Okay, one team just got stronger. The Celtics of Boston may be the most improved team in the NBA as yesterday they added veteran superstar Kevin Garnett to the club after signing Ray Allen earlier. Paul Pierce, a Celtic vet who has suffered through some tough seasons must be smiling.

The Celtics now have Ray Allen at shooting guard, Kevin Garnett at forward and perennial Paul Pierce playing guard/forward. Allen, who is 32, is entering his 12th year with an average of 26.4 PPG, 4.1 APG and a 3-point completion rate of .372. He averages 1.3 steals per game. Garnett, who s 31, is starting his 13th season. Up to this point he has played exclusively with the Wolves. Garnett has averaged 22.4 PPG, 12.8 RPG and 1.7 BPG. He has also been good for 1.4 SPG.

Pierce, who is starting his 10th year, is the youngest of the group at 29. He’s been with Boston his entire career, averaging 25 PPG, 5.9 RPG and 4.1 APG.

The big question for the Celtics is at point guard—who will be the team’s playmaker? The Celts quickly added a few guys to fill out their roster at 14. Don’t expect any more big deals by Boston GM Danny Ainge. The Celtics are over the cap.

Boston gave up Al Jefferson, who looked to have potential, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair and Theo Ratliff to get Garnett, making it perhaps the biggest NBA deal ever.

If the trio of Pierce, Garnett and Allen can stay healthy, Boston should be a contender once again. Last season two teams from the Atlantic Conference made it to the post-season. Toronto won the conference with a 47- 35 record, while New Jersey came in second and won the sixth of eight Eastern Conference seeds with a 41- 41 record.

The Atlantic Conference is the weakest in the entire NBA and with these two important additions many are saying that the Celts are good for 50 wins this season. That could earn them a home court advantage!

We’ll see. Red and Dennis Johnson must be smiling wherever they are.

Technorati Tags: Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics, NBA