Thank God for Jesus (Shuttlesworth)

[mctyson]

Say your prayers at night, we are incredibly lucky to watch arguably the greatest shooter in NBA history wear Celtics green.

The Heat game would have finished as a 20-point (or more) blow-out if we didn't have Ray Allen.

Count me as one who has zero concerns about the guys age or health.  He is a machine.  And in my oppinion he doesn't shoot the ball enough.  He should be putting up 10 threes a game, at least. 

When Pierce and Pietrus are back its game on.  Can't wait to make Bosh cry again.

[Drucci]

As I said in the game thread, it almost looked like Ray got younger during the lockout. Incredible performance yesterday and yet we're not that surprised since we're accustomed to it!

What amazed me the most, once again, was his off balance 3 pointers and the way he managed to get open repeatedly, despite running like a madman for 40 minutes. In the 4th, he looked as fresh as 40 minutes before.

(With that said, let's hope he doesn't put a "0/10" back to back performance tonight against the Hornets like he usually does after great games )

[chambers]

His shooting is great but he has become a liability in half court offense in the corners- teams are consistently trapping him.
They are also targeting him in isolations, and when he tries to guard guys like Wade, it's pretty ugly at times.
 I hope it's just rust but his decision making has been pretty questionable the first two games.
Only two games though, and I'll take his three point shooting any day.

Hopefully we can run that zone more and eliminate his loss of speed on defense, whilst using his ability to get open off screens on the other end.

[BballTim]

His shooting is great but he has become a liability in half court offense in the corners- teams are consistently trapping him.
They are also targeting him in isolations, and when he tries to guard guys like Wade, it's pretty ugly at times.
 I hope it's just rust but his decision making has been pretty questionable the first two games.
Only two games though, and I'll take his three point shooting any day.

Hopefully we can run that zone more and eliminate his loss of speed on defense, whilst using his ability to get open off screens on the other end.

  I agree that he's got issues, but when you say "guys like Wade" you're looking at a very small list. Which teams have guys like Wade that they can exploit Ray with?

[chambers]

His shooting is great but he has become a liability in half court offense in the corners- teams are consistently trapping him.
They are also targeting him in isolations, and when he tries to guard guys like Wade, it's pretty ugly at times.
 I hope it's just rust but his decision making has been pretty questionable the first two games.
Only two games though, and I'll take his three point shooting any day.

Hopefully we can run that zone more and eliminate his loss of speed on defense, whilst using his ability to get open off screens on the other end.

  I agree that he's got issues, but when you say "guys like Wade" you're looking at a very small list. Which teams have guys like Wade that they can exploit Ray with?

Well he is going to have to come up against Wade in 7 games in the playoffs at one point or another.
He's also going to have to guard(as far as potential playoff match ups go)
*Shumpert+Fields (young+quick)
*Rip Hamilton(quick)
*Phillies young bucks
*Danny Granger (quick)
*Wade(another level)

I know the list isn't too lethal but for example.
1st Round: Granger
2nd Round: Hamilton
ECF: Wade...

Then Durant or Kobe in the finals?

I'm not saying he's cooked and it's only two games in but it's something to keep an eye on. It could be his legs aren't up to par just yet with the short pre season.

Hopefully we will play zone the entire series vs the Heat and this will nullify their speed advantage like it did tonight.

[BballTim]

His shooting is great but he has become a liability in half court offense in the corners- teams are consistently trapping him.
They are also targeting him in isolations, and when he tries to guard guys like Wade, it's pretty ugly at times.
 I hope it's just rust but his decision making has been pretty questionable the first two games.
Only two games though, and I'll take his three point shooting any day.

Hopefully we can run that zone more and eliminate his loss of speed on defense, whilst using his ability to get open off screens on the other end.

  I agree that he's got issues, but when you say "guys like Wade" you're looking at a very small list. Which teams have guys like Wade that they can exploit Ray with?

Well he is going to have to come up against Wade in 7 games in the playoffs at one point or another.
He's also going to have to guard(as far as potential playoff match ups go)
*Shumpert+Fields (young+quick)
*Rip Hamilton(quick)
*Phillies young bucks
*Danny Granger (quick)
*Wade(another level)

I know the list isn't too lethal but for example.
1st Round: Granger
2nd Round: Hamilton
ECF: Wade...

Then Durant or Kobe in the finals?

I'm not saying he's cooked and it's only two games in but it's something to keep an eye on. It could be his legs aren't up to par just yet with the short pre season.

Hopefully we will play zone the entire series vs the Heat and this will nullify their speed advantage like it did tonight.

 I don't see Ray spending a ton of time on Granger or Durant and Hamilton and Fields don't really scare me. Agree about the zone vs Miami though.

[jdz101]

Ray and Rip Hamilton are similar sorts of players off the ball in offense and ray is just plain better IMO.

[chambers]

His shooting is great but he has become a liability in half court offense in the corners- teams are consistently trapping him.
They are also targeting him in isolations, and when he tries to guard guys like Wade, it's pretty ugly at times.
 I hope it's just rust but his decision making has been pretty questionable the first two games.
Only two games though, and I'll take his three point shooting any day.

Hopefully we can run that zone more and eliminate his loss of speed on defense, whilst using his ability to get open off screens on the other end.

  I agree that he's got issues, but when you say "guys like Wade" you're looking at a very small list. Which teams have guys like Wade that they can exploit Ray with?

Well he is going to have to come up against Wade in 7 games in the playoffs at one point or another.
He's also going to have to guard(as far as potential playoff match ups go)
*Shumpert+Fields (young+quick)
*Rip Hamilton(quick)
*Phillies young bucks
*Danny Granger (quick)
*Wade(another level)

I know the list isn't too lethal but for example.
1st Round: Granger
2nd Round: Hamilton
ECF: Wade...

Then Durant or Kobe in the finals?

I'm not saying he's cooked and it's only two games in but it's something to keep an eye on. It could be his legs aren't up to par just yet with the short pre season.

Hopefully we will play zone the entire series vs the Heat and this will nullify their speed advantage like it did tonight.

 I don't see Ray spending a ton of time on Granger or Durant and Hamilton and Fields don't really scare me. Agree about the zone vs Miami though.

Well who is he going to guard then?

*For the Pacers it's Granger or Paul George (George is their 3 man and taller than Granger).

*For the Thunder its Sefalosha or Durant.

I mean Ray could guard Sefalosha if you want Pierce on Durant?
Don't want Ray guarding Westbrook or Sefalosha really.
OKC does create a match up problem for us.
Come playoffs they may start Harden at the 2 spot, Durant at 3 and Westbrook at point, bringing Sefalosha off the bench.

It's true that Hamilton and Fields will probably be washes, I'm   just concerned about the elite 2 guards, particularly Wade.

[BballTim]

His shooting is great but he has become a liability in half court offense in the corners- teams are consistently trapping him.
They are also targeting him in isolations, and when he tries to guard guys like Wade, it's pretty ugly at times.
 I hope it's just rust but his decision making has been pretty questionable the first two games.
Only two games though, and I'll take his three point shooting any day.

Hopefully we can run that zone more and eliminate his loss of speed on defense, whilst using his ability to get open off screens on the other end.

  I agree that he's got issues, but when you say "guys like Wade" you're looking at a very small list. Which teams have guys like Wade that they can exploit Ray with?

Well he is going to have to come up against Wade in 7 games in the playoffs at one point or another.
He's also going to have to guard(as far as potential playoff match ups go)
*Shumpert+Fields (young+quick)
*Rip Hamilton(quick)
*Phillies young bucks
*Danny Granger (quick)
*Wade(another level)

I know the list isn't too lethal but for example.
1st Round: Granger
2nd Round: Hamilton
ECF: Wade...

Then Durant or Kobe in the finals?

I'm not saying he's cooked and it's only two games in but it's something to keep an eye on. It could be his legs aren't up to par just yet with the short pre season.

Hopefully we will play zone the entire series vs the Heat and this will nullify their speed advantage like it did tonight.

 I don't see Ray spending a ton of time on Granger or Durant and Hamilton and Fields don't really scare me. Agree about the zone vs Miami though.

Well who is he going to guard then?

*For the Pacers it's Granger or Paul George (George is their 3 man and taller than Granger).

*For the Thunder its Sefalosha or Durant.

I mean Ray could guard Sefalosha if you want Pierce on Durant?
Don't want Ray guarding Westbrook or Sefalosha really.
OKC does create a match up problem for us.
Come playoffs they may start Harden at the 2 spot, Durant at 3 and Westbrook at point, bringing Sefalosha off the bench.

It's true that Hamilton and Fields will probably be washes, I'm   just concerned about the elite 2 guards, particularly Wade.

  Sefalosha brings too much offense for Ray to handle? Really?

  Ray will have a reasonably easy time vs OKC when Westbrook's in the game because whoever he's covering won't get the ball a lot. And I'm pretty sure that PP generally covers Durant when they play.

[Marcus13]

Ray is still so cold.  He'd still be averaging 20 if he didn't play with Pierce.

Long Live Jesus.