Boston’s three-headed monster, the one that has dominated the sporting landscape for the better part of this decade, is close to becoming extinct.

Last summer, the Red Sox stumbled out of the American League pennant chase and was forced to watch the hated New York Yankees win the World Series.

Then last month, the Patriots were eliminated by the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild-Card round of the NFL playoffs and will have to watch the Indianapolis Colts, their AFC nemesis, play in the Super Bowl.

Now, the Celtics are waving the white towel faster than you could say “M.L. Carr!” losing 11 of their last 18 games since Christmas Day and recently got stung on national TV by The Black Mamba and the rival Los Angeles Lakers.

Loyal fans in Beantown still claim that the window of opportunity to win championships is still open for their beloved teams. However, the one opponent you can’t overcome is Father Time and the Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics have all fallen victim to his wrath.

The Celtics were one of the heavy favorites to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy when the season started, opening as a 2-1 pick to advance through the Eastern Conference playoffs and 4-1 to win the NBA championship according to BetUS.com.

But lately, the 2008 champs have begun to show some wear and tear, losing six of its last 10 games and, in a four-day span last week, the Celtics suffered a regular-season sweep by the Hawks, blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter against the Magic and lost at home by a point to the Lakers.

And to complete the cycle of bad luck, All-Star forward Paul Pierce, strained his left ankle against the Wizards Monday and is now day-to-day.

“Boston remains one of the most overvalued teams in the league,” said Covers.com experts Sean Murphy, who dropped Boston two slots from No. 6 to No. 8 in his latest NBA power rankings.

“They have done a fairly good job taking care of business against weaker opponents, but when stepping up in class, they’ve been awful,” says Murphy. “Those are the spots you really want to focus on if you plan on fading the Celtics.”

Head coach Doc Rivers said that his aging team needs to play with a sense of urgency. But if Rivers is pressing on the gas pedal now and building a ton of mileage in February, the Celtics could be running on empty come May and June.

“I can’t say that I see them as a championship contender this season,” Murphy said. “In my opinion there are at least three teams better than them in the East: the Cavs, Magic, and Hawks. Even the Raptors are making a push, and although they’ve struggled against the Celtics this season put them in a seven-game series and I think they would give them a run.”

Before the Celtics can begin to look ahead to playoff matchups they have some serious health issues that need to be addressed, mainly the status of Kevin Garnett. The 33-year-old All-Star forward has been in and out of the lineup the past two seasons and his troublesome right knee is about as stable as the U.S. economy.

Garnett is without question the linchpin that holds the Celtics title hopes. When he’s healthy, the Celtics have a championship swagger. But when he’s hobbling like Willis Reed, Boston becomes very vulnerable.

“I think this team really lost its momentum at the end of last season when KG went down and missed the playoffs,” Murphy explained. “Everything came together for them two years ago, and now they’re having a really tough time getting back their mojo, so to speak.”

Garnett has amassed more than 40,000 minutes during his 15-year NBA career. That’s more minutes than what Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Dominique Wilkins and David Robinson each logged during their entire careers.

“KG has been around for a long time, and while he is still an elite player, I don’t think we’re ever going to see him play at the level he did earlier in his career,” Murphy said.

Ray Allen, the third cog of Boston’s Big Three, is struggling to match last season’s numbers. Through 46 games, the 34-year-old shooting guard is averaging 15.7 points per game (the lowest since his rookie year) and is making just 34 percent of his 3-point shots, the worst of his 14-year career.

Allen is a free agent after this season and, according to Murphy, there’s a good chance the Celtics are not going to bring him back next season.

Could this be the last time we see Boston’s Big Three wearing the Celtics uniform?

“They’ve already gotten their rings and I think you can clearly see that this is the beginning of the end for the star trio in Boston,” Murphy said.

This article also appears on Covers.com.

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Even though there are still 79 games on the schedule, the Boston Celtics have posted three impressive victories thus far.

The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers on opening night 95-89, and their last two victories have been blowouts. They limited the Bobcats to 59 points and took apart the Bulls 118-90 on Friday night. That’s 101.6 points per game while limiting the opposition to a paltry 79.3.

Ray Allen and Paul Pierce continued their torrid shooting against the Bulls, a carry-over from the epic seven-game series between the two teams last season. Pierce was 5-of-7 from threes (22 points) and Allen was 2-of-3 (20 points).

But that highly competitive series is a thing of the past and the Celtics made sure to send a statement to the Bulls that this Celtics team is far different from the one that struggled against them in the postseason.

For one, Kevin Garnett is back and, so far, the bum knee that sideline him in last season’s playoffs is not an issue. New Celtics Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels have also bolstered the Boston bench.

Coach Doc Rivers says he wants to monitor Garnett’s minutes this season to ease him back to health. Well, Rivers hasn’t had to extend KG too much with these one-sided games as the Big Ticket has played less 30 minutes per game.

I know the NBA title can’t be won in the first week, but the Celtics are off to a great start and it’s hard to ignore that.

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Through the first 29 games last season, the Boston Celtics were on a phenomenal 27-2 run and seemed poised to challenge the 1996 Chicago Bulls’ record of 72-10 mark. But something happened to the Celtics’ bullet train that derailed their championship aspirations and date with history.

On Dec. 25, 2008, the Celtics lost to the Lakers 92-83 and that’s when the wheels started to lose some air. Cedric Maxwell said that last year’s Celtics started so fast they were gunning for 70 wins, which pushed the team into exhaustion and began to wear down.

With All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rasheed Wallace, Celtics GM Danny Ainge has built a formidable unit in Boston.

Then an injury to All-Everything forward Kevin Garnett forced the Celtics to play the postseason without their emotional leader and anchor on defense. The BIG THREE was reduced to THE BIG TWO. The result: A seven-game war with the Chicago Bulls, which they eventually won but not without a price. The Celtics were so drained, particularly Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, by the first-round series that fatigue became a huge factor in the next series, losing to Orlando in seven games.

Getting eliminated by the Magic in the Eastern Conference semifinals was a sign that the Celtics needed to add another important piece to their roster.

Enter Rasheed Wallace.

Wallace enters his 15th NBA season, not exactly the fresh legs the Celtics were hoping for but what he brings to the table is a championship pedigree and some much-needed frontcourt help in case Garnett slips and falls again. Wallace is a top-notch post defense despite his advanced age, and he is a threat to score from anywhere on the court. His ability to hit the 3-ball will open up the court for Pierce and point guard Rajon Rondo, who became an absolute star during the playoffs. If anything, Wallace’s post defense will allow KG to become a free safety.

“He’s so versatile, the way he shoots the ball, his IQ, and he’s going to give Kevin [Garnett] a break and we’re not going to rush him along too much. He looks like the Rasheed of old,” Pierce said of Wallace.

“We’re very focused,” Pierce continued. “You could see this is a very serious group from Day 1 in training camp. We’re out here like somebody stole something from us. You can see it in everybody’s eyes. Everybody came back in great shape and ready to go.”

With the addition of Wallace, the Celtics can field a dynamite five in Garnett, Allen, Pierce and Rondo to finish games. Kendrick Perkins will end up starting at center, but expect Wallace to be the closer when it matters.

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Guard Delonte West and forward Anderson Varejao play key roles in the Cavaliers' highly effective defensive scheme. (GETTY IMAGES)

Defense wins championships. At least that’s the prevailing thought among athletes in any sport. In basketball, stopping the opposition from scoring is ultimately the difference between winning and losing in April, May and June.

To win an NBA championship, you need that lockdown defender that can take away the opposition’s best option. It is equivalent to a shutdown cornerback in the NFL. A lot of times, great defenders are left to cover a prolific scorer all by himself, and a double team was not an option. Bruce Bowen played this role perfectly. Bowen, a member of championship teams in San Antonio, did not completely stop a great scorer, but he was able to at least make it difficult and uncomfortable to score the basketball.

Shane Battier of the Houston Rockets is cut from the same cloth. Like Bowen, Battier is not asked to score a lot of points for the Rockets because his job is mainly to shadow the opponent’s top gun.

Guys like Battier and Bowen, as well as Ron Artest, Tayshaun Prince and Devin Harris, initially made their marks on the defensive end of the court and have carved up a solid reputation around the league. But what about those players who don’t get the same notoriety but are just as good on defense – or even better.

OneManFastbreak.net uncovers the most underrated defenders in the NBA. Unlike the more celebrated first-team All-NBA defenders such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard, who claim the majority of the votes because of their reputation and inflated statistics, these following players go unnoticed because they don’t usually make the spectacular steal or block. They’re always assigned to the other team’s primary threat on offense and play straight-up defense the entire time they’re on the court.

DELONTE WEST, Cleveland Cavaliers – One word to describe this undersized guard: Tough. His celebrated teammate, LeBron James, gets a lot of the credit for Cleveland’s defense but, with all due respect to King James and his much-improved defense, West is the guy Coach Mike Brown calls on to defend the scorers.

KIRK HINRICH, Chicago Bulls – Hinrich makes up for his lack of foot speed and athleticism with grit and a lot of grabbing. He is the master of clinging to someone’s jersey (sometimes pulling it) and getting under a player’s skin. Just ask Dwyane Wade. We like to call it the Hinrich Manuever.

KENYON MARTIN, Denver Nuggets – Despite all the knee surgeries, K-Mart still creates matchup problems for low-post scorers. He put a blanket on David West in the first round and, even though Dirk Nowitzki posted great numbers in the second round, K-Mart made Dirk work for every point.

ANDERSON VAREJAO, Cleveland Cavaliers – He may not be the best on-ball defender, but his value to the Cavaliers cannot be measured with rebounds, blocks and steals. The man they call “Andy” takes a lot of charges, and irritates a lot of opponents with his boundless energy and his Sideshow Bob haircut.

KENDRICK PERKINS, Boston Celtics – Kevin Garnett gets most of the ink and the pub, but this burly 280-pound force in the low block is tough to uproot and plays with great force. He rebounds, blocks shots and defends the pick-and-roll better than most than half the centers in the league.

RUSSELL WESTBROOK, Oklahoma City Thunder  – The former Pac-10 defensive player of the year made an easy transition from college to pro. He has extremely long arms for a guard and his quick feet allows him to beat an offensive player to a spot. Give him another year and he should make the All-Defense team.

PAUL PIERCE, Boston Celtics – Pierce is mostly known for his offense. The truth is, at this stage of his career, his defense might be better than his offense. During the Celtics’ great playoff in 2008, Pierce guarded Joe Johnson, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. And more often than not, Pierce won his one-one-one battles.

TREVOR ARIZA, L.A. Lakers – The former UCLA Bruin is the real reason for the Lakers’ upgrade on defense. Kobe Bryant only plays defense against the elite guys. When you are a nobody, Kobe will leave you open. Ariza, on the other hand, plays defense 24/7. His length allows him to get a lot of deflections and steals.

UDONIS HASLEM, Miami Heat – Despite being undersized and overmatched more often than not, Haslem – who is generously listed at 6-8 – wins a lot of his one-on-one battles mostly with heart and determination. The Heat co-caption embodies everything Pat Riley likes in a player.

CHUCK HAYES, Houston Rockets – Another undersized frontcourt player who plays with great leverage. Former Houston Coach Jeff Van Gundy calls Hayes a great low-post defender despite his lack of size (he is listed at 6-6). He has a very strong lower body, which keeps bigger centers from backing him down.

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Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are shouldering too much of the burden on offense and defense for the defending world champions. (THE BOSTON GLOBE)

Something is definitely wrong with the Boston Celtics.

Though the defending NBA champs are still a major driving force in the East, the Celtics’ high-powered engine is beginning to leak and their once tireless energy on defense is showing some wear-and-tear. Coach Doc Rivers also hinted the team is severely missing two key cogs from last season’s championship run: James Posey and P.J. Brown.

Both were outstanding bench players during the 2008 NBA playoffs, and their absence has exposed the Boston bench and forced Rivers to rely more on Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, who is beginning to show signs of fatigue.

Garnett may not admit it, but he’s not the same player. The effort and the intensity is still there but KG’s offense has fallen dramatically and his rebounding has become just average. KG still wants to push forward, but his gas tank is running close to empty.

To compound matters, The Big Ticket recently got punched out of the lineup when he injured his knee against the Denver Nuggets. He will be sidelined two to three weeks.

The loss of KG, coupled with the way the bench has disappointed this season, GM Danny Ainge rolled the dice by acquiring point guard Stephon Marbury and forward Mikki Moore. Instead of adding younger legs to an aging roster, Ainge took on two old individuals who know nothing about winning.

Marbury’s selfish acts are well documented. He’s all about himself. When he arrived in New Jersey, the Nets got bad. When he was traded to Phoenix, the Suns became average. When he landed in New York, the Knicks went into the tank.

Moore is a journeyman who has never played for a contender. His best years were spent in Sacramento when the Kings were far removed from playoff picture.

The loss of Posey – who signed with New Orleans during the offseason after Ainge refused to sign him to a longer deal – has had a more dramatic impact on the Cs. Boston was hoping 6-1 guard Tony Allen would stem the loss of the 6-10 forward, acting as the Celtics’ sixth man. But Tony A. has been a huge disappointment. He has struggled from the field all season and, for someone who is known for his defense, Allen has not been able to impose his will on that end of the court. Last season, Posey gave the Celtics solid defense and timely shooting off the bench.

Brown is retired and seems perfectly satisfied with one championship ring on his finger. Boston’s small front line could definitely use Brown’s size and experience (6-11, 255) in the interior, something 6-6 Glen “Big Baby” Davis and 6-6 Leon Powe will never be able to provide. Big Baby and Powe are both overmatched inside and neither is capable of stopping the other team’s post player.

Though he has vastly improved his offense this season, starting point guard Rajon Rondo is far from a finished product. Rondo is still limited offensively, relying too much on that one-handed runner. It will also be interesting to see how he responds to having Starbury in his ear (as if the kid from Kentucky does not get enough lip service from KG, Doc and Pierce).

After starting the season 27-2, Boston is only 17-11 since and 1-3 against its two main competition for the Larry O’Brien trophy: Cleveland and the L.A. Lakers.

If the Celtics wish to return to the NBA Finals, their bench will need to play better and take pressure off The Big Three. The question is, “Are they capable?” We’ll soon find out.

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Michael Jordan's greatness was on display against the Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals.

Larry Bird once told Reggie Miller – when the two were coach and player with the Indiana Pacers – that a true basketball “assassin” is someone who is not afraid to shoot when the game is on the line. Bird said it is easy to shoot a potential game-winning shot when the game is tied, and the worst thing that could happen is overtime. But, it takes a truly special player to shoot the ball when your team is behind and the final shot will determine the outcome.

Bird and Miller were not only basketball assassins, but they were also two of the NBA’s best snipers. They both have the ability to take out an opponent from a bell tower, ala Barry Pepper from “Saving Private Ryan.” Basically, a basketball sniper is someone who has the ability knock down a game-winner from 3-point range. Jerry West was another. Magic Johnson was not a sniper like Bird, Miller or West but the Magic Man almost always found a way to make that all-important basket. Just ask the Celtics back in 1987.

Steve Kerr and John Paxson are not Hall-of-Famers, but their shooting prowess are legendary. Both have had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of ending an NBA Finals series with one shot. Chuck Person called himself “The Riffleman,” not for carrying a concealed weapon but for being able to shoot down the enemy from long range. Isiah Thomas looked like a choir boy, but everybody sang the same sad tune when the leader of the Motor City Bad Boys delivered one of his clutch shots.

But the top gun in the history of the Association is and always will be Michael Jordan. If you poll the entire league on who should take the last shot to win a game, Jordan would be on top of that list. Jordan did in college. He did it numerous times during the NBA’s regular season. And he has delivered the fatal blow in the NBA’s biggest stage – the playoffs. His legend grew with each game-winner. The shot over Craig Ehlo in 1989 runs on a loop in the NBA video archives. The Jazz were on the receiving end of two devastating Jordan moments. He secured a Game 1 Bulls victory over the Jazz with a pull-up jumper over Bryon Russell in 1997. Then, in probably the greatest series-clinching shot in NBA Finals history, he drove right, gave Russell a love tap, rose up and buried a cold-blooded shot down the throat of 18,000 screaming Jazz fans in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. Now that’s a true NBA assassin.

OneManFastbreak.net rates the 12 best current crop of NBA assassins, players who are not afraid to pull the trigger when the game is on the line – especially in the playoffs:

12) HEDO TURKOGLU (aka “The Michael Jordan of Turkey”) – Dwight Howard is without a doubt the Orlando Magic’s best player; point guard Jameer Nelson may be its most important player; and forward Rashard Lewis is the best shooter on the roster. However, when Coach Stan Van Gundy draws up the final shot to win a game, Turkoglu is the man.

11) STEVE NASH (aka “The Canadian Hero”) – Nash may have lost a step in the open court but his shooting eye has not deserted him yet. In fact, Nash is shooting better than ever, even better than his MVP days. The only thing missing on Nash’s resume is a trip to the NBA Finals.

10) MIKE BIBBY (aka “The Babyface Assassin) – Looks can be deceiving because Bibby can pass for a student of the month. But don’t let the appearance fool you because Bibby can bust the trey on anyone and anytime. Bibby busted onto the scene with his breakout performance in the 2002 Western Conference finals against the Lakers.

9) MANU GINOBILI (aka “Euro”) – He proudly wears and carries the flag of Argentina but … he looks like a Euro, plays like a Euro and smells like a Euro. He’s Euro! They even invented a name for his favorite basketball move: The Euro Step. It’s the one where he runs straight at his defender and then changes direction with one cross-over step to avoid a charging call. The Euro Step is the hottest move in the Euroleague. All kidding aside, Ginobili is one of the best clutch players in the world. He’s the only Euro who is not afraid to be a hero. Most international players (i.e. Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol) tend to soften up in the playoffs, but not Ginobili. Tim Duncan may be the heart and soul of the San Antonio Spurs, but Ginobili is the oxygen that pumps air into the Spurs’ championship hopes.

8) CHAUNCEY BILLUPS (aka “Mr. Big Shot) – He earned the moniker “Mr. Big Shot” with his big-game heroics when he was a Detroit Piston. The Pistons went to the Eastern Conference finals six consecutive times because of Mr. Big Shot. Now that he’s a Denver Nugget, the Pistons will be hard-pressed to make it past the second round.

7) GILBERT ARENAS (aka “Agent Zero”) – When healthy, Arenas is one of the game’s best fourth-quarter players. He would be rated much higher if his knees were sound. Agent Zero is fearless when it comes to shooting the 3-pointer and has gunned down many opponents with his late-game heroics. Very few players in the league has the shooting range of Arenas, who has been known to sneak into the Wizards practice facility late at night to take (and make) 1,000 jump shots.

6) LeBRON JAMES (aka “King James”) – His inconsistent “J” is well publicized and, until he can elevate his mid-range game and raise his 3-point percentage, teams are going to give him the perimeter shot and pack the paint. Despite the lack of a mid-range game, LeBron is still one of the most unstoppable players in the clutch because of his powerful ability to get to the rim regardless of how many defenders are on him.

5) DWYANE WADE (aka “The Flash”) – Former Miami Heat teammate Shaquille O’Neal gave him the nickname because of his uncanny ability to get to point A to point B in a flash. He nearly became a flash in the pan with an injury plagued 2007. But after going back to the lab with renowned Jordan trainer, Tim Grover, D-Wade got back to elite status in a hurry. His coming out party came during the 2004 playoffs when Wade (then a rookie) dropped a floater in the paint over Baron Davis at the buzzer.

4) PAUL PIERCE (aka “The Truth) – The truth is, when the game is still up for grabs and the Boston Celtics need a big shot, they turn to Pierce to deliver the telling blow. Pierce is not afraid to go gangster on the opposition. The reigning NBA Finals MVP saves his best for last – as in last minute. No one was able to handle The Truth during last year’s playoffs.

3) RAY ALLEN (aka “Jesus Shuttlesworth”) – Whether it is on the hardwood or Hollywood, Ray-Ray is a prime-time player. His performance in “He Got Game” may not have earned him an Oscar, but how many NBA superstars can hang with Denzel Washington? In Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals against the Lakers, Allen sized up Sasha Vujacic, got to the rim and scored on a left-handed layup over Pau Gasol to ice the game and the series for the Celtics. ABC commentator Mark Jackson said this on the air: “Ray Allen says I want to play one-one-one with Vujacic…and it’s time to dance! This is for all the marbles.”

2) JAMES POSEY (aka “Strike-a-Pose”) – TNT’s Kenny Smith calls him the “New Robert Horry,” which is probably the highest compliment you can give a role player. It takes a special player to come off the bench and deliver in the clutch. Posey is the ultimate “hired gun,” someone who knocks down the competition from anywhere on the court and for anyone who is willing to pay for his services. As a member of the 2006 Heat bench, Posey knocked down several critical 3-pointers during the Heat’s championship run, including the dagger into the hearts of the Dallas Mavericks during the waning moments of Game 6. Posey did it again in 2008, this time for the Celtics. He was the catalyst in the Celtics’ come-from-behind victory in Game 4 at Staples Center and his championship experience rubbed off Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. This season, the New Orleans Hornets are hoping Posey can influence Chris Paul and David West.

James Posey, right, shot down Lamar Odom and the L.A. Lakers during last season's NBA Finals. (ESPN)

1) KOBE BRYANT (aka “The Black Mamba”) – A black mamba can strike in rapid succession. That’s what Kobe Bryant can do. He can strike at any second. No player in the world has the array of shots Kobe has. He can kill you off the dribble with either hand, he can post you up, he can posterize you, he can drop a floater in the paint, he can cross you over, he can pull up for a mid-range jumper (something 90% of the league can’t do) or he can step back and stick a 3-point dagger into your heart. Basically, if you are a defender, all you can do is pray he misses, which does not happen very often. Kobe is the game’s best closer. He is the closest thing to a sure thing. A Sports Illustrated poll was taken last year to rank the most feared players in the league. Kobe was rated No. 1. Michael Jordan always told his Bulls teammates that if they can keep the game close for three quarters, he can win it for them in the fourth. Kobe is cut in the same Jordan mold. If the Lakers can negotiate a game for three quarters, Kobe will most likely close the deal in the fourth.

Kobe Bryant is the most feared player in the NBA when it comes to late-game heroics.

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Kobe Bryant won the regular-season MVP, but Paul Pierce took home the MVP of the NBA Finals and his Celtics won the title. (NBA Entertainment/Getty Images)

Ask any basketball expert who they think is the best player in the NBA and three names consistently show up: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Chris Paul. Bryant is the reigning most valuable player of the regular season and has three championship rings on his resume. LeBron James and CP3 don’t have championship rings, but both are breathing down Bryant’s neck and are chomping at bit. Who joins the Big Three in the Fab Five list?

OneManFastbreak.net rates the five best players in the NBA (rankings will change from year to year):

5) TIM DUNCAN: I consider the “Big Fundamental” the greatest power forward in the history of the NBA. Period. Timmy D is the most skilled post player in the world and is the biggest reason why the Spurs have four NBA championships. Because Duncan almost always requires a double team, it allows guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to play one-on-one basketball. What Duncan does defensively is what separates him from old-school guys like Kevin McHale and Karl Malone. Duncan is one of the best, if not the best, help defender. Year in and year out, the Spurs boast one of the top defenses in the league and it is all because of Duncan’s ability to protect the paint and funnel everything towards the sideline. Some believe that Duncan is past his prime and have been lapped by younger big men such as Yao Ming, Amare Stoudemire and Dwight Howard. However, last time I checked, Yao, Amare and D-Howard don’t own championship rings and two of them have never been to a conference finals. The Big Fundamental’s numbers may be down, but he still impacts the game in a huge way.

4) PAUL PIERCE: The pride of Inglewood High School has never come close to winning a regular-season most valuable player award and his name is never mentioned whenever the MVP debate shows up. But Pierce should be recognized as one of the top players in the world. Why? I say, “Why not!” He’s the MVP of the NBA Finals, which should carry more weight than any other MVP award. Steve Nash won MVP twice, but has never been to the Finals. Dirk Nowitzki, another MVP holder, got to the Finals in 2006 but lost. Last season, Pierce’s outplayed LeBron in the Eastern Conference semifinals and outplayed Kobe in the NBA Finals. How many superstars can claim that they knocked out arguably the two best players in the world in the same playoffs? P-squared did it and his Boston Celtics are the defending NBA champs and he’s the reigning NBA Finals MVP. Kevin Garnett may be the heart of the Celtics, but Pierce is the soul. When the Celtics needed a basket, Coach Doc Rivers called Pierce’s number. When the Celtics needed to shut down LeBron or Kobe, Coach Rivers called on Pierce. He has delivered in the clutch and it’s about time we recognize him as a top-tier player. If not, he’s gonna go “gangsta” on you!

3) CHRIS PAUL: CP3 is the modern-day Isiah Thomas. He has the ability to get to the rim going to his right as well as his left without losing any speed and throws one of the prettiest alley-hoop passes I’ve ever seen since Sherman Douglas. The lightning-quick all-star guard has not only displaced Steve Nash as the best point guard in the league, but he has become the most dominant player under 6-foot-1 the league has seen since Zeek (that’s Isiah Thomas for those who don’t know). Byron Scott should thank Paul for saving his job, which was on the ropes three years ago. CP3 has single-handedly changed the whole culture in New Orleans. Paul and center Tyson Chandler have perfected the pick-and-loob play and his ability to regularly get into the paint compresses the defense and allows shooters like Peja Stojakovic and Morris Peterson open looks. Paul’s Hornets are getting closer and closer into becoming an elite team. Last year, the Hornets took the San Antonio Spurs to seven games in the Western Conference semifinals. Now with the addition of James Posey, one of the best role players in the Association, the Hornets are of a handful of teams with a legit shot at winning the NBA title.

2) LeBRON JAMES: I’ve always believed that if LeBron James ever got that second option, that all-star type player who can take some of the pressure off  LeBron, the Cavaliers easily becomes the best team in the NBA. That’s how good James is. He’s like a one-man army. He can carry a team all by himself. He has done it throughout his young career. He led the Cavs to the NBA Finals in 2007 despite playing with a rookie point guard, an injury-prone center, average power forwards and a coach who doesn’t know a thing about offense. Last season, James posted 30-7-7 numbers. Michael Jordan averaged 30 points a game but never more than seven rebounds or seven assists a game. Magic Johnson has averaged seven rebounds and more than seven assists throughout his career but never came close to averaging 30 points. LeBron is an inch shorter than Magic (6-8) but is almost as heavy as Karl Malone (265 pounds). He’s a power forward playing guard. He can play all five positions. If someone chiseled the perfect NBA body, LeBron James is it.

1) KOBE BRYANT: He calls himself “The Black Mamba” for being able to strike with amazing percision in a matter of seconds. The Black Mamba owns three championship rings, an Olympic gold medal and his No. 24 jersey is No. 1 around the world. Only Duncan has more championship rings. The only thing missing on Bryant’s wish list is winning an NBA title without Shaquille O’Neal. He fell one game short last year. This season, he gets Andrew Bynum back and the Lakers should be heavy favorite in the West. Statistically, Bryant is comparable to Chris Paul and LeBron James. You can argue any of those three as the MVP. However, what separates Kobe from the majority of the league of superstars is his ability to make big shots. He is the game’s ultimate closer. When the U.S. Olympic team (a squad loaded with 12 all-stars) needed a basket in the gold-medal game against Spain, Coach K called Kobe’s number. Bryant’s mid-range game is what separates him from Chris Paul and LeBron James. Only Paul Pierce comes the closest to matching Bryant’s mid-range game and fourth-quarter heroics. SI.com polled NBA players last season on who is the most feared player in the league. Nearly one-third of them voted for KB24.

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