Excuse the lame headline. I really couldn’t think of anything better. Two years ago at this time, Boston became the heralded “Boston Three Party” when Danny Ainge made some well-timed maneuvers acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to flank Paul Pierce. En route to shattering their NBA Championship curse, the Celtics also realized the potential of one Rajon “Raging” Rondo, who has become one of the premier point-guards in the league. They went from a party of three, to the “Three Musketeers” with Rondo playing up the role of D’Artagnan.

Now the Celtics have moved as a team full of question marks, to a team that boasts five All-Star caliber players. In an effort to keep up with Cleveland and Orlando, the Boston Celtics acquired Rasheed Wallace in a two-year contract for the league’s mid-level exception. Wallace has averaged 15.0 points and 6.9 boards in his career, while averaging .342 percent from beyond the arc. However, it’s Wallace’s leadership, energy and fierce competitiveness that has Boston buzzing.

The Celtics are going championship or bust. Signing the 34 year-old Wallace was a move that they needed to do, especially given that Kevin Garnett’s knees aren’t holding up. With Ray Allen and Rondo entering the final years of their contracts (player options and qualifying offers notwithstanding), only compounding the time crunch Ainge is sensing, the time is now for Boston.

The starting five of the Celtics will boast five players who will know their role. Wallace shoots with ice in his veins, and defends the boards like a grizzly bear protecting its cubs. The thought of Wallace and KG together has to be a terrifying thought for Shaq and Dwight Howard, who will be the pair’s main competition in the East. Wallace’s range will also pull defenders out of the box, allowing Rondo and Pierce to drive the lane incessantly, while freeing up Allen to roam the perimeter looking for open shots.

It’s a starting line that will cost the Celtics around $65 million in 2009-10. If that’s the price of winning your second championship in three years, then it’s well worth it. It’s now up to Boston’s betting faithful to rally behind their team once again. The Celtics are swinging for the fences. Are you with them, or against them?


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