Ray allen's confidence is shot...

[Neurotic Guy]

His ankles are shot not his confidence.

Here's my theory, for a real shooter your arms just guide the ball and your legs are where the energy to get it to the rim really comes from. His jumper is off because he can't get enough lift. So if his legs aren't pushing the ball where it needs to go his arms are compensating. So basically he's not able to shoot the way he practices and is not much better than a chucker  right now. The poor free throw shooting might be a result of changes in his jumper following him to the line.

Well it's probably needless to say, but when you physically can't do what you used to be able to do, you are likely to have an internal response to that -- thoughts that weren't there previously and emotional/confidence responses -- all of the above will impact performance.

[SHAQATTACK]

Love Ray , watched him in College.... he is one of the greatest shooters to ever step on a court, admire his courage.  and loyality to the Celtics and his fans.

Dude is hurtin.

But...he needs to have a seat on the bench . Let others have a try.

[blink]

I was just going to say this but you already did.  I think it is a physical thing mainly.  He isn't getting the lift from his legs and a lot (at least 1/2) of his shots are really flat.  You see that typically at the end of long hard contested games when a shooter is just dead tired.  No lift, no arc.

I am a huge Ray fan, and he pulled out a couple in game 7 versus philly, but I would go along with starting someone else at the 2.  It is a really hard call to know what to do about Ray and lowering his minutes. 

It is funny, but in game 1 at least, his def on D wade was pretty good I thought.  Better than his bad wheels should allow him to do at least.  I think in game 1 he gave us more on the D end than on offense.

Many instances of late where his shot is coming off flat.  That's physical. 

[Leon0]

lol

[Celtics4ever]

Set shot met Ray, Ray meet set shot....Worth a try if it's all lift.  Larry got them off.

[lightspeed5]

hes been practicing all morning today.

[Redz]

It doesn't necessarily have to be one or the other (confidence or physical).

[lightspeed5]

if anyone remembers the finals in 2010, ray allen broke the record for most 3's in a finals game, then had the most missed 3's in a game.  Point is just because he did bad, doesnt mean he will continue to be bad, and vice versa.

[TheReaLPuba]

Its his ankles.

Bone spurs in one and the other is over compensating.

If you look at Ray Allen when he's shooting free throws he elevates on to his toes before he releases.

That's got to be uncomfortable as the games goes on.

I don't think many players shoot free throws like, I for one don't...I stay flat footed for the most part.

For a guy as consistent and habitual as Ray even the slightest varying degree in his toe elevation can change his shot and he will miss even free throws.

Now I don't think he's going to keep shooting 60% he will adjust and hopefully find a way to work through his injury.

[slamtheking]

His confidence isn't shot.

and his shot isn't confident   

[Lord of Mikawa]

It is the ankle injury. Nothing else.

[wiley]

Ray's confidence never goes in the toilet, which has been a blessing for the majority
of his career, and is a bit of a curse at the moment.  We need his confidence to go down
like a normal person, start Pietrus, play Pietrus enough to get him in rhythm (which turns him into a more physical player as well as one who can get hot), and let Ray have minutes off the bench.  Let him come and be the hero.  I see no reason for the Celtics to start him and play him so many minutes in the hopes that he might hit 2 threes in a row at some point.  If that's what the Celtics want, just play him at the end of the game...

In other words, I'd like the Celtics to stop treating Ray like a machine and I'd like Ray to stop treating himself like a machine.  

That said, I constantly root for him and never get mad....