YEA: Healthy Celtics could cure Boston championship drought

It’s been a great run for the 21st-century Big Three. Can Kevin, Paul and Ray keep the ball rolling a little while longer to win one more NBA title?Most people, including my boss, Steve Krause, would say no. Folks in Cleveland and Los Angeles would say no way. I say, why not?Fate, which was so unkind to the Celtics the past two years, has given them an “assist” as the playoffs approach. The “Big Three plus 2” are all ready for the postseason, something that didn’t happen in the 2008-09 season.Some of the Celtics faithful would say the reason the Green can contend is the playoff experience of the team’s ideal starting five: Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce at forward, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo at guard, and Kendrick Perkins at center. They were all on the court in 2008 when the Green humiliated the Lakers for championship No. 17.I prefer to stick with statistics. With that starting lineup, the C’s dominated opponents to the tune of a 38-19 record this season. When Doc Rivers had to adjust that lineup, mainly due to injuries, the C’s went a pedestrian 12-12. That lineup is healthy for the playoffs and can contend with anyone. That means you, LeBron.Of course, the team’s playoff success depends upon the health of that starting five. Celtics fans entered this season hoping Garnett would stay injury-free. Instead, he missed 11 games total, one due to a sore right thigh and 10 more because of a hyperextended knee. Boston went 5-6 in those games. Pierce, the captain, missed 10 games himself after encountering troubles left and right (right knee, left midfoot, right thumb) and the C’s went 5-5 when he was out. It’s also been hard for bench players like Tony Allen, Marquis Daniels and Glen Davis to step up this season, as all three have missed over 20 games each.We remember the optimism we felt on Causeway Street when the Green defeated LeBron and his new partner, Shaquille O’Neal, in the opener ? and how that optimism grew when the Celtics started the season 23-8. We remember seeing Allen continue to impress from beyond the arc and Rondo dazzle with his defense.There isn’t room enough to discuss all the moments we’d like to forget about this team. I will list a few here. Rasheed Wallace. Players taking and missing too many 3’s. Rasheed Wallace. The loss to the New Jersey Nets. Rasheed Wallace. Scoring 30 points in one quarter and 10 in the next. Rasheed Wallace (that basket he tipped in for the Bulls on Tuesday didn’t help).The competition hasn’t let up, of course. The Lakers are the new defending champions, the Orlando Magic are the defending Eastern champions, and the Atlanta Hawks swept Boston in four regular-season games. Still, Boston went 3-3 against the Cavs and Lakers this year (however, they’re only 1-3 against Orlando).We’ll never know what could have happened last year if Garnett stayed healthy. Maybe someone up there is telling the Green, “Hey. Here’s another chance.”If last year’s karma reverses itself and everyone stays healthy for a playoff run, they could take advantage of that chance.