The "Big Three" now a Big Team?

By: Vince Vitale

Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Tim Duncan.

Three names that used to be considered the big three.

But only until blockbuster trades landed Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics. Allen and Garnett along with Paul Pierce created a new “Big Three”. This Big Three is different though. None of the members of this triangle have championship rings. San Antonio’s success has been well documented throughout this decade. Boston hasn’t seen a competitive fight since Pierce and Antoine Walker were a dynamic duo. Now three hungry players are assembled together to bring Boston another title. But what’s truly special about this “Big Three” is its not just three people…

The question for the Celtics coming into this season was would the supporting cast be able to hold their own. The answer is yes. Rajon Rondo has turned into a nightmare for opposing defense because of his ability to break down the D. His ability to get to the rack and his lockdown defense along with his great athleticism has allowed him to exceed expectations. Boston now has a developed a steady point guard and if one wasn’t enough they added a proven veteran in Sam Cassell. It wasn’t to long ago when Garnett had his MVP season and Cassell was right along side of him. This chemistry is great but let’s not forget that Cassell played along Ray Allen’s side back in the Milwaukee Bucks days. Cassell has championship experience with the Rockets and adds depth to the Celtics.

Speaking of experience P.J. Browns presence adds just that. Once he gets back into game shape, Brown will provide depth at the center position. Tony Allen and Leon Powe add energy into the mix. Their exciting plays and ability to block shots will help give Pierce and Garnett breaks when they come off the bench. James Posey is a tough defender who is not shy to take a foul. He adds a defensive strength to the best defensive team, along with good 3 point shooting ability. Speaking of three point shooting Eddie House can provide a scoring spark with his shooting off the bench. Glen Davis has probably made the most dramatic improvement since the off-season. He is a good low post threat and helps bring depth to the frontcourt. The biggest surprise to this team would have to be the maturity of Kendrick Perkins game. He is now a legit center in the NBA. His shot blocking and inside scoring has improved dramatically this year and along side with Garnett adds a formidable frontcourt.

As you can see this team is no longer the Big Three; they are slowly but surely developing into the “Big Team”.