Boston Celtics: Can Big Three Manage Big Minutes with Heavy Mileage on Bodies?

They are unquestionably the heart and soul of the rejuvenated Celtics -- Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen.

"The Big Three" have been an NBA force since the 2007-2008 season. But at what point does age, wear, tear, and fatigue begin to truly impact the ability of these three future Hall Of Famers? Or their ability to steer the Celtics through a long regular season and into the NBA's postseason? 

The time is growing nearer. The three men who have played a combined 44 regular seasons will not be on the court together for that much longer. What about this upcoming season though? Is this the one where the Celtics "Big Three" begin to decline? 

The upcoming basketball season (provided it actually happens) could go either way for players such as Allen, Pierce, and Garnett. On the one hand, the shortened season could provide for a less rigorous and draining season, which could make for fresher legs and better performance in the postseason. 

On the other hand training camp is likely to be shortened. That could easily make those more prone to nagging injuries and muscle pulls more likely to sustain those types of injuries. While it's tempting to try and evaluate these three as a group, the reality is that it could work out differently for each player.

Maybe the shortened training camp and less regular season games means that Allen is a better shooter in the playoffs? Maybe those very same factors mean that Garnett suffers through a string of back issues?

Overall it's tough to see the Boston Celtics as a healthy, cohesive unit for the full 82 game season or even for the duration of the eventually shortened one. They're getting old and with that age comes a combination of negatives. The injuries and less energy as well as the eroding of the athleticism that made all these players dominant for so many years.

It appears that Kevin Garnett is feeling the impact of age the most.

That's not unusual, big men often get injured with greater frequency as they advance in age. Garnett is the most irreplaceable player on the team. Finding scorers in the NBA is not the most difficult task in the world. Shooters as good as Ray Allen are once in a generation occurrences, but big men who can score, rebound and defend are very difficult to find.

Add in Garnett's role on the team. He's the emotional leader and this rapidly aging trio presents a perfect storm of problems for Danny Ainge and the rest of the Celtics hierarchy.

Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett both have contracts that expire at the conclusion of this upcoming season. It might not matter to Celtic fans whether or not these two players experience their last good season should it take place in 2013 or 2014, but if it takes place this year or even worse -- if it took place last year then the decline of the Celtics could advance at an alarming rate.