How much longer is the window to win titles open for BOSTON

[Ballings7]

2-3 years, assuming health goes relatively fine.

I think Perkins need to get better offensively (not a lot, but some), and Rondo will continue to get better, but specifically needs to get a decent jumpshot. He made the mid-range at times, but it's just not respectable at all yet.

How Tony Allen goes will really be key, and this year, how much one of Giddens/Walker contributes will also play a part in their depth. Also, how consistent POB is, in playing the role of a defender, rebounder, and giving some offense will also be a significant factor, in how he replaces PJ Brown. I wouldn't expect him to immediately be a significant player in that way, but quite possibly gets better and better as the season goes along. Since, the guy hasn't really had a fair, or sustained chance to play in the NBA yet. Being in an unfortunate, and non-favoring situation with Don Nelson and the Warriors. I really like what POB can be, though, at least in the form of a role-player, and maybe that's all he'll be. Which in general, would be a bust for where he was drafted, but still not a bad player at all ultimately, and that's what matters for the Celtics.

Maybe some time in the middle of the season, they would go look at Dale Davis or PJ Brown, to come back and play a more limited role, if POB just isn't giving them what's needed.

Definitely some interesting things to keep an eye on with Boston's depth now.

[the edge]

Untill the Cavaliers make a deal to get Lebron that 2nd player they need.
Best guess is around the trading deadline.
Bye bye expirings, AV, ect.

[microfib4thewin]

For the big 3 they can still contribute for 2 to 3 years. After that it will be up to how far the youngsters have gone.

[wfiles]

They have a 2-3 year window. Allen is 33, Garnett is 32, Pierce is 31. The big 3 is approaching their mid 30's and getting past their prime.

[TdotWattz]

2 years max..
Other players and teams will improve and become a problem for them, plus with the 2010 summer, alot of changes will be made in the league
This year i think everybody in the world is picking them to make it back to the NBA Finals atleast and the following year there will most likely be a decline within the big 3, but the improvements of Powe and Rondo will eliminate that and the Celtics should be back in the Finals again....
Im not picking them to win though, because im almost 100% sure Kobe will win a ring within the next 2 years

[greenbeans]

like one of the other posters said, its basically year to year in the nba right now.
this year their a contender and after that its up to Danny to keep it moving. you guys saying its all about the roleplayers are off imo. its about the next superstar they get. which would ideally be not this season but next with Ray and Scal's expirings, the ability to trade picks again and hopefully a couple of the younger guys will gain some value. then well have a "new" big 3. again.

[Texas Longhorns]

I'd give a good 2-3 years.

[lukeridenour]

i think one more year, then tthey'll have to bring in some addition help.

[JordansBulls]

They have a 2-3 year window. Allen is 33, Garnett is 32, Pierce is 31. The big 3 is approaching their mid 30's and getting past their prime.

KG should be good until he is 35 where he can get you around 18-20 ppg and 9-11 rpg a game.

[Flash3]

Winning 1 title is hard enough. Repeating the feat is even harder.

[NO-KG-AI]

They have a 2-3 year window. Allen is 33, Garnett is 32, Pierce is 31. The big 3 is approaching their mid 30's and getting past their prime.

KG should be good until he is 35 where he can get you around 18-20 ppg and 9-11 rpg a game.

Indeed, I would worry more about Allen and Pierce as perimeter players. KG is going to remain 7' feet tall, long, and skilled, even as his athleticism slips, if Pierce and Allen start having trouble creating, they will be in trouble.

I think the way Boston's salary is structured is in pretty good shape too, they will have a big expiring contract each of the next few years, if they are willing to break up the big 3 that is.

I think they are in good shape, they might get a bit more lazy in the regular season, but they have lot less pressure on them in the playoffs now, they know what to expect, and they know how to handle adversity, and I think next year's east is deeper, but I think Detroit is falling slowly, and the Cavs haven't done anything as of yet to take the top spot, so I think Boston is kind of in a tier of their own on top the East as of now.

Who knows, I think this year you will see a huge cut in Ray Allen and Paul Pierce's regular season minutes, so maybe they will play better in the first few rounds.

[Prospect Dong]

while Jordan or even Rasheed Wallace have looked very good at an older age

I wouldn't think of Sheed as an example of players aging gracefully...

I'd say two years, and still dangerous but not quite first tier in year 3.

[FJS]

If the role players helps they could age well. Remember great players like Jordan winning with 33,34 and 35 years (96,97,98), Malone and Stockton playing finals with 33 and 34 and 35 and 36 years carrying their teams. Shaq with 34 and Robinson were role players... but very important.

They still have some years in the tank.

[G35]

Reason why repeating is hard is because now you have a bullseye on you from every other team. Will the big 3 get a lil fat over the summer or will they come back with the same energy to win. Everybody gets complacent now and then and when you read about how great you are that can go to your head. Your leaders have to keep you on track. I give this team 1 year and then they need another infusion.....

[GonzoLays]

If you look at the Pistons, they finished with the 2nd best record in the nba their starters are 31, 30, 33, 33, and 28 years old respectively; with the youngest guy being Tayshaun Prince who only averages 13 pts per game.

If the Pistons can play at that level and being that old, then certainly the Celtics can do it for the next two season with Rondo and Perkins in the lineup.

In my opinion, the Celtics three-peat then reload.

[MVP16]

I think the Celtics should stay as a contender for about 4 more years. The core of the Celtics if KG and Pierce...as long as these 2 players keep playing at a high level, the Celtics should be a contender. Ray Allen was clearly the 3rd wheel through last season and barely made the all star team because of injury. I don't think his decline will effect the Celtics as some think. As Rondo develops, he should take over as that 3rd guy...maybe as soon as next year. Even last season, Rondo and Ray Allen switched off being the 3rd best player on the team as Ray went through several big slumps and Rondo picked up his game when one of the big 3 was out.

Having said that, both Pierce and KG should have good longevity. KG, if he doesn't have any major injuries, should still be one of the best players in the league for a few more years. He is still going to be tall and long, have a great shot, great passing skills, IQ, intensity, etc. Big men like Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Robert Parish, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon and others have shown to be very effective into their mid to late 30s. KG is pretty similar to many of those players and should be very good at least into his mid 30s, maybe even late if he wants to play that much.

Pierce is the youngest of the "big 3" and he should also have a few more years of top level play left in him. Aside from 1 year, he has proven to be very durable throughout his career. His game is also not reliant too much on athleticism, but rather on his strength, great footwork and good shooting from many spots on the floor. If he stays away from serious injury, Pierce should be one of the top wings in the league for another 3-4 years.

Ray Allen is starting to decline, but he should be a valuable chip from Boston. Danny could either use him as an expiring contract next year and trade him, along with a few of the younger players, for a younger, distrungled star with teams trying to clear salary to make a run at Lebron, Wade, Bosh, etc. Or he could let Ray Allen expire and resign him for much cheaper to be the 6th man and look for someone in free agency to fill the starting role if one of the young wings (Allen, Giddens, Walker) does not break out.

Lastly, the team as a whole is not that old. Besides the big 3, the other players are an average of 24 years old. So either a few develop enough so that they can pick up some of the slack when the big 3 slowly decline, or DA can package a few with Ray's expiring contract for a younger star. Of course, KG and Pierce will have to stay healthy and Ainge will have to make some smart decisions, but I think the Celtics will be contenders for some time...more then a year or two.

[Warspite]

If you look at the Pistons, they finished with the 2nd best record in the nba their starters are 31, 30, 33, 33, and 28 years old respectively; with the youngest guy being Tayshaun Prince who only averages 13 pts per game.

If the Pistons can play at that level and being that old, then certainly the Celtics can do it for the next two season with Rondo and Perkins in the lineup.

In my opinion, the Celtics three-peat then reload.

Pistons are very, very bad example


The Celtics dont have Arnie Kander so they cant play at the same level as the Pistons for that length of time and at that age. Even the Pistons seem to run out of gas as every season they play 100 games. Teams simply cant keep playing 100 games yr after yr w/o breaking down mentaly or physicaly.

I have no idea on the Celtics window. Could be as long as 00 Blazers or as long as the 90s Rockets. Its realy up to Ainge to decide how long the team is a contender. It has less to do with the 3 Amigos.

[LakerFanMan]

d

In my opinion, the Celtics three-peat then reload.

It's not so easy to just reload. It took the Lakers a few years to reload after their 3peat and they had a prime Kobe.

Like others have said, I think KG can be effective for quit a few more years. His play just doesn't rely on a lot of things that usually decline with age. He'll still be able to take his midrange jumpers and I really can't see his post game (on both sides of the floor) decreasing that much. Allen isn't going to be too bad either. He'll still be able to knock down 3's. The only real problem I can see with him is his D. PP's game will probably decrease the most as he ages, but he's also the youngest. Id say another solid 3 seasons of title contention is not out of the question. Especially if they manage to sign solid role players and manage their drafts properly. Posey, for example, is going to hurt them big time next season. He played very, very well against the Lakers.

[RTM]

As of now, 2 years at most.

If they get some talented younger guys to step in, then perhaps longer.

Barring fairly big moves however, I don't see them gunning for a title after 2010.