Jim O'Brien has been asked the question many times before: What would happen to the Celtics if the NBA eliminated the 3-point shot?

O'Brien's answer is consistent. ``We'd be in big trouble,'' he claims.

That's where we disagree. Although it's true the Celtics have built their offense, and selected much of their personnel, with the long-range shot in mind, they'd have no more trouble adjusting to life after the trifecta than any other team in the league. These are our reasons:

1. Antoine Walker, on target to break the all-time record for 3-pointers attempted and made this season, is a viable low-post weapon who would allow O'Brien to work the inside-outside game he favors. Walker also handles the ball like a guard and makes some of the more clever entry passes from the wing, assets O'Brien would exploit in different ways through a series of plays designed for pick-and-rolls, post-ups and cutters.