No matter how it happens, it won’t be easy to break up the Boston Celtics. But it must happen to keep them from falling into uncomfortable and possibly unshakable mediocrity as Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce reach the twilights of their careers.
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Rumors of the Celtics aggressively shopping Rajon Rondo, the team’s best asset, are a market heat check that show just how serious Boston general manager Danny Ainge is about making change happen — even if they’re also meant as a challenge to Rondo to play at the level he’s capable.
But even an inspired second half of the season might not matter in the playoffs. Doc Rivers won’t be able to prevent Garnett, Allen and Pierce from getting old in the public eye, particularly after the grind of this year’s condensed schedule. The NBA postseason reveals age better than in any other sport, and that will hurt far worse in prideful Boston than if it pulls the trigger on any decent offer for Rondo that comes across Ainge’s desk in the next two weeks.
– Craig Stouffer
