Tony has looked very good over the past two games. However, it's two games. I'm skeptical that Tony has finally "got it" after six seasons {especially since Bad Tony has made a few appearances already this season), but I suppose stranger things have probably happened.
You can be skeptical all you want, but that doesn't change what's happening on the court. TA's turned a mental corner, and he's accepting his role and thinking the game to an unprecedented extent since his comeback from the knee injury. Just listen to what Doc has to say:
“Tony was phenomenal,” coach Doc Rivers said. “He’s been terrific. He’s just doing the things we need him to do. This is the best stretch that we’ve had him, as far as with this group of guys, where he’s playing his role.”
from
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1220251&format=textEveryone matures at their own rate, and I think TA's finally learned what it takes to get and stay on the court. As Doc noticed, TA's playing his role at an all-time high in the Big 3 era. Even better, I think he's matured into a veteran. During garbage time, he was settling everyone down and getting the team into sets, and taking Lester and JR aside to telling them where to go.
Part of the problem with your evaluational methodology, Roy, is that you don't know where injury rustiness ends and "Bad Tony" begins. I don't think "Bad Tony" has been in sight all season--what I've seen is a guy getting back in basketball shape with the occasional and completely understandable bad pass or dribble. TA hasn't been fully healthy and competing against NBA players since December 1st 2008 when he originally hurt his ankle (which required surgery eventually). It takes a while to get one's rhythm back and that's exactly what was happening to TA early in this latest comeback.
Let's all remember, TA's been back for 6 games and he's been the best player off the bench for 3 of those games.
Tony has looked very good over the past two games. However, it's two games. I'm skeptical that Tony has finally "got it" after six seasons {especially since Bad Tony has made a few appearances already this season), but I suppose stranger things have probably happened.
Why are people still debating this? When healthy and when he gets consistent minutes, he's a very solid role player, nothing more, nothing less.
Exactly. Everyone repeat after KungPoweChicken: when healthy and given consistent minutes, Tony Allen is an above-average player. This latest stretch isn't a surprise. He's healthy again, that's all. He's always played like this when healthy.
It's amazing how this board and certain posters conveniently forget things. For the first 18 games of last season, TA was the best player off our bench by a wide margin. It was only until his December 1st ankle injury that that changed. From that point on, he was battling one injury or another for the rest of the year and his effectiveness was compromised.
Oh please people with all the Tony love. Let's step back off the edge and look at some reality here, like maybe, the quality of the competition he has played against since coming back.
The 6 teams the Celtics have played since coming back have an aggregate record of...get this...53-104. Not really the best of the best, high quality competition there. Tony has played about 2 1/2 good games out of six while playing against the likes of Charlie Bell, Randy Foye, a seriously beat up and hurting Kirk Hinrich, Sam Young, Jason Kapono, and Wayne Ellington.
Yeah, but don't forget Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo, Caron Butler, and Andre Iguodala, four guys TA defended VERY WELL for long stretches in those games.
Not exactly a list of the greatest teams and players of all time there. Let's see how well he plays against the likes of Orlando and Reddick and Pietrus, Phoenix and Barbosa and Dudley, Miami and Wade and Cook, Atlanta and Crawford and Dallas and Terry before jumping on the "Tony's injury excuse is all over and he's playing great again" bandwagon. Because my guess here is that as soon as he starts seeing some less than junior varsity competition, we'll be seeing a lot more of the Tony we've seen before and hearing more and more that Tony's injury is still effecting him.
Sure, Nick, whatever you say. TA's still making his way back from an injury, and playing his way back into shape. So far, in 6 games, he's looked much much better in the first half, probably because his ankle tightens up on him in the 2nd half. Even with those limitations, he's been our best bench performer for 3 of those 6 games. Provided he can keep building on his good health, not suffer any nick-knack injuries or worse, he's going to keep producing, just like he did in the first part of 2008-2009, the last time he enjoyed good health.
TA's had a hell of a time staying health throughout his career, but to ignore the effect those injuries have had on his effectiveness is to ignore reality.
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What TA is doing this season is impressive, especially given the fact that he didn't have a training camp to round into shape. He's limiting his dribble penetrations to two-dribble drives, and showing good awareness of defensive pressure. He's getting to the line, and hitting the occasional jump shot when open. He's hustling in every aspect of the game, getting 1.33 steals a game (2nd best on the team), rebounding the ball very effectively for a guard (in fact, he's rebounding at a rate higher than Rasheed Wallace), getting out on the break and finishing with confidence. He's often guarding the opposing team's best wing player and doing it very well, bringing a physicality and toughness to the perimeter that is much needed. Most importantly, he's doing the post-dunk, semi-blackout, gut-scream, goofy-grin thing after a big play, something which tells me that he's feeling very very good about himself. This is TA's time. He's earned it with hard work and persistence.
Topic: Tony Allen is the Celtics Fan's Early Christmas Present (Read 8557 times)