How healthy is Tony Allen?

[nyceltsfan]

I think TA is really a key piece to this series.  Many people on this board are making a lot out of Pierce's time defending Kobe and then his efforts on the offensive end against Artest.  I think we have our own "Artest" in TA if he is healthy.  He was a key player in stopping both Wade and LeBron and there is no reason this cannot continue.  Also, if Ray Ray is struggling with his shot or Pierce gets in foul trouble, bringing in Tony to glue to Kobe may be our ticket to victory.  If he can limit Kobe to below-average shooting, the Celts are primed to take advantage.  Also, at times in this postseason, TA running alongside Rondo has been a breath of fresh air.

Go C's and bring home #18!

[hpantazo]

when you say "how healthy is Tony Allen?" do you mean physically or mentally? All Kobe has to do is upfake him and he'll get to the line every time. Good thing for us is that it may take kobe 4-5 games before he figures that out though.

[bigjohnson34st]

It was not too far in the not so distant past that all of us Celtics Fans wanted TA's head on a platter for under performing. Now we are discussing him being an important part of this title run. I'm happy to see him finally being able to accept his role and putting it all together.

[snively]

Kobe's a tough cover for TA, but he is desperately needed if only to keep Finley off the floor.  If Thibs can grind it into TA's head not to go for any of Kobe's pump fakes on post-ups, he should be OK.   He certainly has the tools to take away Kobe's dribble drive game.

[SamuelAdams]

when you say "how healthy is Tony Allen?" do you mean physically or mentally? All Kobe has to do is upfake him and he'll get to the line every time. Good thing for us is that it may take kobe 4-5 games before he figures that out though.

TA has been getting better at this ever since Chauncey...

[nyceltsfan]

I think if Tony Allen can cover Wade and James, he should be able to cover Kobe.  I am not saying he will have identical results, but if healthy, we can ride his defense when our other wing players are struggling.

[2short]

Ray doesn't like kobe and has usually done a very nice job on him.  The key with Tony is no rest or easy time for kobe he has to work all the time.  When TA & Rondo are in the backcourt I would love to see a full tilt running game.  Make kobe work!
More important question:
How healthy is KG?  He has looked better right along, if he can be at 90% for the series it will make Gasol a no factor.

[Drucci]

Good news related to the general health of the team, but especially for TA (per Chris Forsberg's Tweeter) :

Practices notes coming soon, but TA's ankle feels great; Rasheed looked fluid at start of practice; Marquis better, waiting full clearance.

[cyclorider]

The Celtics are using 6-3 brick-layer Tony Allen as the replacement for 6-8 shooter James Posey.

Now when Pierce goes out, in comes this 6-3 "SF" (LOL) who can't make an outside shot to save his life, which hurts the Celtics who desperately need outside shooters to space the floor against a Lakers' team with two skilled 7-foot shot-blockers packing the paint.

The non-shooter Tony Allen (0% from 3-point range) is a joke of a player and yet another reason why the Celtics will end up losing this series.

No use being optimistic.  The Celtics will lose courtesy of the greedy pigs in Celtics' management and their desire to save money.

[Jon]

Another option to consider is to play Scal instead of TA or Finley.  No, it won't solve the Kobe dilemma, but LA doesn't have fast 3s in Artest and Odom.  Scal could guard both, and in fact, he might be a better matchup on Odom at the 3 than anyone else on the bench.  Then when Ray goes out, Pierce slides on to Kobe.  Scal also would stretch the floor, something TA can't do. 

Thoughts? 

[Carhole]

I think if Tony Allen can cover Wade and James, he should be able to cover Kobe.  I am not saying he will have identical results, but if healthy, we can ride his defense when our other wing players are struggling.

Different match ups. Kobe eats smaller players for for lunch. You need size to bother kobe. He will go right over the top of TA even if TA is in position.

Also bad TA has shown up for basically every game since the middle of the Cavs series, which sucks, but it is hard to say a player that has been madly inconsistent his entire career "can" do anything on a consistent basis healthy or not

[celticinorlando]

i think he is fine...he is just being bonehead tony