Ray Allen as part-time back-up SF

[LooseCannon]

Or as the biggest guard in a three-guard line-up.

Given how Ray was used last year, we'll probably see lineups like Rondo-Robinson-Allen and Robinson-Wafer-Allen on the floor for limited minutes (maybe 5 mpg), with Ray Allen drawing the assignment of guarding the opposing small forward.  The main difference is that Tony Allen was often in the game in those lineups and he was probably the nominal SF despite being shorter than RA.

How do people feel about Ray Allen matching up against the shorter or weaker small forwards?  When Pierce has been injured, RA has sometimes been the emergency SF starter, most notably in the game vs Toronto where the Celtics started TA at PG and JR Giddens at SG.

If you envision Ray Allen moving to a bench role eventually in his career, it is something he would have to be able to do regularly.  (But not yet.  He needs to be starting because Rondo's jump shot is a pass to Ray Allen.)

[the_Bird]

I think you could see a little bit of this, if and when Quis gets hurt again.  I don't see any of the legit, 6'-6"-ish small forwards who are still available as being guys who would be likely to crack the rotation.  MAYBE Stackhouse, but he's more of a 2-guard than a 3, anyway.  

You could see Nate/Rondo/Ray, but that would be REALLY small - maybe Rondo/Bradley/Ray, or Rondo/Wafer/Ray would be more realistic, based on the players currently on the team.

All predicated on Quis's inevitable injury.

Doc's been unafraid to go with a guard-heavy lineup in the past.  Can't see how you get away with this much against LeBron, but they might be able to play a little smallball against more other teams.

EDIT: FWIW, Ray Allen has played a decent amount of SF for the C's. 

Last year: played 11% of the team's minutes at SF
http://www.82games.com/0910/09BOS7.HTM

2008 - 2009: played 13% of the team's SF minutes
http://www.82games.com/0809/08BOS6.HTM

2007 - 2008: played 9% of the team's SF minutes

He's been playing about 55% of the team's SG minutes over these three seasons, and been on the court about 70% of the time.  So, about one out of every six minutes he's been playing, it's been at the small forward position.

All predicated on 82games' data being accurate; not sure how they assess who the "small forward" when a Rondo/TA/Ray combo is on the floor.

[guava_wrench]

I think you could see a little bit of this, if and when Quis gets hurt again.  I don't see any of the legit, 6'-6"-ish small forwards who are still available as being guys who would be likely to crack the rotation.  MAYBE Stackhouse, but he's more of a 2-guard than a 3, anyway.  

You could see Nate/Rondo/Ray, but that would be REALLY small - maybe Rondo/Bradley/Ray, or Rondo/Wafer/Ray would be more realistic, based on the players currently on the team.

All predicated on Quis's inevitable injury.

Doc's been unafraid to go with a guard-heavy lineup in the past.  Can't see how you get away with this much against LeBron, but they might be able to play a little smallball against more other teams.

EDIT: FWIW, Ray Allen has played a decent amount of SF for the C's. 

Last year: played 11% of the team's minutes at SF
http://www.82games.com/0910/09BOS7.HTM

2008 - 2009: played 13% of the team's SF minutes
http://www.82games.com/0809/08BOS6.HTM

2007 - 2008: played 9% of the team's SF minutes

He's been playing about 55% of the team's SG minutes over these three seasons, and been on the court about 70% of the time.  So, about one out of every six minutes he's been playing, it's been at the small forward position.

All predicated on 82games' data being accurate; not sure how they assess who the "small forward" when a Rondo/TA/Ray combo is on the floor.

No need for the 'if'. Quis will get hurt.

[Cman]

I think you could see a little bit of this, if and when Quis gets hurt again.  I don't see any of the legit, 6'-6"-ish small forwards who are still available as being guys who would be likely to crack the rotation.  MAYBE Stackhouse, but he's more of a 2-guard than a 3, anyway.  

You could see Nate/Rondo/Ray, but that would be REALLY small - maybe Rondo/Bradley/Ray, or Rondo/Wafer/Ray would be more realistic, based on the players currently on the team.

All predicated on Quis's inevitable injury.

Doc's been unafraid to go with a guard-heavy lineup in the past.  Can't see how you get away with this much against LeBron, but they might be able to play a little smallball against more other teams.

EDIT: FWIW, Ray Allen has played a decent amount of SF for the C's. 

Last year: played 11% of the team's minutes at SF
http://www.82games.com/0910/09BOS7.HTM

2008 - 2009: played 13% of the team's SF minutes
http://www.82games.com/0809/08BOS6.HTM

2007 - 2008: played 9% of the team's SF minutes

He's been playing about 55% of the team's SG minutes over these three seasons, and been on the court about 70% of the time.  So, about one out of every six minutes he's been playing, it's been at the small forward position.

All predicated on 82games' data being accurate; not sure how they assess who the "small forward" when a Rondo/TA/Ray combo is on the floor.

No need for the 'if'. Quis will get hurt.

Yes.  Sad, but true.
I'd say backup SF is this team's biggest need right now.  I don't really like the idea of Ray playing the backup, but in a pinch, sure.  Harangody might surprise and be a backup SF as well.  I suppose it will be "backup SF by committee"**

**I still shudder when I remember the Red Sox use of "closer by committee"

[oldmanspeaks]

Ray is quite capable of guarding a great many of the 3s in the league. The problem is that the Cs expect their 3s to be significant rebounders and Ray is very weak in this area. Basically there are a LOT of 3s that would eat Ray up on the boards.

[jdub1660]

I do remember last year or year before that our rotations typically had Ray being the last of the Big 3 subbed out, and he would play SF in that 2nd unit. Not a bad idea at all

So in this case, I'd be all up for the Delonte signing.

Game starts, typical starting 5(Shaq or JO till Perk is good)
then the 2nd unit for a few minutes would be
Rondo, Wafer/Delonte, Ray, JO/BBD, Shaq.
After the starting SF sits(LeBron/Melo) then Quis can come in

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

My first thought was, "Say what?" I didn't realize, though, that Allen's played a bit of SF for Boston already. I think the game of basketball is largely about matchups, and Boston should definitely be willing to run a small team out there if that's what the opponent's doing, and in that scenario, I can see Ray at SF, with the two guards being Rondo/Bradley, Nate/Bradley, Nate/Wafer, Rondo/Nate or Bradley/Wafer (did I get all the possible combos?). The point is, Boston can go small and have several good shooters on the floor. I'm also liking Harangody more and more, and he could end up being solid at SF, especially since he seems to be a pretty good rebounder. And though Wafer's not a SF, but strictly a SG, let's not sell him short -- not yet, anyway. He could end up being a deadly shooter for us.

[xmuscularghandix]

Ray Allen has been doing this for the past two seasons. He’s very capable against backup SFs for limited minutes... especially since he can kill them on cross match-ups.