Is it really a Big Two?

[MyInsatiableOne]

This is just stupid. Why even bother with responding with any sort of analysis at this point? After our next win, nonetheless, will come another Ray isn't that good thread.

Yep, and Pogue will probably start his own discussion thread about it!

[sully00]

I am certainly not trying to attack anyone for bringing this up and I am trying to find the right way to say it. But it really is irksome that in a league were guys are all about their stats and numbers and don't want to go to a team it they aren't going to be a top 2 option, and they want to be traded to a worse team so they can shoot more, that Ray Allen is essentially cracked daily for accepting the role of (well paid) 3rd option and fills any role asked of him to a championship T.

Ray also doesn't do the post game presser because he is the one who is willing to answer questions at his locker to reporters. Because he isn't, and the team isn't, afraid of what will come out of his pie hole in the moments after the game.

[MyInsatiableOne]

I am certainly not trying to attack anyone for bringing this up and I am trying to find the right way to say it. But it really is irksome that in a league were guys are all about their stats and numbers and don't want to go to a team it they aren't going to be a top 2 option, and they want to be traded to a worse team so they can shoot more, that Ray Allen is essentially cracked daily for accepting the role of (well paid) 3rd option and fills any role asked of him to a championship T.

Ray also doesn't do the post game presser because he is the one who is willing to answer questions at his locker to reporters. Because he isn't, and the team isn't, afraid of what will come out of his pie hole in the moments after the game.

Dude, don't worry about saying this...you are 100% right and I agree with you completely (see my posts in this thread previously).

Not only that, people would be bitching ROYALLY if Ray was gunning here and trying to be #1 and we were losing. The guy has to be the best #3 option on any team in the NBA. And, umm, haters, let me remind you WE WON THE **** TITLE LAST YEAR AND RAY WAS AN ESSENTIAL AND INTEGRAL PART OF IT!!!

*Sheesh!*

[tombattor]

This is such garbage. WTF? We're very lucky to have 3 guys who can step and carry the team because all 3 of them won't be on all the time. And Ray, as much crap as he's been getting, is still capable of carrying the team for stretches when necessary. Even this year, we've seen Ray keeping us in games when we're struggling, just as KG and PP had done.

[mainevent3405]

Just the name RAY ALLEN makes it the BIG THREE (STILL). No if, and and buts about it. People fail to realize that Ray is playing within his ROLE on this squad, unlike any other he's ever been with besides his early days with the Bucks. If PP went down for an extended period of time, Ray will be the go-to guy without a doubt.

[MyInsatiableOne]

This is such garbage. WTF? We're very lucky to have 3 guys who can step and carry the team because all 3 of them won't be on all the time. And Ray, as much crap as he's been getting, is still capable of carrying the team for stretches when necessary. Even this year, we've seen Ray keeping us in games when we're struggling, just as KG and PP had done.

Right on man, welcome to the club!

[Havlicek17]

Fencer started this post, but after viewing the stats for this year, he retracted his original statement. I respect him doing that, but I believe every time Ray has a bad game, we will see similar stuff to show up on this board.

I live in Atlanta and watched the game last night with the local Hawks TV crew announcing the game. In addition to watching the Hawks chase Ray around the court like all opposing teams always do, the announcers showed Ray a lot of respect. Even when he was missing on his three's in the 2nd half, they still said that Atlanta better keep someone on him, cause he is always just a shot away from lighting it up. They talked about how clutch he has been for the Celts in tight games and how he could be a game changer last night if they left him open. This came after all of his misses and with the game on the line. The point I am trying to make is, Ray gets a ton of respect from opposing teams and they do not slack off of him like they would almost any other player who has an off shooting night. So you see, even when some of our own fans are down on Ray's contribution, the opposing teams aren't buying into it. They are not leaving Ray to double up on Paul or KG at the end of the game, and that's huge. Especially after the kind of shooting night Ray had. He's a very rare commodity. I can't think of another perimeter shooter in the league that commands that kind of respect.

I take pride in the fact that Celtics fans have such a good reputation of understanding the game and appreciating the things that matter. Most fans look at scoring as the only measure of a players contribution, and we don't do that. We look at all aspects of a players game and his contribution to the team. Understand that Ray has been asked to play a role for the Celtics on offense that causes him to be a long range shooter for this team. Taking less shots than he has in the past and almost all from long range (we don't want him slashing to the basket while our starters are out there) does not help your scoring average or efficiency. I fully expect Ray to have worse looking stats versus KG and Paul, but this should not be the only measure of his overall contribution to the big three and the team.

Ray spreads the floor, gets double team respect from opposing teams, and keeps them guessing on defense, rebounds, passes and doesn't just shoot, and plays in the flow of the game. He hustles for lose balls, plays good defense on some of the opposing teams best offensive players (SG's), brings the ball up court when other teams trap, doesn't complain, is very professional, and cool under pressure.

Ray contributes in many ways to our success, I think he's proven that with #17 hanging from the rafters. Let's not revisit this topic every time Ray has a bad shooting night, O.K.?

[lojowo]

If we had Elton Brand or Jemaine Oneal, instead of Ray Allen, Would we still have a Big Three?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/ ... i?id=vFmD9

Link shows, players who PER is equal to 15.0 and has played over 240 minutes ( Like Ray Allen Has ) are Mr Brand and Mr Oneal.

Its early yet, lets not demote Ray to a stiff yet.

[NDaATL]

Ray was the true Finals MVP against the Lakers last year, he's definitely part of the Big 3.

[Harison]

Ray is an amazingly talented and hard working player in both offence and defence, even if his shot is off (as if KG and PP doesnt have nights off), he is still contributing, though not as much as lets say KG, because Ray is a pure shooter.

So far in this season he is looking good, probably fully recovered from lasts years injuries, and definately the part of the Big 3. We dont need players to be in the best shape yet, Celtics will have no problems reaching playoffs, but then we'll need all we can get from all the players, not just Big 3, but its the beauty of having so many talented players - if some are off, others can lift it up.

[Pogue Mahone]

...but its the beauty of having so many talented players - if some are off, others can lift it up.

I ask this in all seriousness, do you think that it is more important for a player to play to their role or to perform well individually?

[Man_Up]

Ray is definitely a level below Pierce and Garnett.

The only thing that keeps me from totally writing him off is his excellent play in the finals.

It's like this you wouldn't think of him as an all-star player if you were judging from just his time in boston.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Ray is definitely a level below Pierce and Garnett.

The only thing that keeps me from totally writing him off is his excellent play in the finals.

It's like this you wouldn't think of him as an all-star player if you were judging from just his time in boston.

Ray is a HOFer some day...the title pushes him over the top, IMO.

The guy averaged 26 ppg BEFORE coming to Boston to take a reduced role and was instrumental in helping them win the title.

You must not watch much basketball outside of the Celtics, huh?

[Dirty Water]

Every time one of these threads comes up Ray Allen shoots the lights out the next game.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Every time one of these threads comes up Ray Allen shoots the lights out the next game.

And the haters end up looking even dumber...