Ray Allen is such a freak that I have no doubt he'll be drilling 3s off a contender's bench when he's on the wrong side of 40, and who would have thought when he arrived here four years ago, coming off serious ankle injuries, that he'd be the one with the most staying power? We're lucky to watch him, and it drives me crazy that he doesn't get more shots, particularly when the offense is laboring.
At the moment, the same can't be said regarding staying power for his future fellow Springfield inductees. Paul Pierce showed up heavy, got hurt and it's difficult to tell which is the chicken and which is the egg there. This much is certain: It's unrealistic to expect everyone to match Allen's commitment to fitness, but I'm disappointed Pierce arrived in less-than-optimal shape. Since his early years in the league, he's had an old man's game, all geometry and fakes, and that's a compliment. But with his timing not properly calibrated because his legs aren't in shape, he's too often ended up with an old man's results.
Presuming Pierce stays healthy and isn't traded (more on that a few aphorisms from now), he'll sharpen up and those relatively efficient 24-point games like the one he dropped on Oklahoma City will become a frequent and familiar as ever. But if you want to see vintage Kevin Garnett, I'm afraid you'll have to tune into NBA TV during the down hours. He's averaging 13 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, and the sad truth is that's what he is these days. In Big Three parlance, he's Robert Parish circa 1992-93, the difference being that The Chief was 38 years old then. If you want any of those 20/10 KG flashbacks, I suggest Hardwood Classics, or better yet, your 2007-08 championship DVD.
