In Boston they are calling Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, the three headed monster…The trio being the new face of the Boston Celtics. In one fell swoop, the Celtics went from league-fodder to Eastern Conference contender when ‘The Perfect Storm’ of trades took place sending Kevin Garnett to Boston. Forget the other guys involved in the deal or the draft picks. Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge is probably saying; “we don’t need no stinkin’ draft picks.” What makes sweet justice is back on draft day in late June, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith lambasted Ainge for trading 1st Round lottery pick Jeff Green to Seattle for Allen. Look who’s laughing now Smith? As it turns out the deal had already been in the works for a month. They just forgot to inform Mr-Know-It-All, “In The House.”
It didn’t take oddsmakers at online wagering giant Sportsbook.com long to adjust the lines on the Celtics chances this upcoming season. They went from 100/1 odds long-shots to 5/2 favorites to win the NBA Eastern Conference title and 5/1 odds favorites of winning the 2008 NBA Championship. Step aside Detroit Pistons; there’s a new sheriff in town.
The ink has almost had time to dry with the trade about 48 hours old and pundits are asking the question, “Whose team will the Celtics be?” The Timberwolves have been Garnett’s team for better than a decade and there was no question Allen’s star shown brightest in Seattle while Pierce was the man in Boston. If these guys are smart and nobody suspects otherwise, they need to quickly get together and form an alliance. The Celtics are a real team for the first time since the last three-headed-monster (Bird, McHale, Parish) spit fire.
A few streets over at 4 Yawkey Way, the Boston Red Sox, not wanting to be out done, sealed the deal on the best transaction of Major League Baseball’s trading deadline bringing in former Cy Young Award winning relief pitcher Eric Gagne` from the Texas Rangers. The Red Sox sent pitcher Kason Gabbard, minor league outfielder David Murphy, and Engel Beltre to Texas. Gagne` is expected to serve as a setup man for current closer Jonathan Papelbon, and will close on occasion.
