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The 2011 NBA Playoffs had the Boston Celtics falling to the Miami Heat, who would take the series 4-1 and are now playing in the NBA Finals.
Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo were the factors throughout the postseason run. The Big Three and Rondo played key minutes throughout, averaging 68.6 points per game. The mark would be good for over 72 percent of the teams total points scored in the playoffs.
The Celtics would find their troubles in their bench production, ability to close out ball games and sticking to the initial game plan in the fourth quarter.
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were able to use their plethora of talent and youth to their advantage, taking it to the Celtics in the final stages of ball games time and time again. In the last three losses the Celtics suffered to the Heat, Kevin Garnett and company would be outscored 85-55 in the fourth quarter and overtime.
In the final loss that would eliminate the Celtics in Game 5, the Heat finished on a 16-0 run, one which was fueled by 10 points from James to close out the contest.
Going into this offseason, there is a question burning in Beantown:
Has the championship window closed for the Big Three and the Boston Celtics?
If President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge makes the right moves, the Celtics could potentially be as feared a contender as any team in the NBA come 2012.
With Allen, Garnett and Pierce more than likely suiting up for the Celtics for the 2011-2012 season, there is no reason to believe this team doesn't have what it takes to compete for another NBA championship.
Can the Celtics make a run at a championship with this same team? Not a chance.
Ainge has plenty of work cut out for him this offseason. It will be critical to pick up talent in this year's NBA Draft with a plethora of talent available at the power forward position.
Signing a player like a Jordan Williams from the University of Maryland or a player like Jordan Harper out of Richmond could prove to be key in improving the Celtics frontcourt rotation going into next season. It would also allow the aging veteran in Kevin Garnett to play less minutes at times throughout the course of the regular season, which ultimately will benefit the Celtics in the postseason.
The Celtics must also make the right decisions with their players entering the free-agent market. With players like Jeff Green, Delonte West and Glen Davis all awaiting offers, the Celtics have personnel decisions to make this summer.
Re-signing Green and West should be top priorities for the Celtics front office, as the 2011 playoffs have shown the two are significant contributors coming off the bench. The team should also test options league-wide. Potentially acquiring a forward like Thaddeus Young from the Philadelphia 76ers or Wilson Chandler from the Denver Nuggets are moves the Celtics should consider going forward.
With a league-elite point guard in Rajon Rondo, the Big Three and head coach Doc Rivers all returning, rest assured the Celtics are still contenders for an NBA championship.
The key will be in getting the right personnel to surround them in preparing for one last run at an NBA championship. If Ainge is able to fill the gaps on the team while adding some youth talent to the rotation, don't be surprised to the Big Three and the Celtics contending for a title one last time.