Boston Celtics: Why Danny Ainge Should Keep the Big Three Together

So the Celtics are three wins away from the Eastern Conference finals. 

Raise your hand if you had that one on the prop bet list back in December. Because if you did, I'd like to bring you with me to buy some scratch tickets.

On the heels of their scintillating, come-from-behind win over the 76ers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semis on Saturday night, the Celtics are clearly riding the momentum train, having slipped past the Hawks last Thursday night in pulse-pounding fashion. 

They beat the Sixers in much the same way: falling behind big in the first half due to a stagnant offense filled with too many missed jumpers, making a run to get back in it, falling asleep in the later stages of the third and early part of the fourth quarter, then making all the plays down the stretch to sneak off with a win.

One of the prevailing themes can be found right there in that last reason for the win on Saturday night. They made all the plays down the stretch.

Another way of saying the same thing is that the Celts just know how to win.

And they can thank their core of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett for that as much as anyone, which is why Celtics general manager Danny Ainge should bite the bullet and do what needs to be done to ensure the trio comes back next year for one more go-around.

By now, Rajon Rondo (13 points, 12 rebounds, 17 assists, four steals in Game 1) is as much a part of the conversation as any of his future Hall of Fame teammates, and the Big Three should be known at all times as the Big Four.

Still, since these could be the final days/weeks of what's been known as the Big Three since the championship season of 2007-2008, we'll continue to refer to the group as such for the purposes of this article. 

Anyway, with both Allen and Garnett scheduled to come off the books this summer, it seems as though now is as good a time as any for the C's to use their salary slots to go after some younger talent.

But maybe the Celts shouldn't do that. Or at the very least, maybe they should offer Allen and KG a couple of one-year deals with an option for a second worth, say, $10 million per season, use whatever is left over to try luring some youthful depth for the frontcourt and going for it again.

Granted, Allen is banged up. His ankles, which have been troublesome in the past, caused him to miss 20 games this season and then a couple more in the first-round series with Atlanta. And prior to Game 1 on Saturday, he referred to the ankles as "unstable" and that he was "back to where I was two weeks ago."

But he can still play and, given his legendary workout and conditioning reputation, who's to say that with surgery or rest or a combination of both this summer, he couldn't come back and continue to be an effective scorer/sniper for 25-30 minutes per night?

Despite the assertion that he'd regressed health-wise, he still played 33 effective minutes in Saturday night and contributed 12 points, three rebounds and an excellent plus-17.

And then there's KG, who has been out of this world through the C's seven playoff games and is even sparking chatter that he's the MVP of the postseason thus far.

He's shooting 57 percent in his last five games, including 10-of-19 in Game 6 against Atlanta and 12-of-20 in Game 1 against Philly. His box score line from those two games look like they came straight out of 2004; 28 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in the clincher against the Hawks and 29 points, 11 boards and three blocks in the opener against the Sixers.

It's conceivable that Garnett sees the end of the line coming whenever the time comes that the Celts are eliminated from this postseason and that he's subsequently reached down deep enough to go out with as big a bang as possible.

But he also could still be hungry, passionate and dedicated enough to feel like he can still play for at least one more year. He'll be 36 this week, but lately, he's been playing like he's 10 years younger.

And if the Celtics can't get over the hump this season, if their myriad injuries and lack of depth catch up with them at some point between now and mid-June, wouldn't a couple of competitors like KG and Ray want to come back for one more chance to go out on top?

At some point, the Celtics are going to have to move on from this elite era. At some point, it simply will no longer be feasible to continue to rely on these proud veterans. And that point may come as soon as next week.

But the results up to this point this season are clear. As a group, with Rondo getting them their looks and Doc Rivers overseeing the operation, these guys can not only still play, they can still play effectively and efficiently.

Maybe even well enough to raise banner 18.