Team Strength: Offensive Firepower

Kevin Garnett. Paul Pierce. Ray Allen. Who ya gonna double? Not only do the Celtics have three big-time stars, but they put together three players whose games are almost perfectly complementary. Garnett is the headliner, with his ability to play the high post and his unselfishness as a passer giving him the rare ability to coexist with two other stars who need the ball. He'll also be asked to score down low on occasion, especially in size mismatches, but Boston can indulge his preference to play away from the basket more than the Wolves could.

That's because the Celtics have an outstanding low-post forward in Pierce. He's amazing at pinning defenders and then getting the advantage when the ball is reversed; with Garnett's passing skills from the high post he should be able to do this more than ever. Pierce also gives the Celtics' offense a penetrator who can slash and draw fouls, plus he's a solid outside shooter. As such, he's the glue guy in this offense.

Outside, there's Allen. Owner of the game's deadliest jump shot, he's also a good ballhandler who can shift to the point in a pinch and probably will at several points during the season. Even if his ankles give him trouble, the hope is that he can feast off the attention the other two players draw and rain in 3-pointers.

Finally, when considering offensive fireworks don't discount Eddie House. He's averaged better than a point every two minutes over the past two seasons and he's a career 38.1 percent 3-point shooter.