Apart from wondering what will happen in the Kobe Bryant saga, the biggest story going into the 2007-2008 NBA season has to do with the revamped, star-studded Boston Celtics.

Can the players all live with each other? Did the Celtics give away too much to acquire Kevin Garnett? Will Ray Allen and Paul Pierce stay fit? And just how far will they go? To all those skeptics and nervous Boston fans out there, I can answer all those questions and dispel any doubts you may have.

To the first question, the big three of Garnett, Allen and Pierce have all played in one conference finals series each, and they all lost. They are desperate for a title and have already shown in their careers that they can be unselfish. They can also co-exist because their respective games compliment each other. Garnett is the low post and high post presence, Allen can shoot the three and Pierce can slash to the hoop.

'The biggest question mark might have to do with Allen and Pierce's durability. They missed a combined 63 games through injury last year'


Secondly, it's true that the Celtics gave the Minnesota Timberwolves everything but the kitchen sink to acquire Kevin Garnett. To be exact, five players and two first round draft picks. However, history tells us the trade was well worth the risk.

In 1992, the Phoenix Suns acquired Charles Barkley from Philadelphia 76ers for Jeff Hornacek, Andrew Lang, and Tim Perry. As a result, Barkley led the Suns to a 62-20 record, and a trip to the NBA Finals, while being judged the league's Most Valuable Player. Philadelphia, meanwhile, was awarded the second pick of the 1993 draft. What does that tell you? What's worse is that they selected Shawn Bradley. Enough said.

The biggest question mark might have to do with Allen and Pierce's durability. They missed a combined 63 games through injury last year. There is never a guarantee that players will stay fit, especially for players in their 30s, but for Allen it helps having Garnett, because he can live on the three point line, as a result injury is less likely.

With Pierce, his injury-plagued season was more an aberration than anything else. In his previous eight seasons he only missed 19 out of a possible 624 games. Some even speculate that Pierce missed more games because the Celtics purposely tanked to help their chances in the Greg Oden and Kevin Durant sweepstakes.

Finally, how far can this team go? What constitutes a successful season? In a relatively mediocre Eastern Conference, it has to be NBA Finals or bust. The Eastern Conference champions, Cleveland Cavaliers, have done nothing to improve their team. The Detroit Pistons are clearly on the decline, the Chicago Bulls perimeter attack is too inconsistent, and the Miami Heat is too old and slow.

That only leaves the New Jersey Nets, who, with a healthy big three of their own (Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson) may cause some problems. But as far as talent goes, the Celtics simply overwhelm the Nets.

As for winning the NBA Finals, that might be another story. The San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Utah Jazz are still the four top teams in the league. An advantage they do have is that while the Western Conference slugs it out, the Celtics can breeze through the East.

Realistically the Celtics' window of opportunity to win their first championship since 1986 may only be three or four years. They don't want to get like the 98-99 Houston Rockets big three of Hakeem Olajuwon, Barkley and Scottie Pippen who, as Barkley put it, were "too old" to seriously contend for a title.

The biggest and least talked about key for the Celtics might be its supporting cast. As great as the Bulls of the 1990s and the Lakers/Spurs of the 21st century have been, it's the role players that often come up big in crucial moments of the play-offs. Does Robert Horry ring a bell? Steve Kerr? John Paxson?

Eddie House, James Posey and Kendrick Perkins need to be those role players who will put the Celtics over the top. If not, the Celtics will lose to the Suns in what will be the most anticipated Finals in many years.

Have the Celts got what it takes? Post your comments below or submit an article to Sportingo.