The treasure left by the old two Green Army picks in the Pierce & KG trade picked up the double probe
The Celtics' path to rebirth: from falling to rock bottom to regaining glory
In 2008, the Celtics won their 17th championship in franchise history under power forward Kevin Garnett, shooting guard Ray Allen and point guard Paul Pearce. This team was undoubtedly one of the most powerful in the NBA at the time, and the Big Three, known as the "Big Three", set off a whirlwind in the league. However, the good times were short-lived, and as the three superstars gradually entered the twilight period of their careers, the Celtics gradually went to a low point.
In 2013, Celtic made a historic deal. They traded stars like Pierce and Garnett to the Nets, along with some future draft picks. The deal may seem like a rebuilding for the Celtics, but it was actually a crucial step in their return to glory. Over the next few years, the Celtics used a large number of high-pick picks from the Nets to select two rising stars, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, thus laying the cornerstone of the team's future.
Now, with the leadership of these two young talents, the Celtics have once again reached the finals and won the championship trophy. The rise of this team is undoubtedly a legend with twists and turns, and it is worth savoring.
The glory days of 2008
In 2008, the Celtics won the 17th championship trophy in team history by defeating the Lakers 4-2 in the Finals with the excellent performance of the Big Three. This team was undoubtedly one of the strongest teams in the NBA at the time, and the three superstars known as the "Big Three" became the focus of the league.
The first to bear the brunt is point guard Paul Pearce. As the lifeline of the Celtics, Pierce averaged 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in the regular season, and even broke out in the playoffs, leading the team to the Finals and eventually winning the championship. With his outstanding performance, he won the honor of FMVP. And power forward Kevin Garnett and shooting guard Ray Allen are also important pillars of this team. Garnett is an all-around interior player who excels at dominating offense in the funnel zone, averaging 18.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Allen is an excellent three-point shooter, averaging 2.6 three-pointers per game in the regular season, providing the team with excellent outside scoring ability. The outstanding performance of the three superstars is undoubtedly the fundamental factor for Celtic to win the championship.
In addition to the outstanding performance of the Big Three, the overall strength of the Celtics is also the key to the success of this team. The team has a strong defense, ranking second in the league in defensive efficiency during the regular season, making it difficult for opponents to score. In addition, coach doc Rivers has also been a key factor in the team's success, with his ability to deploy players and give everyone a clear role to define their role, making the team's tactical execution extremely good.
Huge deals in 2013
However, the good times were short-lived. As the Big Three gradually entered the sunset period of their careers, the glory years of the Celtics gradually came to an end. In 2013, the once-dominant league made a shockingly huge deal.
At that year's trade deadline, the Celtics traded stars like Pierce, Garnett and Terry, along with the 2017 first-round and second-round picks, to the Nets. In the deal, the Celtics received first-round picks in 2014, 2016 and 2018, as well as a 2017 draft pick swap. On the surface, the deal puts the Celtics in a rebuilding hole, but in fact it is a crucial step in their return to glory.
Why is this deal key to the Celtics' rebuild? The reason is simple, with this trade, the Celtics acquired a large number of high-pick picks, which laid a solid foundation for their future rebuild. Over the next few years, the Celtics drafted two rising stars, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, laying the foundation for the team's future.
Draft picks of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum
In 2016, the Celtics drafted Jaylen Brown using a first-round pick they received from the Nets. The small forward from the University of Michigan is undoubtedly a player with a lot of potential. In college, he showed great all-around prowess, not only scoring but also being admirable on the defensive end.
After entering the NBA, Brown has also developed very well. With his excellent physical fitness and high desire to compete, he quickly grew into an important rebounder for the Celtics. In this season's Finals, Brown averaged 22.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, becoming one of the key contributors to the Celtics' championship. As one of the team's cores, he is undoubtedly the key piece of the puzzle for Celtic's future.
And in 2017, the Celtics again acquired the Nets' No. 1 pick through a trade and used it to select another rising star - Jayson Tatum. The power forward from Duke University is undoubtedly a talented player as well. In college, he showed excellent interior scoring and defensive prowess, and was considered one of the most promising rising stars in the NBA.
After entering the NBA, Tatum's development has also been excellent. He excels at dominating offense in the funnel zone and also has an excellent mid-range shooting touch. In this season's Finals, he averaged 19.2 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, completely playing a leading role inside. As a new generation of twin stars with Brown, Tatum is undoubtedly one of the core of the Celtics' future journey.
These two rising stars have undoubtedly injected a strong impetus into the future development of Celtic. They have excellent talent not only in terms of technology, but also in terms of psychological qualities
The Celtics' path to rebirth: from falling to rock bottom to regaining glory
These two rising stars are not only technically gifted, but also admirable in terms of mental quality and work ethic. They are all typical representatives of "sophisticated minds, young bodies", showing maturity and stability far beyond their peers on the field. It is with this excellent comprehensive quality that Brown and Tatum have been able to quickly grow into the core of the Celtics in a short period of time.
It's worth mentioning that the drafts of these two stars have not been smooth sailing. In the 2017 draft, the Celtics originally wanted to use their first-round pick to select Tatum directly, but ultimately chose to make a trade with the 76ers. With the deal, the Celtics acquired the 76ers' scout pick and a future protected first-round pick, and used the scout pick to select Tatum. This flexible draft strategy undoubtedly shows the superb wisdom of the Celtics management.
In addition to the two rising stars of Brown and Tatum, the Celtics have also drafted some other outstanding young players in recent drafts, such as Marcus Smart, Rondo Rondo, etc. These players have undoubtedly breathed new life into the future development of Celtic.
Now, the Celtics have regained their glory and reached the Finals once again and managed to win the championship. The team's resurgence is undoubtedly inseparable from that historic trade and the team's outstanding performance in the draft. The rise of two rising stars, Brown and Tatum, has injected new blood into the Celtics and restored the glory of this traditional powerhouse. I believe that under their leadership, the Celtics will create more brilliance in the future and reshape the status of the NBA power.