Ray torn: Must be a pain playing with Rondo

[nickagneta]

If Ray left over a personal issue with Rondo then I guess he isn't the consummate professional he was made out to be. people have to work with people they don't like or get along with all the time. If Ray couldn't do it, that seems a bit petty.

I honestly think he didn't like the near trades in the middle of the season and the possibility of having to play half a season living somewhere else while his family was living here. Let's be honest, Danny wasn't going to give him a no trade clause and Danny would trade him mid season in a second if he thought it in the best interest of the team.

Now, because of the nature of the way the Heat are built and their championship ability, its pretty certain Ray will be there the length of the contract. Riley wouldn't dare trade Ray and get Wade and LeBron angry.

  Why would Wade and LeBron get angry? Ray will just be next year's version of Mike Miller. They really wanted him at the time, too.

Wade and LeBron would get angry at Riley if he traded Ray Allen away after signing there because:

1. They lobbied hard to get him there and desperately wanted Allen on the team.

2. Allen's consistent big play ability from the outside make Wade and Lebron more dangerous and helps cuts down the possibility of double teams coming their way.

3. They tremendously like and respect Ray Allen.

4. Allen makes the heat an even better team.

[LarBrd33]

I can never tell if LarBrd33 is joking / being ironic.  I am pretty sure almost everyone has noticed the improvement in Rondo's shot over the last year or so.  I doubt it has anything to do with RA though. 

Rondo also seems to be pretty well accepted by KG/PP/everyone else.  I think Rondo was right wanting AB to start.  Ray is in denial about his skills going downhill a bit, just like almost every elite athlete.  RA isn't worth 3 years 27 million anymore.  He was mad at DA for shopping him, he threw in his beef with RR as another reason.  All of Ray's excuses don't make me want to be on his side.

I had heard Ray and Rondo didn't get along as far back as 2008.  Ray tried to be a mentor to Rondo and Rondo stubbornly refused to listen.  It's probably why Rondo never learned how to shoot. 
 

I was semi joking with the "probably why Rondo never learned how to shoot", but I actually do vaguely remember hearing about how Ray was trying to give Rondo pointers on his shot as far back as 2008... and later hearing about how Ray tried to take Rondo under his wing, but Rondo for some reason stopped listening.  It's a lot of speculation... we know that even Doc Rivers has commented on Rondo's stubborn attitude when he was younger... we know we've heard reports of a rift between the young and old core... and we've seen several reports that Rondo and Ray don't get along.  I'm sure there is something to it.  I doubt anyone outside the Celtics knows the real root of it, though.

I'll miss Ray.  I think he was somewhat under-appreciated in Boston.  Like I said... Pierce had our hearts to begin with... KG was the savior... and Rondo was the young hope for the future.   Ray's shooting carried us in a number of series and games.  I honestly think he remains the most clutch player in the entire league... That Chicago/Boston series where nearly every game went to OT just highlighted how clutch that guy is.  I know Celtics fans loved him... I just don't think anyone loved him as much as the other guys.  We were coming up with "trade Ray Allen" ideas as far back as 2009.  Boston shopped his expiring contract two different trade deadlines.  I'm sure there were plenty of contributing factors to why he chose Miami.  The main reason is that Miami is better than Boston at this point and his role has all but been eliminated with the signing of Jason Terry.

[LarBrd33]

We will miss that consistent shooting and Rondo will miss those easy assists.  Sad day for the Celtics   

Rondo didn't miss him when he was going for 10+ assist a game when Bradley was starting while Ray sat.

  Details, details...

A streak is a streak is a streak.  Bradley looked solid for a good month of basketball.  Sweet.

Bottom line, not only did Boston run Ray out of town, but half of this forum has come up with at least a dozen "Trade Ray" ideas over the past few years.  I really can't hold it against him for wanting to go to a place where he's wanted.  Clearly it doesn't matter that we lost Ray Allen... we have Avery Bradley. 

By playing defense, running the floor, and cutting off the ball... yeah you hear about streaky defense and cutting a lot right?   

I'd take Avery over Ray absolutely.  Bradley is going to be good and is still VERY young.



(Also you have a hilarious idea of "run out of town" when we made a bigger offer with a no trade clause)

Yeah dude I get it.  Avery Bradley.  Sweet.  I definitely hope he's as good as everyone is hyping him up to be.  I still haven't seen enough to be convinced.  But all this overhyping of Avery Bradley just goes to prove my point further... why blame Ray Allen for bailing on us when you barely even wanted him here.   

We just gave a 15 mil contract to Jason Terry to back up Avery Bradley and you're holding it against Ray Allen for leaving?  If you're right... he didn't even have a role here anyways.  Miami is a great team, they have a huge role for him to fill... and he can compete for a couple more titles before he retires.  Everyone wins.

[BballTim]

If Ray left over a personal issue with Rondo then I guess he isn't the consummate professional he was made out to be. people have to work with people they don't like or get along with all the time. If Ray couldn't do it, that seems a bit petty.

I honestly think he didn't like the near trades in the middle of the season and the possibility of having to play half a season living somewhere else while his family was living here. Let's be honest, Danny wasn't going to give him a no trade clause and Danny would trade him mid season in a second if he thought it in the best interest of the team.

Now, because of the nature of the way the Heat are built and their championship ability, its pretty certain Ray will be there the length of the contract. Riley wouldn't dare trade Ray and get Wade and LeBron angry.

  Why would Wade and LeBron get angry? Ray will just be next year's version of Mike Miller. They really wanted him at the time, too.

Wade and LeBron would get angry at Riley if he traded Ray Allen away after signing there because:

1. They lobbied hard to get him there and desperately wanted Allen on the team.

2. Allen's consistent big play ability from the outside make Wade and Lebron more dangerous and helps cuts down the possibility of double teams coming their way.

3. They tremendously like and respect Ray Allen.

4. Allen makes the heat an even better team.

  Again, all of this was said about Miller 2 years ago. Remember they took pay cuts to get him on the team?

[nickagneta]

If Ray left over a personal issue with Rondo then I guess he isn't the consummate professional he was made out to be. people have to work with people they don't like or get along with all the time. If Ray couldn't do it, that seems a bit petty.

I honestly think he didn't like the near trades in the middle of the season and the possibility of having to play half a season living somewhere else while his family was living here. Let's be honest, Danny wasn't going to give him a no trade clause and Danny would trade him mid season in a second if he thought it in the best interest of the team.

Now, because of the nature of the way the Heat are built and their championship ability, its pretty certain Ray will be there the length of the contract. Riley wouldn't dare trade Ray and get Wade and LeBron angry.

  Why would Wade and LeBron get angry? Ray will just be next year's version of Mike Miller. They really wanted him at the time, too.

Wade and LeBron would get angry at Riley if he traded Ray Allen away after signing there because:

1. They lobbied hard to get him there and desperately wanted Allen on the team.

2. Allen's consistent big play ability from the outside make Wade and Lebron more dangerous and helps cuts down the possibility of double teams coming their way.

3. They tremendously like and respect Ray Allen.

4. Allen makes the heat an even better team.

  Again, all of this was said about Miller 2 years ago. Remember they took pay cuts to get him on the team?

Did I miss something?

Was Miller traded?

Is Miller considered even half the talent Ray Allen is?

Is Miller a sure fire Hall of Famer?

And again, was Miller traded because I was pretty sure he was still with the team?

I'm missing your point completely.

[kozlodoev]

Again, all of this was said about Miller 2 years ago. Remember they took pay cuts to get him on the team?

Ray Allen is no Mike Miller, make no mistake.

[greenpride32]

lets see how chalmers gets the ball to ray. LOL.... ray will not even know what hes missing out on. chalmers might be the worst passer in the game.

Like Ray Allen never made a shot without a pass from Rondo; LAUGH.

[greenpride32]

Listen Rondo is not a popular guy in the locker room; we all know that.  From Woj: Rondo has had a polarizing impact within the Celtics' locker room, and his relationships with teammates and coaches have fluctuated over the years.

But I don't know how many times this needs to be said; C's tried to trade Allen this past year for Mayo, gave his starting spot to AB, and signed Jet who I can't describe any other way as a replacemenet for Ray.  Add in the conflict with Rondo and you don't exactly have a great situation for Ray; not exactly hard to see why he could be unhappy with it.

[Lightskinsmurf]

The best players in the league no longer want to compete against each other they wanna play with each other. That and the refs is why the NBA is becoming a major joke. The NBA can't hold a candle to the NFL, GO PATRIOTS! I know this has nothing to do with the thread i just wanted to say that lol.

[Celtics4ever]

Rondo is still here.  Ray Allen is not walking through that door. This is not on Rondo.  This is on Ray.  He is the one who chose to leave.  Rondo didn't make him.  Ray let his ego get the better of him.

[Tgro]

Ray let his ego get the better of him.

I really think that is it in a nutshell.

It's funny, but I seem to remember when Ray got demoted for Bradley, I always remember it being told that Ray went to Doc and said he was okay with coming off the bench. Remember Ray was hobbled and wasn't playing very well. Doc talked about it after the game and said "He came to me about it" and from then on, all I heard was Ray was hurt being benched.

Truth is, the team did play better when Bradley was starting. Ray got to where he could hardly hit a free throw anymore. It was shocking. Then we hear of the rifts between him and Rondo more and more and I think combined with near trades, Ray just had an ego problem that overtook his immense class and gave it a back seat. Ray got to be a "I'll show them" type. He's almost been like a woman scorned. He's seemed hurt and bitter about things. It stopped being about the team and it turned into being about Ray.

I'm really sad to see the guy go. I loved him and his shot. I loved his work ethic. I loved the way he held himself. But I think the guy is in denial about his career and what role he should be in. His ego says he should start, should never be traded, be listened to by lesser tenured teammates and should never be questioned. After all, he is a 3 point legend. Unfortunately, this is going to make for a painful end for us. Seeing Ray in a Heat uniform is worse than any Celtic defection I can remember.

The good news is, we just became a faster team. The ordeal is over, we no longer have to feel guilty about putting Bradley in. The future is still bright. And we no longer have to wonder about the pain of breaking up the big 3. It's already starting to happen. We are officially transitioning. It won't be as hard to say goodbye when KG and Pierce hang them up. We'll shed tears for those guys because they stayed with us.

I love Ray, but he hurt his legacy with us and us fans. I'll never forget and wish he retired a Celtic, but Ray's ego got in the way.

So long Ray.  

[BballTim]

Again, all of this was said about Miller 2 years ago. Remember they took pay cuts to get him on the team?

Ray Allen is no Mike Miller, make no mistake.

  He'll probably be a better shooting version, but that's likely to be exactly what he is.