Pierce, Garnett and Allen already have established themselves as among the best in the NBA. All they have to do now is establish that they can play in warmer months. To put it another way, the trio has a combined 32 years of NBA experience, but Rondo has them matched in Finals appearances with zero.

And they will get a pass on it for today. Just like most everyone else will get a pass. In baseball, they say Hope Springs Eternal. In the NBA, the first day of training camp is not always so optimistic. But after the summer Danny Ainge and the Celtics had you really can’t do anything else but give them a chance.
Sure, you can wonder about the age of Big 3: The Next Generation. Yes, you can contemplate if Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo are worthy of filling out the starting lineup of a supposed title contender. Sure, you can look at Scot Pollard’s hair and ask yourself: Why is he here again?
And, fine, you can convince yourself that Doc Rivers couldn’t coach the first Olympic Dream Team to a bronze, let alone this squad to a banner, if you are so predisposed.
But, for the most part, you are going to give the flowery images of glorious precamp workouts and single-minded goals a chance to be proved wrong today rather than demanding they be proved right on the spot.

Q. What impact do you think the Kevin Garnett trade will have on the landscape of the Eastern Conference, specifically towards the Pacers? (From Lee in Huntsville, Ala.)

A. It'll have a big impact. You get three top players on one team, it's going to make the East tougher to win. Still, we feel a team can beat a few individuals. On paper, they look very good but until the season starts you never really know what's going to happen.