Evans Clinchy NESN article about Ray Allen

[snively]

Plus, the author of the article is quite biased when he says : "But his shooting has been sporadic. With a three-point percentage of 34.7 percent, Allen is having his worst season ever offensively."

He should mention that Ray is taking way more twos than threes this year, and that he is shooting 45,6% this year from the field, better than his career average.

Ray's percentage of made 3's is down but we're only halfway through the season and it will clearly improve.

Yeah, that's really lazy analysis on the author's part.

How about "Ray's eFG% of .522 -- which measures his efficiency when taking both two point basket and threes into account -- is almost exactly the same as his career average of .523.  Similarly, his TS% (also account for free throw percentage) is near his career average (.573 vs. .575).  Since a slow November, Ray has greatly improved on the offensive end, despite slumping in the past two games".

That's a much more accurate take on Ray's offensive game.

You bring a great deal of rationality to the discussion, but I believe there's more to the Ray bashing than gut reactions to a bad November and 2 bad games in a row. 

We've been witnessing a steady erosion of Ray's all-around game for the past 2.5 seasons.  His rebounding, defensive impact and shot-creating ability have declined incrementally.  His superb performance in the Finals and his incredible marksmanship last year helped distract from those concerns, but now that his shooting percentage has slipped to the lowest levels since his arrival in Boston, the feeling is that this part of his game is no longer going to cover the rest.

It's not good enough for Ray to match his career eFG% when the rest of his game has declined so much.  Otherwise Raja Bell and Anthony Parker will make better comparisons than D-Wade, Vince Carter and Joe Johnson.

[BballTim]

Plus, the author of the article is quite biased when he says : "But his shooting has been sporadic. With a three-point percentage of 34.7 percent, Allen is having his worst season ever offensively."

He should mention that Ray is taking way more twos than threes this year, and that he is shooting 45,6% this year from the field, better than his career average.

Ray's percentage of made 3's is down but we're only halfway through the season and it will clearly improve.

Yeah, that's really lazy analysis on the author's part.

How about "Ray's eFG% of .522 -- which measures his efficiency when taking both two point basket and threes into account -- is almost exactly the same as his career average of .523.  Similarly, his TS% (also account for free throw percentage) is near his career average (.573 vs. .575).  Since a slow November, Ray has greatly improved on the offensive end, despite slumping in the past two games".

That's a much more accurate take on Ray's offensive game.

Good points, Roy.  The article's analysis was just that:  Lazy.

In interpreting the numbers you posted, do you think there should be any consideration given in comparing current numbers to career averages to account for 1) switching conferences, 2) going from being 1st option to 3rd or so, and/or 3) going from less efficient to more efficient offensive teams?

  Switching conferences doesn't generally affect stats much, does it? I think it's more the pace of the team you switch to.

[PLamb]

My concern with Ray isn't his overall effectiveness but his efficiency from long range

His job since he has been here has been to be the consistent 3 point shooter for the starters as that weapon and the respect that weapon has to be given from opposing defenses helps to space the floor and prevents his man from sagging off and double teaming or playing the passing lanes

If Ray's overall efficiency in his shooting is about the same but has shifted to a more two point based attack with less emphasis on the ability to make the three point shot that could definitely effect the way playoff defenses play the Celtics as a whole

He is taking less jump shots this year than he has in some time

He's taking less three point shots than he has in a decade and making the lowest percentage of three point shots in his entire career

This is not just a little slump anymore it is half the season

If his reluctance to take three continues and he continues to make much less of them as he has in his career coaches of teams the Celtics play will definitely see this and adjust which will make things difficult inside for Perk to score and Paul and Rondo to drive

Also his defense is definitely worse and his eFG% allowed is the highest it has been since he's been here

I still love Ray but I thought the other side of the argument needed to be expressed as well

If the C's don't trade him which they probably won't they just better re-sign him to an extremely favorable contract like a two year with a team option in the second year as Reggie Miller is one of the only shooting guards ever to have the type of shooting success he did at the age he did

[thebat]

I think Ray will explode anytime soon. Just like to 50 point explosion he had with the Bulls playoff game.

He'll be fine. Let's stick to RayRay!

[JIMTONIK]

If I'm the GM, I will resign Ray at less expensive conditions, then I will take a young guard to go with, so he may learn something from one of the best shooters of all times.