Why It's Time to Blow Up Boston Celtics Big Three After This Season

Danny Ainge faces some tough decisions with the current Boston Celtics concerning the 2012 season.

He faces even tougher decisions after this season though when it comes to the future of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, Boston's Big Three.

At the end of the day, it might not be that difficult of a decision.

Ainge needs to blow them up and start over.

The most obvious reason is their age. Allen is 36, Garnett 35 and Pierce 34. Other than Allen at the moment, their production is starting to slip.

The day was going to come eventually when the group wouldn't be able to get it done, and that time is rapidly approaching.

Right now they are off to a 4-5 start to the season, without a quality win to speak of. So far Boston has beaten Washington twice and New Jersey and Detroit once apiece. With a three-game stretch upcoming that features Chicago, Indiana and Oklahoma City, the Celtics could find themselves in a big hole really quick.

That's why if Ainge can't improve the current product on the floor, he should let them take one more run with this group and then break it up. The Celtics have more than one hole to fill at the moment, and Ainge needs to work on getting them filled.

Garnett may be the first to break down as his minutes have to be monitored just on the hopes he can produce in the postseason. There won't likely be much of a market next season for him.

But Allen and Pierce could possibly still bring the Celtics a return. They need to get younger and more talented.

It's sad to see this group struggling and even sadder to see an NBA great like Garnett show signs of aging, but eventually it happens to everyone.

Despite that, Ainge is left with two tough choices.

On one hand he can let the group stay together until they eventually retire one by one. At that point you're left with Rajon Rondo and a bare cupboard.

On the other hand you realize their time has passed and you make the necessary tough choices to break the trio up. It may be unpopular, but getting something in return could keep the Celtics competitive until they put themselves in position to land a new superstar or two.

It may not be the popular choice, but the 2012 season should be the last hurrah for Boston's Big Three.