My opinion on Rays struggles

[jr_3421]

To me the "problem" has been Rondo. At the beginning of the year, it was crazy how many wide open looks he was getting, especially in transition. Ray was was knocking down those open shots and getting into a rhythm so it was easier to hit those wrap around mid range jumpers.

Now I don't see any open looks for Ray and it's no coincidence it's when Rondo has been slumping. I also think Shaq's presence will help Allen as well.

[Senninsage]

Ray hasn't been asserting himself nearly enough.

I see all these teams with far lesser quality players with defenders right there in their face, and they just pull and knock it down right in their defender's face. Ray has one of the quickest triggers in the entire league, and for some strange reason, he doesn't do that nearly as much as he should. He shouldn't only take a shot when he's wide open. I'm stunned that he has opted for this less aggressive style lately.

He has gotten the open looks, he has gotten the screens, he has dribbled enough to give himself an opening, and he's still not pulling the trigger a lot of times. He has a pregame ritual where he takes all kinds of shots from all over the court. Why isn't he actually taking more of these shots that he practices in an actual game?

For the Celtics to go anywhere, they need Ray to start playing like Ray. Look at the Bulls tonight. They lived and died by their best players taking shot attempts, and living with the consequences. Ray and many of the Celtics' other top players have to start doing more of the same.

Green, also, just like he did in the Wizards game, needs to also stay aggressive. And, some may not feel this way, but we need Glen Davis to continue being aggressive in looking for his offense. He has been a very good scorer for us a number of times this season, and it becomes that much tougher to beat us when he's contributing well offensively.

Either way, Ray Allen needs to be the same Ray Allen that he was for most of this season for us to be as dangerous as we can possibly be.

[pengaloo]

To me the "problem" has been Rondo. At the beginning of the year, it was crazy how many wide open looks he was getting, especially in transition. Ray was was knocking down those open shots and getting into a rhythm so it was easier to hit those wrap around mid range jumpers.

Now I don't see any open looks for Ray and it's no coincidence it's when Rondo has been slumping. I also think Shaq's presence will help Allen as well.

I think a big reason why Ray isn't getting those open looks is because he's not running up the floor as quickly and spotting up at the 3pt line like he's supposed to. Same with Pierce. Now, we just see Rondo take the ball to the hoop himself, and often missing the layup. I wouldn't be surprised if the reason Rondo's missing so many layups is because he's still thinking about getting the ball to Paul/Ray even when he's releasing the ball for the layup.

[Senninsage]

Kobe tonight went 8-21 tonight in their game against the Spurs. That's the kind of the thing the Celtics's best offensive players must be willing to do in order to win games. The Celtics' stars don't take nearly enough shots sometimes, especially Ray, which usually leads to those nights where we just can't score the ball enough. Somebody has to be willing to have a really screwed up looking shooting percentage.

I'll settle for nights where various Celtics players take a number of shots, and they just don't go down, but we can't have nights where our guys aren't getting off enough shot attempts. We find ourselves in situations far too often where we are relying on being super efficient. Sometimes you have to throw efficiency out the window and just score the ball.

[wiley]

ray is not bouncy.  he needs rest.  doesn't matter how good a shape someone is in.  Being in shape is the starting point of course, but it can't prevent wobbly leg syndrome....

once the legs have become wobbly, getting them back isn't as easy as a day off.....hope this week helps..

[looseball]

ray is not bouncy.  he needs rest.  doesn't matter how good a shape someone is in.  Being in shape is the starting point of course, but it can't prevent wobbly leg syndrome....

once the legs have become wobbly, getting them back isn't as easy as a day off.....hope this week helps..

Ray , at age 35, has averaged 36 mpg. so far this year.  It's caught up with him.  Fatigue comes on gradually and goes away gradually.  But we need it to disappear immediately.
A few days off will help, and then playing shorter stints will help, also.
(I don't see shorter stints happening, though.)

For comparison:
Derrick Rose (age 22)  37.5 mpg
Kobe Bryant (age 32)  34 mpg
Paul Pierce (age 33)  35 mpg

I think Doc feels we lost Game 7 last year because we didn't have home court advantage, and he gambled on playing Ray and Paul big minutes all year in hopes of getting that #1 seed.

[Capricious]

Ray has played the 12th most minutes of any player in the nba. Pierce is at 23rd.  Its funny when you look at the other names - all younger guys.

[Marcus13]

Ray has played the 12th most minutes of any player in the nba. Pierce is at 23rd.  Its funny when you look at the other names - all younger guys.

That's not funny at all.

It's ignorant as can be