Ray Allen is Team MVP So Far

[footey]

The season is approaching the 1/3 mark, and who among us would have predicted that Ray Allen would be the team MVP. It is not just his incredible shooting stroke. Ray seems very poised on the court, giving the team a great zen like calmness as it dissects opponents on a nightly basis.  I am one of those who assumed that Ray was on a downward trajectory, based on last year. Wow, have I been happy to be so wrong so far.  Also, Ray is such a classy guy. His interviews are always polished, composed, respectful. The only crime is that he was not a Celtic sooner.

I need to tell my wife to get me a Ray Allen jersey for Christmas!!

[Redz]

Two things that have been swirling in my head the last few days.  I'm not sure what's making me feel this way, but:

1) I think Ray's going to lead the C's in scoring this year
2) (unrelated to the topic but since I mentioned the first, I should mention the 2nd) Leon Powe is going to lead the bench in scoring.

From October 24...Well, one out of 2 ain't bad 

Ray's been awesome and a joy to watch

[makaveli]

It's really hard to single out someone, this is best team basketball since...I don't know
It's seams that everyone is doing what they think is best, nobody cares much for stats, records etc.
This is truly become a culure of winning and ubuntu.
So proud of these guys and only thing we can wish is that no injurys occur so that we all can enjoy the spectacular basketball night in night out

[Redz]

Through game 22 the MVP Poll Results bear out your theory.  Ray just passed Rondo for the top spot.  The polls run after each winning game (so that would be pretty much all of them)
                        

	YTD	1st	2nd	3rd
R. Allen	950	5	5	4
Rondo	893	4	6	3
Pierce	773	5	2	2
Garnett	640	3	3	4
Perkins	415	2	2	1
T. Allen	258	1	1	1
Powe	109	0	1	2
Scalabrine	43	0	0	2
House	28	0	0	1
Davis	16	0	0	0

[Fafnir]

Kevin Garnett is the MVP of this team still. Ray has been amazing this year but half of the game is still defense.

Its a lot easier to remember and vote based on great shooting. But ball denial, post defense, pick and roll defense, etc. are all a huge part of this team's success.

Plus KG isn't exactly a slouch offensively. Though that big knee wrap had me a bit scared. Especially when he didn't look great last night.

[Redz]

Kevin Garnett is the MVP of this team still.

Yeh but, Pierce won MVP Poll tally last year

The popular vote isn't perfect.  I'm just the scorekeeper, but I do find the results interesting over the long haul.

I hear what you're saying about KG and it's become so deep in the fabric of our conscience that we might even take KG for granted a bit now. 

However, just last night I had the little butterfly in my stomach reaction to seeing KG in a Celtic uniform.  They happen fewer and much farther between now, but it still amazes me that this guy is a Celtic.  You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but I'm not, and I sort of hope I never am, and continue to be amazed at what he brings to the table.

[celticmaestro]

Yeah, I think KG is the MVP of the team, but this year he's been out-performed by Ray and Rajon and last year by Pierce.

This year, it's a tie between Ray and Rajon for me.

[MBz]

However, just last night I had the little butterfly in my stomach reaction to seeing KG in a Celtic uniform.  They happen fewer and much farther between now, but it still amazes me that this guy is a Celtic.  You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but I'm not, and I sort of hope I never am, and continue to be amazed at what he brings to the table.

Ah, glad I'm not the only one who still feels this way.  Every game, I just look at him and say wow, Kevin Garnett is really a Boston Celtic.  I was in awe all of last year basically until they won it, it was like an amazing dream.

[Redz]

However, just last night I had the little butterfly in my stomach reaction to seeing KG in a Celtic uniform.  They happen fewer and much farther between now, but it still amazes me that this guy is a Celtic.  You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but I'm not, and I sort of hope I never am, and continue to be amazed at what he brings to the table.

Ah, glad I'm not the only one who still feels this way.  Every game, I just look at him and say wow, Kevin Garnett is really a Boston Celtic.  I was in awe all of last year basically until they won it, it was like an amazing dream.

On the same token I feel the same about how good this team is in general.  They've been giving us at least 36 minutes of very high level hoops on a nightly basis for well over a year now. 

We'd go weeks without seeing 36 minutes of good hoops less than two years ago.

[greenwise]

KG has changed so much the spirit, identity and talent of this team that he is, and will be the MVP for as long as he stays in Boston.

It may sound excessive but i think he's done so much for the C's that even if we only get one title his number should go to the rafters. We waited for 22 years, and only KG could change the face of this franchise.

Just imagine when we'll win 2 or 3 more titles in the next 3 years

[drza44]

For a second let's leave stats out of the equation.  Last season I believe it was Gorman that made a comment that stuck with me, that great teams take on the personality of their defining player.

If someone asked you to describe this Celtics team without naming any one player, I'd imagine these would be the most common descriptions: outstanding defense, efficient offense, intense, team-oriented, attitude, edgy, unselfish.  Before last season, I submit that those words would not have been used to describe any of the members of the Celtics except for Kevin Garnett.  And ALL of those words would have been used to describe KG.  This team has been made into his image, which is why Gorman called him the defining player.

That said...Allen is balling out of his mind right now, he's playing exactly the way I expected he would entering last season (which really lends credence to his statement that he played all of last season injured).  And he (along with Rondo) are probably playing the best this season with respect to their expectations.  I wouldn't necessarily call that a team MVP, but I would call it outstanding and if both of them keep it up (with no injuries) this team is ridiculously good.