Can Garnett, Allen and Pierce all shine together?

By Dennis Velasco, Special to SI.com, DroppingDimes.com

Now that the biggest trade of the summer has gone down with Kevin Garnett heading over the Boston, what will the fantasy basketball impact be? When you're dealing with three 20-point scorers on the same team, it's tough to figure out. Will there be enough basketballs to go around? Honestly, with Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, there really isn't a ball hog in the group. Maybe Pierce, but he never had a choice on most nights with the chaotic Celtics the past several seasons.

First let's look at the number of shots the Celtics averaged per game last season (78.7 FGA; 15.7 3PT FGA) and compare it to the combined total of shot attempts by GAP (Garnett, Allen, Pierce):

Garnett: 17.6 FGA; 0.7 3PT FGA; Allen: 21.0 FGA; 8.1 3PT FGA; Pierce: 18.1 FGA; 5.9 3PT FGA; Total: 56.7 FGA; 14.7 3PT FGA

The trio would have accounted for 72 percent of overall shots taken and 94 percent of triples attempted, mostly thanks to Allen. What does this all mean? Actually, absolutely nothing. What really counts when looking at this particular group of 20-point scorers is their career assists numbers:

Garnett: 4.5 (4.1 last season); Allen: 3.9 (4.2); Pierce: 3.9 (4.1)

Looking at the above, you can tell that these guys are not simply chucking it up with a blatant disregard for their teammates. If you're worried about there not being enough rocks, don't be. Each will get his looks and shots off and each will have a hand (or a pass, more like it) in helping the other two score.

So, who's going to do what? Let's break down the GAP.

Kevin Garnett: Garnett will be the most passive of the three in regards to shooting the ball, but he'll still be on the cusp of 20 points because there won't be much double-teaming with Allen and Pierce on the perimeter. But, despite any potential dip in scoring, feel safe in knowing that Garnett will probably lead the league in rebounding once again since Allen and Pierce will take a lot of outside jumpers and that there really isn't anyone else inside to take boards away.

Garnett will be the main man down low, but has skills from the high-post and a very good mid-range game. He should be able to rack up the dimes when he kicks the ball back out to either Allen or Pierce. Garnett is an underrated defender, so don't expect any changes on his hustle stats because he'll still get at least a block and steal per game. Mr. 20-10-5 should be back in full effect in Beantown.

Ray Allen: There are some durability questions with Allen, but he's probably so geeked about playing with KG and The Truth that the endorphins and adrenaline will make him invulnerable to injury, especially after playing with Seattle last season. All due respect to Rashard Lewis, but playing with a guaranteed Hall-of-Famer and a player on his way there, Allen has to be happy at the prospects of setting up for his sweet jumper. Defensively, Allen isn't what he used to be, but he'll be OK.

Considering that he won't have to work much on offense -- Pierce penetrates towards the basket and kicks it out to Allen for the outside shot; Garnett is doubled down in the box and throws it back out to Allen for the outside shot -- Jesus Shuttlesworth won't need to work much and stress out the "gimpy" ankle. Allen probably won't average 25-plus points, but 23 ppg isn't out of the question considering all the open shots he should get from the perimeter. Most of the points will be from treys drained, so you'll still be happy in that category, as well as in the percentages from the floor and the charity stripe. Allen will still be able to play the passing lanes and contribute in the steals category and contribute on the boards as he has a good nose for the ball.

Paul Pierce: Pierce is the veteran Celtic on this team and the alpha dog because of it. However, make no mistake in assuming that Pierce would play second or third fiddle on any given night in order to win. In fact, it was Pierce who lobbied KG to come to Boston in the rumored trade talks before the NBA Draft. In any case, Pierce is another one with injury questions, but he should be fine with KG in town now.

He'll be the main guy attacking the basket and scoring in more ways than Garnett and Allen. I'd expect him to continue to be the main man in Beantown and if anyone scores 25 or so, it'll be The Truth. His assists numbers should remain the same as last season's if not a slight uptick, but maybe there will be a very small drop in boards with KG in town. He'll still take a good share of triples and won't hurt your percentages from the floor or free-throw line.

When all is said and done, the Celtics should have a trio of 20-point scorers and fantasy owners should remain happy because of the other categories that each player regularly contributes, such as Garnett with boards, and Allen and Pierce with threes. Don't expect too much to change with each player from seasons past except for, on average, a nominal drop in points. While this is a fantasy basketball column, I have to say that the real winners here will be Celtics fans since the GAP should close, well umm, the gap between the Celtics and the Pistons, Cavaliers and Bulls in the East, and if the Celtics get some depth, don't be surprised to see them close in on the elite Western Conference teams as well.

Dennis Velasco is the Managing Editor of DroppingDimes.com where you can get all of your fantasy basketball needs, as well as the Basketball Guide for About.com.