Allen as 6th man

[Roy Hobbs]

He career is definately done..... I mean com'on, he's been struggling for over a month now.... how many slumps last this long?  And there doesn't seem to be an end in sight......

Again, that's just an absolutely ridiculous thing to say.  Players bounce back from slumps all the time.

I'm glad the Red Sox don't scrap every player who has a bad month.

[CELTICS733]

Championship?  I think this is our championship.  I feel we'll have an easier time with either the Lakers or the Spurs.  Ray has got to make a significant contribution this next game.

[Roy Hobbs]

Championship?  I think this is our championship.  I feel we'll have an easier time with either the Lakers or the Spurs.

People said Cleveland would be an easier matchup than Atlanta.

Then they said Detroit would be easier than Cleveland.

Now we're hearing LA / SA will be easier than Detroit.

I don't think so.

[Vermont Green]

Our shooting percentage was 0.318 last game.  Yes, Ray Allen was 2 for 8 but Pierce was 3-14.  Yes, Ray has not hit very many shots the entire post season but this is not the time to be experimenting with the rotations.  Like it or not, we have to try to win this thing with who we have including Ray.  I don't believe that Eddie House or Tony Allen (Posey gets his minutes either way) are going to make any difference as compared to Ray Allen.

The only real option is to play Eddie House when Cassell or Rondo are also on the court because we know (and Detroit knows) that Eddie can "run" the team, but he can hit shots and defend little guys well.  The problem is that Detroit has no little guys.  The only guy he can cover is Hunter and that would leave Rondo or Cassell to cover Hamilton.  No matter how you slice it, the match ups just don't work in our favor with House on the court.

[BASSTHUMPER]

eddie has very poor ball handling skills~if eddie is on the floor ray or rondo needs to be in the game

his 3pt and d was missed last nite

[TitleMaster]

First of all, let's give credit to where credit's due, Rip Hamilton rocks!

He's in his prime, smart, and even during his sophomore year on the Wizards, he was lighting it up. The difference between him and the typical SG is that he never forces a shot; when he's cold, he stops shooting, becomes a passer, and scuttles on D. His game is always in the flow which is why he's making Ray Ray look like a has-been. If the Pistons get some consistent O from the others (Antonio, Wallace) and then Rip's shot starts falling, the Pistons simply win, plain and simple. Unfortunately, only a Ray Ray of 2002 can put the claps on the Ripper.

[LarBrd33]

He career is definately done..... I mean com'on, he's been struggling for over a month now.... how many slumps last this long?  And there doesn't seem to be an end in sight......

Again, that's just an absolutely ridiculous thing to say.  Players bounce back from slumps all the time.

I'm glad the Red Sox don't scrap every player who has a bad month.

Ray sucked at different points during the year.  he had a couple really big slumps.  One at the very beginning of the season where he was shooting like 38%, but eventually took a few days off and came back.  He also shot 41% in January...   But then he was huge in Feb and March and shot nearly 50% in those two months.  That allowed him to finish the season shooting right around his career average of .446


Hopefully he evens it all out.

[CT34]

Championship?  I think this is our championship.  I feel we'll have an easier time with either the Lakers or the Spurs.  Ray has got to make a significant contribution this next game.

Wow I disagree the Laker with the Black Mamba scares me.  Then you has the Spurs who have 4 championship rings and looking to win it 2nd in a row for the first time in their championship run.  Both team scare the heck out of me but if I had my choice I would want to face the Spurs.  Unlike most people I don't want Lakers vs. Celtics.  I'd much rather see the Cs beat the defending champs.

[Roy Hobbs]

eddie has very poor ball handling skills~if eddie is on the floor ray or rondo needs to be in the game

Or Pierce.  Things haven't been too bad with Pierce acting as the primary ball handler.

[Barnabas]

Ray Allen, for the most part, has been MIA in the playoffs.  Pierce has had his moments of brilliance, and Kevin played well, for the most part (except game 4).  Part of the problem might be the offense that the team is running.  But yeah, a "slump" this long is very serious.  Something's going on here. 

Unfortunately, we have to play who we have.  Eddie House and Tony Allen are no better options than Ray Allen.  House is not at all a decent ballhandler.  Detroit will press him the moment he gets the ball, and Eddie will panic and turn the ball over.  If Billups gets hot in game 5, then yeah, it may be time to get Tony Allen off the bench.

Some teams are explosive, they can run up the points very quickly.  The Celtics, it seems, are not.  Maybe they should have kept going to Kevin and Paul in game 4.  The only way to get back into rhythm is to keep trying.  Maybe they should have taken more chances and got Paul to continue shooting, hoping he'd get hot. 

[vinnie]

Ease up on Ray.  Sure, his offensive game has been tough to watch, but are you really watching what he is doing on the defensive end on Rip Hamilton??

He has played great D throughout the series on Rip, and at times on Billups.  He is one of the reasons (positive reasons) we are tied at 2-2.

Seems to me that he has been three steps behind Rip in most of the games I have been watching. 

[Chief]

Ray Allen, for the most part, has been MIA in the playoffs.  Pierce has had his moments of brilliance, and Kevin played well, for the most part (except game 4).  Part of the problem might be the offense that the team is running.  But yeah, a "slump" this long is very serious.  Something's going on here. 

Unfortunately, we have to play who we have.  Eddie House and Tony Allen are no better options than Ray Allen.  House is not at all a decent ballhandler.  Detroit will press him the moment he gets the ball, and Eddie will panic and turn the ball over.  If Billups gets hot in game 5, then yeah, it may be time to get Tony Allen off the bench.

Some teams are explosive, they can run up the points very quickly.  The Celtics, it seems, are not.  Maybe they should have kept going to Kevin and Paul in game 4.  The only way to get back into rhythm is to keep trying.  Maybe they should have taken more chances and got Paul to continue shooting, hoping he'd get hot. 

If you are not getting anything out of Ray on offense, you might as well start Tony Allen. Let Ray be a super sixth man. Many great Celtics have had that role.

[Fred Roberts]

Manu Ginobili is a super 6th at the same position ... and Pop is a great coach. Why not mix it up and use Posey or TA in the starting lineup for better D on the starting 5. I think this idea makes a lot of sense. Ray might get more rest or get into a better flow this way.

I think Cassell is awful. He's been creating more problems on the floor than he solves. More Pierce (or even Ray) bringing the ball up when Rondo is out is fine by me.

[Chief]

Ray might have more confidence playing against 2nd stringers.

[BrickJames]

I think I remember discussing this last week...
http://www.celticsblog.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=64&topic=18212.0