And I'm not ready to give the Celtics the championship yet...

Just like we're practicing cautious optimism with our playoff hopes, I think people should be careful about making the Celtics a lock for the Finals.

First off, it's a long season and if one or two of the "Big 3" get injured, they don't have the bench to pick up the slack. (More simply, Brian Scalabrine isn't Robert Horry)...

Secondly, even if the "Big 3" is healthy, they'll have to go through Orlando before they make it to the finals. Jeff McInnis (I believe) was mic'd up in a recent game in Orlando and he had one of the funniest quotes of all-time during the game - "Man, Dwight was coming down the lane and I was so scared he was going to dunk on me that I just dove on the floor..."

Lastly, Danny Ainge still has time to screw everything up. Rajon Rondo for Sebastian Telfair? Glen Davis for Shawn Bradley? Ray Allen for Gerald Green?

Gerald Green won the SLAM DUNK CONTEST!

if you remember, even Danny Ainge's first option was to go young and try and get Greg Oden in the draft.  So it's possible even he would trade the Celtics for the Blazers.

But Boston's big three came together way better than I would have thought ahead of time.  If that team stays healthy and wins a championship, that's all that matters.

Theoretically, the Blazers' youth will have more time to go deep into the playoffs and eventually win a title or three than a team with an old core like Boston would.  But getting at least one is the most important thing.

Miami took this path by acquiring Shaq.  Yeah they got their championship, but look at the mess left now.  Outside of Wade and Haslem its mostly junk.  Boston will be headed down this path shortly.

The beauty of building a team like Portland is doing is that this will last for a decade not just 2-3 years (as Boston will see).

the Celtics have no depth and are relying on 3 sets of old wheels with heavy milage to take them to a title.

I just don't see them winning a championship.

Making matters worse, if they think they were bad before these trades & signings, in two more years they will be so bad even flies won't land on their carcass.

well, all things considered.  They also have young players, which makes them better off than Miami.  Allen, Pierce and Garnett do play heavy minutes, but none is older than 32.  That's not that old.  Garnett, unlike Shaq, is the type of player that could last until he's 40 without slowing down terribly much.  He's never sat out much of a season, and he anchors the defense.  As long as they have KG, they are way better than Miami even if Pierce and Allen both retired.

Boston plays great defense and have gelled on offense.  I don't follow them that closely, but if you look at their record, you have to consider them a title contender this year.  I'm recording their game tonight against Detroit so I can watch it after the Blazers.  I'm pretty curious.