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Fighting Words

At Issue: How much should people buy into the "Boston Celtics are going to the NBA Finals" hype?

Christopher Morrison It’s in the bag

Buy it, because it’s going to happen. Danny Ainge went out this past offseason and brought in the NBA’s most athletic power forward in Kevin Garnett, and one of the best shooting guards in Ray Allen, to join perennial all-star Paul Pierce. In addition to the new trio, the Celtics have upgraded their defense by adding ex-Rocket James Posey. The NBA Eastern Conference is a lot like the National League in baseball – weak.

So Allen and Garnett will be facing easier competition minus the dreaded Texas swing and the Phoenix Suns out West. Garnett and Pierce are hungry to win their first NBA championship, and Allen should be fully recovered from his ankle surgery.

Garnett, Allen and Pierce, have all averaged more than 20 points per game throughout their careers, and won’t have a problem putting up points in bunches.

Grade: B

Ronnie Turner Buy! No, sell! No wait, buy!

Sure, people should buy into it. If Cleveland could get to the NBA Finals last season with one All-Star (LeBron James) and a bunch of role players, then Boston will surely have a shot to do the same with the likes of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in the fold.

But come to think about it, it’s anyone’s game in the Eastern Conference. Since the Chicago Bulls capped their three-year reign as Eastern Conference champions in 1998, seven teams have claimed conference supremacy with only two repeat champions. That’s a stark contrast from the Western Conference, where only three teams have claimed conference titles since 1998.

I predict that Boston will claim this year’s Eastern Conference title, but I don’t expect the Celtics to escape the butt kicking a Western Conference team will dish out at the Finals.

Grade: B

Keith Cordero This year, everyone will wish they were a Bostonian

Buy the Celtics, who have added All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen this off-season to mix with All-Star Paul Pierce. In a weak Eastern Conference the Celtics have enough pieces to make a run to the NBA Finals.

The Celtics have made the best off-season moves in the East and Detroit, Miami, and Cleveland have not gotten any better.

The addition of James Posey may have been the best "under the radar" move this offseason by Danny Ainge because it gives the Celtics a lock-down defender with NBA Finals experience.

The Celtics have had great team chemistry in the preseason, and "The Big Three" are on every sports magazine’s NBA Preview cover page. Look for the Celtics to make it to the NBA Finals where they will win it all. This is the year for Boston sports.

Grade: B

Judge Dredd They’ll be good – but not that good

Judge Dredd agrees that the additions of Allen, Garnett and Posey put the Celtics among the Eastern Conference’s elite teams, but he isn’t ready to put them in the finals just yet.

In fact, Judge Dredd thinks a few teams – the Bulls, the Magic and the Pistons – would take offense to the way these Fighting Words’ participants were so quick to hand the Celtics the title.

The Baby Bulls have matured into one of the most balanced teams in the NBA, and you can never count out a team that has made a trip to the conference finals five consecutive years – the Pistons.

Yeah, the Celtics’ chances of making it to the NBA Finals are pretty good, but so are the other three teams. The East isn’t going to be the NBA’s punching bag anymore, gentlemen. Mark Judge Dredd’s words.

Verdict: Judge Dredd wins, because he makes his own rules.

Facetime: Judge Dredd says the Knicks will make the playoffs, and David Lee will play in the All-Star Game.

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