Around the NBA: Celtics fortunes looking up

The mega-deal that sent Kevin Garnett from Minnesota to Boston made the Celtics one of the NBA's darlings again.

With Ray Allen also on his way and Paul Pierce already established there, Boston may now have the league's most formidable trio. There was no way to go but up for the Celtics, and barring injury to one of the mega stars, the once-proud franchise could go deep in the playoffs this season.