New 'Big Three' has restored 'Celtic Pride' in Boston

It's never too early to talk basketball. And for as long as I have been a fan I have never seen a team go from being the worst in the league one year to a legitimate championship favorite the next.

That is exactly what the Boston Celtics have done.

Last year was a season to forget. But the off-season pickups of prolific veterans like guard Ray Allen and forward Kevin Garnett have Beantown eyeing a trip to the NBA finals.

I couldn't believe the trade rumors when they were first announced. I thought there was no way the Celtics were getting Garnett without giving up Paul Pierce in exchange. Well five players and two draft picks later I had no choice but to stare at the TV in a complete state of shock.

Sure, they gave up promising young guns like Al Jefferson and Gerald Green. But whenever you can bring in a guy like the "Big Ticket" you have to pull the trigger. Garnett is entering his 13th season in the NBA and he can smell a ring.

Despite being 31, Garnett can still produce at a high level. Last year he lead the league with 12.8 rebounds per game. He also lead the league with 66 double-doubles last season. But most impressively, he has 398 consecutive games with 10 points or more, the active NBA leader.

I believe Garnett's credentials speak for themselves. And I don't really think it's necessary to keep building him up. Celtic Pride knows what they got in this player, and they can expect another dominating season at the power forward position. Especially in the Eastern Conference where such players are limited.

The Celts also acquired accomplished veteran Ray Allen and the draft rights to "Big Baby" Glen Davis via trade that sent Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, and Jeff Green to the Seattle SuperSonics.

Despite injury issues, perennial all-star Allen, who once scorched the Utah Jazz for a career high 54 points, averaged 26.4 points per game last season. This sharp-shooter won the Three Point Shootout in 2001 and a gold medal along with Garnett at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

But scoring isn't the only thing this guy brings to the table. He is known for his work in the community. Allen, who starred in the movie "He Got Game," is the NBA spokesman for the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. He also created the "Ray of Hope" Foundation, whose goal is to donate and support charities all across the U.S. So don't just look for him on the hardwood at the TD Banknorth Garden, look for him in a school or maybe even a soup kitchen.

Paul Pierce. Need I say more? We all know what this guy is capable of. For years, he has been carrying the franchise on his shoulders and taking it like a man. Every good guy gets his due and I am sure that Garnett and Allen are bigger gifts than Pierce ever thought he'd receive. But with a whopping 22 combined all-star appearances between the three, you can be prepared for a show.

However, having three superstars in the starting line-up is nice, but having depth on the sideline is even better.

The Celtics didn't spend all summer sprucing up the starters and jacking up the ticket prices, they gave the team what they lacked most last season; a bench.

The Green brought in three more players for the bench, all of which have made a name for themselves one way or another. James Posey is a tremendous defender and won a ring with the Miami Heat two years ago.

Eddie House is a journeyman shooting-guard who can provide spark off the bench with a couple three's. And when I say journeyman, I mean it. The six year veteran has already called seven different cities home. He has played for the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Bobcats, Milwaukee Bucks, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, and most recently the New Jersey Nets.

Scott Pollard came to Boston from the Indiana Pacers where he earned his living backing up Jermaine O'Neal. He is a strong guy who can block shots and rebound. But his real claim to fame is his one-of-a-kind hairdos. Nonetheless, he can give Garnett a break at any point in the game, and be a dominant defensive presence.

So with a star-studded lineup and depth on the bench, the Celtics are prepped to bring home another banner to the Garden. Although for me it is too early to pick a champion.

Don't get me wrong I think the Celtics will be there in June awaiting the arrival of their Western Conference opponent in the NBA Finals. But with the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks lurking close behind it's tough to say who will come out on top.

The season starts on Nov. 2 against Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Wizards. It should be a great start to an exciting season for Celtics fans.

Christopher Dodge is a freshman majoring in journalism and communications. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the Equinox.