The evolution of Tony Allen: 4 years later, he still has "potential"

[TradeProposalDude]

The title of the thread basically sums up what I'm about to say. But if you have elected to read on, please do.

I remember Tony's rookie year - he was one of the most athletic players in the NBA. He may still be athletic today, but the way he finished around the rim with power is something we've yet to see ever since. We all know what happened when he hit that rookie wall sometime around the 2nd half of that season - he never recovered. In fact, he had gotten so inconsistent that Doc chose to start Delonte over him at SG in the playoffs.

After year one, he had lots of potential that was guaranteed to be tapped into sooner or later, until a bar-room fight that damaged his knee and sidelined him for a good portion of the '05-'06 season. We all saw in spurts what Tony could do once again despite the decline in raw athletic ability, but the name of the game yet again was his inconsistency.

And of course, not to neglect the emphasis on his potential, potential, potential.. and did I say potential?. But by now, people began to question whether Tony's potential was now a mere pipe dream. Who knows if it would ever re-appear. After all, concerns regarding his mental toughness by this point was already well documented. Could it be that his short lived success that made him an instant fan favorite his first season would never be replicated again?

'06-'07 showed us signs that it just might, however. Although he was no longer freakishly athletic, he became the slasher, penetrator, and defender that we all knew he was capable of being. While Pierce sat out with a cast on his foot, amidst all the losing that at the time was not a bad thing, we got to witness some of our best young talent perform on a nightly basis while being handed big time minutes. Tony took advantage of this opportunity and made strides, and blew us all away with the magnitude of improvement from his prior disappointing years which only made people hope rather than feel assured of his future.

As we recall, he elevated his game to a level that us fans were hopeful he'd reach at some point or the other, but were ambivalent or too "not in the know" to conclude whether or not he'd get anywhere close to there. We all wished well for him because his zeal on and off the court was special. His constant circles of energy visible during games from the sidelines, jumping up and down in exuberance at seemingly the littlest of things, was infectious on the rest of the team; I definitely witnessed a change in the demeanor of the bench specifically because of Tony's enthusiasm and appreciation of his lot in life.

Needless to say, his season ran short because of a devastating injury. The word potential had once again needed to be thrown into every Tony Allen discussion from that point on barring a major improvement that he'd never ever look back on, because once again a roadblock prevented us from seeing the Tony Allen we knew he was capable of thriving as over a full course of a season, due to extenuating circumstances that just make you shake your head.

Since that game against the Pacers at home, with the exception of a few solid games (the LA game on the road really stood out), Tony has ceased to live up to expectations casted upon him from his rookie year. Let's face it, while he may have only been a 25th overall pick, we know he could have potentially done more damage than the average low first rounder. It's hard seeing a guy who'll be entering his 5th season needing to prove his critics wrong about his clear, blatant "holes" that will be hooked upon and drawn in by his naysayers as if he was about to commence on his rookie season all over again. For Tony's sake, after all this hard work, I just hope he makes it. I don't know how I'd define "making it," but we'll see how it works out this coming year, and from there making that indication shouldn't be too difficult. So if by any chance Tony ends up failing in his comeback effort, now expected to play without that 15 pound brace on his knee and ready to fill in for the big shoes Posey filled, I will be very, very disappointed. Not just for the team - but for a guy who worked too hard to fail.

[Shaqzilla]

A couple a season ago Tony averaged 19 points a game within a 14 game span with over 50% shooting. He also torched Kobe in the 1st Laker Celtics game in the regular season. Kobe shot 6-25 that game. If Doc says he's our best perimeter defender I'll believe him. If he says Tony Allen will have a breakout season i believe him too. Also please don't sleep on J.R. Giddens because he's a good defender and being a shooting guard who leads his conference in rebounding says a lot about his effort.

[DimpusBurger]

He hasn't even played two years back-to-back yet.  Perfectly reasonable to say he's still got potential.

[xmuscularghandix]

He hasn't even played two years back-to-back yet.  Perfectly reasonable to say he's still got potential.

i still have my hopes of tony being a career celtic, and a major contributor.

[Roy Hobbs]

I think the problem most of Tony's critics have with him come from the mental, rather than the physical, side of the game.  He hasn't made much progress on that end in four years, and it tends to be very frustrating.

[CoachBo]

TP, Roy.

Exactly. Mental mistakes. Dozens of them. Turnovers galore.

VERY difficult from my experience to just flip a switch and start playing intelligently.

[help D]

Admittedly, I have not pored over the stats of that great run that he had 2 years ago, or the play he has exhibited when he starts. But a common thread is there from watching the games: when Tony gets regular minutes, he is productive and comfortable out there. I think that's a truism for most players, give them a defined role and regular minutes and they can settle in to their routine and be ready. I know that's not always possible in life, in the NBA, or under Doc.

I think the onus is on Doc to give TA a regular role and let him do his thing. Tony, in a 6th man role, can fill in for 3 positions if needed and is due to break out this year - given that he stays healthy, has a defined role, and gets regular burn.

One aspect of Tony as a Celtic that has not been mentioned a lot lately is that his presence on the bench was always supportive and enthusiastic. He and Eddie House were regularly standing, waving towels and supporting his teammates, even though TA was generally rooted to the bench. Easy to sulk but he played his role at the time and supported the team in that way.

Now let's see him support the team by taking it to the hoel, locking down the perimeter and amping up the energy levels on the first team, the bench mob, or as towel waver.

[Evantime34]

I think the problem most of Tony's critics have with him come from the mental, rather than the physical, side of the game.  He hasn't made much progress on that end in four years, and it tends to be very frustrating.

It makes sense that he would have mental mistakes. Players grow out of (or at least lessen) mental mistakes through experience. You can't improve the mental aspect of your game without playing. What makes me hopeful about his season was last time he was two years off of an injury. He blew up during that span, because of his aggressiveness. Unless he plays legit minutes it is difficult to feel comfortable enough to be aggressive but not too aggressive that he's turning it over and fouling. With a defined 6th man role he will thrive.

[Mr October]

Best of luck to Tony on tapping into the rest of his potential. When can we offically tag him as - He is what he is?

A lot of Point Guards and Centers take a while to get it (either physically or mentally). Swingmen kinda are what they are after 2 or 3 years.

There are plenty of resonable excuses: injuries, up and down minutes, etc. Those excuses are going to dry up soon.

[nickagneta]

At what point does the expression "untapped potential" become "unreached potential"? I want to know because I'm pretty sure Tony may have gotten there last year.

How long is a team supposed to wait and pay for a player to reach his potential? Sure in some cases it is very easy to see. Marcus Banks and Gerald Green come to mind. They both had tons of potential but it was fairly easy to determine that they would never reach anywhere close to the perceived initial reading of their potential.

Are the Celtics enamored with Tony's potential or have they at this point figured out that he is what he is and for this team and the role they need from him that that is okay? Has it occured to Tony Allen fans that the Celtics are no longer banking on him reaching his potential and that they are just paying him to be the very good defensive wing with the inconsistent shot, that has trouble dribbling and turns the ball over a bunch?

I think that's why Tony is still on this team and I believe his potential has nothing to do with it. If Posey signed Tony was history. He's here to be a wing stopper and nothing more.

I just refuse to believe that once a 1st round draft pick has been in the league past his rookie contract, that teams still look upon those players as having potential. They pay those players for what they are not what they can be.

[Bankshot]

I think the "potential" is still there for Tony.  As some have stated, he hasn't even had back to back healthy years yet.  A lot of players play their best ball in their prime years (28-31? years old).  How old is Tony?  26?

[Dchuck]

At 6'4 he has to have better handle than he currently has.  I hold my breath every time he touches the ball behind half court or, actually, above half court for that matter.  If he is supposed to be a slashing two guard and a potential backup PG at times, he has to dribble A LOT better!

I mean A LOT BETTER!

[mhbhaecceity09]

Danny has demonstrated that he understands the concept of "role player."  By re-signing House and Tony, he chose to add two players who, whatever their vices, contribute certain unique virtues to the Boston Celtics' team character. 

House is a shooter/scorer with ice water in his veins.  Every good team needs a guy like that off the bench.  Because he's (mostly) passable at everything else required for his position, he brings more to the table than he takes off.

Tony Allen is a high energy guy, a slasher, "instigator" and capable perimeter defender.  Like Rondo, TA ocassionally will make a play and thereby create points or possessions for the team that few players could or would make.  Yes, his play can be inconsistent; however, for a little more than 2 million per, what do you expect?  At worst, presuming he stays healthy, he provides the team a true competitor on both ends of the court that can be let go the summer of '10, when real retooling can be attempted.

 A factor not to be overlooked: both players are well-liked, good teammates, and genuninely decent people (the shooting incident notwithstanding).  There's also something to be said for continuity. In light of all these fact, and recognizing his limitations, I believe TA has earned another two years.  Let's hope he makes the most of them.

[TradeProposalDude]

TP to Nick. It may no longer be a debate about his untapped potential, but rather, the role he is expected to perform in from now on.

I can accept the argument that if Posey re-signed, Tony would be history. He was re-signed because his main strengths matched up with the main needs of the Celtics to fill this offseason.

I just wonder if Tony will be given enough run to prove himself on a big enough stage where he'll be competing with Ray Allen for playing time. That is where the untapped potential debate comes into play. I love Ray Allen, but with two years left on his current deal, and given his age (33), Danny & Doc are inevitably forced to prepare for a sudden decline or injury. That is why one can effectively make an argument that Tony Allen was not only signed to be a perimeter defender. He is also being looked at as someone who can be a starter in the long run. After all, James Posey is a career "come off the bench role player." A darn good one at that. But Tony Allen has a chance to be much better (no disrespect to Posey).

[Roy Hobbs]

... and genuninely decent people (the shooting incident notwithstanding).

That cracked me up.     Tony has the "shooting incident", plus another brawl at Oklahoma State, on his resume', so I'm not sure I have enough facts to conclusively label him a genuinely decent person.

By all indications, though, he is well-liked on the team and is a good teammate (I'm willing to forgive the griping to the media about playing time in the playoffs, because I think that was 1. media driven and 2. understandable).