Allen

BOSTON — At the time, it seemed like a curse. Today, it clearly is a blessing.

Last May, the Boston Celtics sat in an enviable position. After a 24-58 season, the second-worst in the franchise’s storied history, the Celtics owned the second-best chance to win the NBA’s draft lottery. Only the Memphis Grizzlies possessed slightly more chances. The prizes awaiting the top two lottery teams were substantial: franchise center Greg Oden of Ohio State and freakishly-gifted forward Kevin Durant of Texas.

When the draft order was revealed on national TV, the Celtic fans were stunned. Despite a 19.9 percent chance at the first pick and 38 percent probability of landing in the top two, the team settled for fifth. Portland, with a 5.3 percent chance of winning the lotto, leap-frogged five other teams and bagged the top prize (Oden).

When asked if he thought the league’s draft process was fair, a glum-faced Danny Ainge, the Celtics’ executive director of basketball operations, said, “Keep it the same. We don’t plan on ever being back to the lottery.”

Instead of rebuilding with Oden or Durant as the cornerstone, Ainge weighed an aggressive Plan B. With a roster dominated by young, intriguing talent and overpaid veterans, Ainge felt he could offer attractive packages for a major trade. Everyone, including Paul Pierce and Al Jefferson, was on the table.

On draft night in June, word was out that Ainge was trying to entice old teammate Kevin McHale, now the basketball boss in Minnesota, into packaging Kevin Garnett to Boston. That deal fell through when McHale demanded both Jefferson and the number five pick. Instead, Ainge convinced Seattle to give up shooting star Ray Allen for the draft pick and vets Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West.

Even as he celebrated Allen’s arrival, Ainge knew he wasn’t done. He still owned some valuable pieces, most importantly Jefferson and the $11 million owed to Theo Ratliff for the 2007-08 season. McHale craved Jefferson. Ainge craved Garnett. On July 31, the two men agreed to a massive, 7-for-1 deal that ravaged Boston’s young base but delivered the 31-year old Garnett.

At a jam-packed press conference at TD Banknorth Garden, Garnett, Allen and Pierce met the New England media and adoring fans. A new day had dawned for the Celtics.

“We knew this could be special. Everyone was pumped,” Pierce said last week, “but you never know how things are going to work out.”

They’ve worked out great. Instead of an even younger team focused on Pierce, Jefferson and Oden or Durant, today’s Celtics are led by the New Big Three of Pierce, Garnett and Allen. The trio blew through the regular season with the best record (66-16) in the NBA and is a favorite to win the franchise’s first NBA title in 22 years.

The playoffs begin tonight with the Celtics heavily favored to beat the Atlanta Hawks, perhaps even in a four-game sweep. Garnett called the regular season, “one of those dream seasons,” but insists that the real games begin tonight.

“It’s the road to 17,” Garnett said in reference to a quest to hang a 17th championship banner in the Garden rafters. “I’m pretty fortunate to be in this situation. Now it’s here and I’m ready take care of some business. We expect to win this thing. That’s the focus. That’s the mentality.”

Pierce couldn’t agree more. “The regular season is past. The pre-season is past. Now it’s time for some real basketball,” he said.

The Eastern Conference playoffs set up well for Boston. Atlanta doesn’t look to offer much of a fight. The Hawks finished 37-45 and will be double-digit underdogs in Games 1 and 2 in Boston. If the Celts win the series as expected, they’d move on to face either Washington or Cleveland and Lebron James. Potential series against Detroit and maybe even the Lakers in The Finals await.

These are all heady scenarios, especially for a team that was sweating over the bounces of lottery balls just one year ago.Tonight

Celtics vs. Hawks

8:30 p.m.

On TV: Comcast Sports Net, TNT

kmcnamar@projo.com