5 Signs the Boston Celtics' Big Three Era Is Coming to an End

Oh, how the might have fallen. One year ago, the Boston Celtics were the "Beasts of the East" and considered by most as the biggest obstacle to the Miami Heat getting to the NBA Finals.

Now, they aren't even an also-ran.

The Celtics are an also-hobbling.

If the playoffs started today, they'd barely be in them. They have a tenuous hold on the eighth seed right now and are battling the likes of Cleveland for that final spot. 

So, is the era of the original "Big Three" coming to an end, or are they just getting off to a poor start?

Here are five signs that it's over. 

Kelly Scaletta is an NBA and Chicago Bulls Featured Columnist, and one of the top NBA writers on Bleacher Report. He is trying to get better at twitter if you would like to follow him. 

All-Star Voting

Last year, the Celtics were well represented at the All-Star Game with all three of the Big Three—Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett—getting in, as well as their "kid brother" Rajon Rondo.

When the first returns were announced in the 2012 All-Star Game, Garnett was only fourth among forwards; Pierce was seventh. Among guards, Ray Allen was fourth. 

It's highly unlikely that all four will return this year, and there's even a good chance that none of the original "Boston Three Party" make it to the All-Star Game this year.

At the very least, the general public doesn't recognize them as the best in the game any more. 

Rajon Rondo and Three Other Guys

When the Big Three first came together, Rajon Rondo was their pesky little brother, playing hard and getting under opponents' skin, eavesdropping on team huddles and just generally being annoying. 

Then gradually, as Rondo's game began to improve and all the others started to take a step down, the Big Three became the Big Four.

Some of that was a bit of self-deception—Boston fans tried to convince themselves that Rondo was just getting that much better. 

But really, that's not the case.

He's not the Hall of Fame players the others are. It remains to be seen if he can maintain his beastly assist totals not surrounded by Hall of Fame players. He's averaging nearly two assists per game less than last year, an indication of his teammates' fall-off.

Now, he is the best player on the team. He still has a lack of range, but he's second on the team in scoring.

The Big Three are totaling just 44.7 points per game. When you have to rely on Rondo for scoring, it's an indication of how far the Boston trio has fallen. 

Health and Contracts

Paul Pierce started the season with a foot problem. Ray Allen was hurt yesterday. The injuries are coming more frequently for the Boston trio. 

They've normally been healthy.

Kevin Garnett has had some bouts with injury, but Allen and Pierce have always been tough, playing through nicks and dings. These seem like the types of injuries that they would have been able to play through in years past. 

Additionally, both Garnett and Allen see their contracts end this year. It's hard to imagine them sticking around or Boston keeping them around.

If they are willing to play for less money, you would think they would play for a contender. Boston certainly isn't looking to be a contender next year. 

Danny Ainge Looking for a Deal

Danny Ainge announcing that he would be willing to make a deal for the Big Three is a pretty good indication that the era is coming to an end. 

Some are criticizing Ainge for the announcement because Paul Pierce, the lifetime Celtic, is the player with the most trade appeal, as the youngest player of the Big Three. 

Even he is 34, though.

It's possible that no matter how "willing" Ainge is to trade, it's going to be very difficult for the Celtics to make a move that benefits both teams. 

Boston's Record

The biggest sign that the Celtics' Big Three era is over, though, is their record.

In a word, they're horrible. 

The Celtics have won just six games to nine losses, and three of those wins have come against the NBA's worst team, the Washington Wizards. 

They are ranked 21st in the Hollinger Rankings, and they are also 21st in Basketball-Reference's SRS rankings. The continued existence of the Boston Celtics' Big Three era is akin to the continued existence of the post-Gorbachev USSR—it's just a technicality at this point. 

There is no more "switch" to flip. Boston has just gotten too old to play and too old to trade.

They're done.