Why Didn't Doc Bench Ray?

[Bankshot]

I don't understand.  Tony was playing well and Ray wasn't.  It's not like he never benched Ray before.  He's done it in a playoff game.  I know Tony can't shoot, but he'll play great defense and attack the basket.  Both teams were in the penalty, so we could have used some Tony.  And why did Rondo keep passing to Ray when KG was hot and Pierce had just hit a 3?

[Change]

He's been on this team, and you still don't understand. You never bench Ray, he can go 0-12 and still be able to hit a game winner. And he defense was superb. He did a nice job on Kobe. 

I thought the bigger Question was Rondo. This is Rondo.... Dribble, Dribble, Dribble...... wait..... Dribble, Dribble...... Instead of Attack, Attack, Attack.......... Rondo didn't do sh-t in this game & he got burned by fossil names Derek Fisher

For this team to win, Rondo has to stay aggressive.

[ibby]

Because Tony has no jumper.  Honestly what I've read about Ray is the he is OCD with his shooting form.  That's why when he's on (like game 2) he can't miss, because he doesn't alter anything.  When he's off though (like tonight) he stays off.

My guess is Doc (like me) was thinking 'hey, if he hits one he'll be fine' unfortunately he hit nothing.  Everyone is entitled to a bad game, but this looked really bad following Sunday.  And even worse when we were in it until the last 40 seconds.

[mmbaby]

With Ray's last game being so great, I suppose Doc was hoping he'd show up. But when he hasn't shown up by the 3rd qtr, how about substituting with Tony.
I believe Doc knows what he's doing, though.
What is so astounding is how Ray can be the best pure shooter in the NBA on some nights and others he just can't seem to make a bucket at all.
I'm sure Doc and the team will learn a lot from this game and be ready with new strategies here on out. I still believe.

[Redz]

Ray was on the floor during a crucial part of the comeback too. 

[PosImpos]

Nobody else was scoring, and we needed some clutch outside shots.  They didn't fall.  That's on Ray, not Doc.

[Bankshot]

Nobody else was scoring, and we needed some clutch outside shots.  They didn't fall.  That's on Ray, not Doc.

No, the outside shot wasn't working.  The Lakers were in the penalty.  We needed drives to the basket and Tony was doing that when he was in the game.  Tony and Baby were the reason the Celtics got back in the game.  The defense was better with Tony in the game too, so that's another plus.

[Bankshot]

He's been on this team, and you still don't understand. You never bench Ray, he can go 0-12 and still be able to hit a game winner. And he defense was superb. He did a nice job on Kobe. 

I thought the bigger Question was Rondo. This is Rondo.... Dribble, Dribble, Dribble...... wait..... Dribble, Dribble...... Instead of Attack, Attack, Attack.......... Rondo didn't do sh-t in this game & he got burned by fossil names Derek Fisher

For this team to win, Rondo has to stay aggressive.

You don't understand.  Doc has benched Ray before.  This wouldn't be the first time.

[looseball]

Ray was on the floor during a crucial part of the comeback too. 

He was on the floor all night.

[vinnie]

He's been on this team, and you still don't understand. You never bench Ray, he can go 0-12 and still be able to hit a game winner. And he defense was superb. He did a nice job on Kobe. 

I thought the bigger Question was Rondo. This is Rondo.... Dribble, Dribble, Dribble...... wait..... Dribble, Dribble...... Instead of Attack, Attack, Attack.......... Rondo didn't do sh-t in this game & he got burned by fossil names Derek Fisher

For this team to win, Rondo has to stay aggressive.

Great point on Rondo. Aside from the poor shooting games by Ray and Paul, way too many times tonight Rondo dribbled the ball until the shot clock was running down and then the Celts got off a bad shot. Part of that, however, was the result of solid LA defense.

[Bankshot]

^Right about Rondo.  He kept walking the ball up the floor instead of attacking.  Pushing the ball is the only way we win, imo, so I don't know if he was tired or not.

[bobdelt]

I don't understand.  Tony was playing well and Ray wasn't.  It's not like he never benched Ray before.  He's done it in a playoff game.  I know Tony can't shoot, but he'll play great defense and attack the basket.  Both teams were in the penalty, so we could have used some Tony.  And why did Rondo keep passing to Ray when KG was hot and Pierce had just hit a 3?

Because we needed to score we were behind. Ray spreads the offense out, even if his shot isn't falling. TA can't hit a free throw to save his life. Going with TA would have been a huge gamble. I'd still rather give Ray an open look for 3 then let TA touch the ball in the final 2 minutes of game.

[FallGuy]

He's been on this team, and you still don't understand. You never bench Ray, he can go 0-12 and still be able to hit a game winner. And he defense was superb. He did a nice job on Kobe. 

I thought the bigger Question was Rondo. This is Rondo.... Dribble, Dribble, Dribble...... wait..... Dribble, Dribble...... Instead of Attack, Attack, Attack.......... Rondo didn't do sh-t in this game & he got burned by fossil names Derek Fisher

For this team to win, Rondo has to stay aggressive.

Great point on Rondo. Aside from the poor shooting games by Ray and Paul, way too many times tonight Rondo dribbled the ball until the shot clock was running down and then the Celts got off a bad shot. Part of that, however, was the result of solid LA defense.

Most of that was a result of L.A.'s defense. A lot of times Rondo was standing at the top of the circle watching for the play to develop and to deliver the pass. L.A. often chased Boston off its first and second actions on their sets. Not exactly Rondo's fault although it looks like that sometimes.

[nickagneta]

This is real simple, You do not bench a guy that can turn a game around with a couple of outside shots when there wasn't another player on the court that could hit outside shots.

Pierce was in foul trouble all night. That meant Tony Allen had to be playing. Once KG sat, without Ray, there's no threat of an outside shot and without a threat of an outside shot to space the floor LA packs it in and Boston will have major problems scoring.

Ray, even cold, is a threat to hit and keep hitting at any time. He must stay in the game as a threat to hit the outside shot so that space opens up for Perk, pierce, KG, Rondo and the rest of the Celtics to operate inside when they need to.

You don't bench Ray for that reason, because he's your best three point threat and because he just went off and the chances of him going 0 for the game the next game are unfathomable.

[Who]

I would always choose to leave Ray in the game. He is too large of a threat to go off at a moment's notice and drain a bunch of big shots.

I was happy Doc left him on the court.