Big 3 vs. New 3

3/5/2008

Big 3 vs. New 3

When Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen were acquired last summer by the Celtics to join forces with Paul Pierce, comparisons were immediately made to the Celtics' original Big Three of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.



While the New Three of Pierce, Allen and Garnett have lived up their billing where it counts most -- in the win-loss column -- they haven't quite been able to match the gaudy numbers compiled by the Big Three during their glory days in Boston from 1984-88.

Here's a comparison of their points, rebounding and assist averages, as well as a look at their individual shooting percentages.

BIG THREE

1984-85

Player PPG RPG APG FG%

Bird 28.7 10.5 6.6 52.2

McHale 19.8 9.0 1.8 57.0

Parish 17.6 10.6 1.6 54.2

Totals 66.1 30.1 10.0

1985-86

Bird 25.8 9.8 6.8 49.6

McHale 21.3 8.1 2.7 57.4

Parish 16.1 9.5 1.8 54.9

Totals 63.2 27.4 11.3

1986-87

Bird 28.1 9.2 7.6 52.5

McHale 26.1 9.9 2.6 60.4

Parish 17.5 10.6 2.2 55.6

Totals 71.7 29.7 12.4

1987-88

Bird 29.9 9.3 6.1 52.7

McHale 22.6 8.4 2.7 60.4

Parish 14.3 8.5 1.6 58.9

Totals 66.8 26.2 10.4

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NEW THREE

2007-08

Player PPG RPG APG FG%

Pierce 20.5 5.4 4.7 44.7

Allen 18.7 4.0 3.1 44.2

Garnett 18.5 9.9 3.7 53.6

Totals 57.7 19.3 11.5