Ray Reminds me of Hondo

[footey]

Ray plays alot like Havlicek did. Running around on the floor constantly, wearing out his defender, great at coming off the screen, good mix of outside and inside game. Ray has more range than Havlicek, but that can be attributed in part to the 3 point line.  I am not trying to say which guy is better, just that they both have pretty similar styles of play, and are amazingly well conditioned athletes, beautiful to watch.

[Redz]

I love Ray so much.  One of my favorite Celts of all time, but I just can't bring myself to compare him to Hondo.  Havlicek is just held in too much of a legendary status in  my head.  Not sure Ray's the defender Honso was.

[Greenbean]

One thing you mentioned that I agree 100% with is conditioning. RaY is a throwback in that regard. I just want one team to be commited to conditioning like Ray Allen is. They would run every team out of the building.

I want to see a stat that tracks how far Ray runs every game. i bet it's double the rest of the team. I hate to say it but if Paul Pierce, my favorite player, ran around as much as Ray for one game he would collapse.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Ray should just stop doing Shooting videos and make some videos about conditioning.

[Greenbean]

Ray should just stop doing Shooting videos and make some videos about conditioning.

I'd buy it. Actually, maybe Ray will be a coach and coach here!

Even though it's undoubtedly written in stone that he will become a highly successful TV figure, or world leader or maybe somewhere in between.

[rutzan]

you know that is not a bad comparison...as soon as i read that...i got a visual in my mind how they are similar in the way they would curl and cut and then square up to the basket...of course hondo was legendary for running laps around everyone and i think ray is also similar in that regard as well...i don't think people realize how physically demanding it is to keep moving without the ball and fighting through screens to launch a long-range jumper often with somebody in your grill...btw...i went to hondo's last game at the old garden against the buffalo braves and hondo could still play...we'll never know what it would have been like for him and bird to play together...

[RAcker]

I love Ray so much.  One of my favorite Celts of all time, but I just can't bring myself to compare him to Hondo.  Havlicek is just held in too much of a legendary status in  my head.  Not sure Ray's the defender Honso was.

Exactly my thoughts.  The offensive games are comparable, but the defensive game would swing way in Hondo's favor.

[TitleMaster]

we'll never know what it would have been like for him and bird to play together

It would have been great to have had Hondo come off the bench for Bird from '79 to '81. Not sure if it would have meant beating Philly in '80 but still it would have been fun to watch.

[hwangjini_1]

well...i suppose...if i took enough designer drugs or single malt whiskey or tequila...maybe....ray would remind me of havlicek.

but honestly, hondo ran and ran and ran virtually all the time in all directions.

sorry, but i dont really see strong similarities between these two, aside from both being very good players for the celtics. i guess i need to drink more.

[Kuberski33]

Hondo was far better defensively, but Ray is a much better shooter. It's an interesting comparison though.  The mid range jumper, which was a staple back in the 70's and I assume 60's is not nearly as important in today's game. That was a big part of Havlicek's game.  But he didn't have Ray's shooting range. 

[housecall]

Not bad for a 13yr.,34yr.old veteran who so many wanted to ship off to Sac.or whoever else would trade for him a month ago...i know,it was the attractive contract.

[LB3533]

One thing you mentioned that I agree 100% with is conditioning. RaY is a throwback in that regard. I just want one team to be commited to conditioning like Ray Allen is. They would run every team out of the building.

I want to see a stat that tracks how far Ray runs every game. i bet it's double the rest of the team. I hate to say it but if Paul Pierce, my favorite player, ran around as much as Ray for one game he would collapse.

Hmmmmm, apparently Doc Rivers states and has stated that Pierce crushes every other Celtic during drills in training camp and in practice.

Conditioning isn't something we have to worry about with Paul.

Even 15 stab wounds didn't stop Pierce from conditioning his body, just stopped him from lifting & bulking up.

[Greenbean]

One thing you mentioned that I agree 100% with is conditioning. RaY is a throwback in that regard. I just want one team to be commited to conditioning like Ray Allen is. They would run every team out of the building.

I want to see a stat that tracks how far Ray runs every game. i bet it's double the rest of the team. I hate to say it but if Paul Pierce, my favorite player, ran around as much as Ray for one game he would collapse.

Hmmmmm, apparently Doc Rivers states and has stated that Pierce crushes every other Celtic during drills in training camp and in practice.

Conditioning isn't something we have to worry about with Paul.

Even 15 stab wounds didn't stop Pierce from conditioning his body, just stopped him from lifting & bulking up.

Basketball drills are different than the stamina training I have read that Ray does. Ray is into biking, and running distance. Players from the 70's like Hondo were supremely conditioned athletes. They trained for stamina and endurance because the game required more of it than it does today. Today's athletes train for short explosive bursts and overall strength.

That's why I think Ray is able to run around as much as he does.

Point taken though that Pierce is in good shape, especially in the last 2 years. He probably wasn't a great example. However, Ray is in an entirely different kind of cardiovascular shape.