It's Not Just Three For The Show

The Celtics' new star trio of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce is on the cover of Sports Illustrated's and ESPN the Magazine's NBA previews, not the reigning champion Spurs. ESPN sent a private jet for the three to film commercials in Bristol, Conn., NBA's Inside Stuff interviewed them in Rome, and TNT's John Thompson flew to New York to ask them questions. There are 19 Celtics games scheduled for ESPN, TNT, and NBATV, with more nationally televised contests possible. The majority of home games are sold out, their jerseys are flying off the shelves, and their slogan this season is the far-from-shy "THINK BIG."

Yes, green is the new color of the NBA, even though today's Celtics have yet to play a real game together. Boston's heralded trio and coach Doc Rivers, however, won't believe the hype.

"There is nothing I can do about it," Rivers said. "I don't do the picking. We haven't done anything. We haven't proven anything. We can't look further than the next day."

Said Allen: "Every year there is going to be somebody, whether it's commercials or on the cover of magazines. And every year there is going to be a new segment of shoes coming out, a new segment of commercials coming out. It's just part of the business.

"We just know that at every year at a certain time we have certain things to take care of. People are going to speculate how they want about who is going to finish where. At some point the ball is going to go up and you have to start winning."

While the NBA season officially starts tonight, the ball doesn't officially go up for the Celtics until Friday against Washington at TD Banknorth Garden. Sure, the hype may be out of control. But the excitement and potential for greatness is legitimate.

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source : boston.com