Our leading playoff scorer is... (Ray Allen)

[papa shuttlesworth]

He has been fun to watch.  We knew the offense would be there if he got enough looks and was in rhythm, but I've been really impressed with his defense.  He played Wade pretty well and has played LeBron well at times too.  It seems like he is just doing a good job keeping his body in between the player and the hoop and not trying to reach too much.

When Rondo is pushing the ball and looking for Ray Allen, the Celtics play very well.

[wiley]

Loving Ray.  We are not in this series without his play thus far...

Last night's game was a religious experience, and the saviors were Rondo, Ray and Sheed....along with team-oriented play.

[Greenbean]

Ray Ray is looking buttery shooting the ball this playoffs.

Wheres that RayAllen1964 guy? He usually shows up around this time bashing Pierce and praising Ray. I miss him.

[EJPLAYA]

Ray has been like this the majority of the year. I have said all along that he should be our feature offensive player, not PP. Ray needs to be set up for shots in order to be effective, where PP can create his own. We need to start the game getting him going, and then let PP take over.

The only issue Ray continues to have is that he turns the ball over A LOT going to the rim. If he gets into the paint in a crowd it's not a pretty thing. He needs to recognize when the bigs are staying in there and not attempt to drive. At least pull up short and shoot more often like he will at times. Other than that I think Ray has been great this year. I'd sign him to a bigger one year with a team option for the second rather than a 2 yr in case we are in rebuilding mode in 2 yrs.

[Potapenko Boxout]

For the record, Ray has been effective in defending Lebron since 2007.

[Bankshot]

Yay for Ray!

In '08 he didn't play well against Cleveland and I always thought that series would have been much easier if he had shot well.  Well, he's playing well and the C's look good against Cleveland so far.

[papa shuttlesworth]

Yay for Ray!

In '08 he didn't play well against Cleveland and I always thought that series would have been much easier if he had shot well.  Well, he's playing well and the C's look good against Cleveland so far.

He is playing better now because the Cavs can no longer stick Wally Szczerbiak (the Ray Stopper) on him.

(I am kidding.)

[FatjohnReturns]

Great job by Ray last night. Ray's defense has been underrated for a long time. Go Celtics.

[Roy Hobbs]

Bump.  It's pretty clear to me what team made the best (non-)move at the trade deadline.

[celticinorlando]

ray is getting it done...

[Drucci]

Bump.  It's pretty clear to me what team made the best (non-)move at the trade deadline.

Yep, so glad to see Ray perform so well after being thrown in all these trade ideas and these critical posts saying he was too old. Ray had a huge game but also was huge at the end with his clutch free throws, I never feel more confident than when Ray is at the line with the game on the line.

Plus, seeing Ray play well is usually a good sign for the team's chances of a win, since it shows the ball is moving well (although tonight Ray created a lof of his own shots by driving to the basket).

[coco]

Yep, and for the life of me, I can't understand why some are looking forward to see him go.....as in Ray for whom? but no one can come up with the answer.

At this point in his carreer, Ray falls in the catergory of "he is worth to me more than he would be worth to you" kind-of-guy.

If he must go, I hope it's a sign and trade.  I would hate to see him join LeBron/Wade/Rose somewhere in the EC. 

[Jon]

His defense has been stellar.  His quickness and lateral movement allows him to get in the offender's face and at the same time not allow that man to blow by him. 

Also, Ray, despite being the oldest, is probably in the best physical shape of the Big Three (and is arguably in the best shape on the team after Rondo).  Two more very good years is not out of the question. 

[ManUp]

They way he's playing now makes me wonder what exactly happened the previous 2 years in the play-offs. Was it a slump? Was it injuries? I remember talk about his hamstring last year. Or is Rondo really making it that much easier for him?

[Jon]

They way he's playing now makes me wonder what exactly happened the previous 2 years in the play-offs. Was it a slump? Was it injuries? I remember talk about his hamstring last year. Or is Rondo really making it that much easier for him?

I think part of it is becoming comfortable in his new role.  He was asked to change the most of the Big Three when he came here, going from someone who had the ball a lot, to someone who still shot a fair amount, but on quick catch-and-shoots off screens and kick-outs. 

I don't think he was comfortable doing that for a while.  Now he's mastered it. 

I also think a larger level, that had something to do with our regular season struggles.  I think it really took everyone until the playoffs to figure out how to play as a unit.  With KG out last year, integrating him in with the new Rondo was a process.  And that's not even dealing with Rasheed learning how to come off the bench and BBD learning how to be effective in much shorter minutes.