All Over

The 2007 NBA season has begun and tomorrow is the start of easily the most-anticipated Celtics regular season for as long as I can remember. After finishing with the second-worst record in the league last year (including an 18-game losing streak), the Celtics looked to be headed on a fast train to nowhere. Boston pulled off a draft day deal for perennial All-Star guard Ray Allen but the move was met with little enthusiasm. However, things changed immediately when the C's landed Kevin Garnett in a massive swap with the Timberwolves. Suddenly, Boston was back on the map.

To go anywhere in the NBA, you need at least two stars. Better make that three. With a high-scoring trio, you can write yourself a ticket to the playoffs and hopefully dream of even bigger things. At this moment, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are the top three in the league. I know, I know. It's certainly close with Duncan, Parker and Ginobli fresh off a ring while Nash, Marion and Stoudamire are breathing down their necks. The Celtics big three just edges them out since each are in their prime for the next 2-3 years. They're all hungry too since none have appeared in the NBA Finals.

Rajon Rondo will be the starting point guard while Kendrick Perkins will be the center. Neither of these guys will be a first team All-NBA pick anytime soon but that's fine. All they have to be is OK and things will work out. Rondo is extremely athletic. He's a great defender and can get to the rim with some good distribution to teammates. His big liability is the jumper. It's non-existent. If he can develop any sort of outside threat or mid-range shot to keep defenders honest, he'll be golden. Perkins has shown flashes of being a good defender and solid rebounder. He brings some toughness to a team that has been a doormat in the Eastern Conference the last two seasons. Perks' problem is staying on the court. He is a foul-machine. He'll need to be more careful as his only real backup will be Scot Pollard, who is pretty much employed these days for comedic purposes.

Eddie House and James Posey are two other much less hyped pickups but they'll each play important roles. House is a great scorer and Posey is a capable defender and 3-point shooter. Tony Allen was just coming into his own last season before a freak injury put his career in jeopardy. He's back this season but all reports say he's still somewhat hobbled by the knee injury. Again, he doesn't have to be a star. He just needs to fill a role. Same story with Leon Powe, Brian Scalabrine and Glen Davis. Rookies Gabe Pruitt and Brandon Wallace probably will pick up a bunch of DNP's unless an injury thrusts them into the spotlight.

Who's the class of the East? Detroit and Chicago seem like the top teams. Miami, New Jersey and Cleveland have a ton of questions. The Celtics could be right there at the end of the season. It'll be interesting to see how Garnett, Allen and Pierce each respond to being the No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3 guy on different nights. Nobody else in the league can match the scoring potential of these three if they're on their games. Bottom line, the NBA is actually back in our city. The glory days are long gone but we're excited for a new era to begin.