Ray says he wouldn't mind coming off bench

[j804]

I guess he was asked he's obviously not going to say NO he wouldn't, but it seems he might welcome it and get more touches. Doc would never do it.   

The Celtics [team stats] want Ray Allen back. The Celtics need Ray Allen back. But in what role?

It is important to note that the club’s recent run of success has been generated mainly by using lesser opponents as steppingstones. Such will not be the case beginning today against Miami when the Celts open a stretch of seven consecutive games against teams in the NBA’s higher classes, including two matchups with the Heat.

But it is impossible, as well, to avoid the fact the Celtics have won nine of the 10 games Allen has not played this season and that they’ve done so by setting a strong defensive tone early.


Rajon Rondo wasn’t speaking of Allen specifically, but his comments on the C’s six wins in the last seven games were instructive.

“I think we’re in a good rhythm right now defensively, and if we can continue to start the game with getting stops and getting easy buckets, we’ll be fine,” Rondo said.

The team’s strong starts beg the question of whether it would be better for both the Celts and Allen to bring him in off the bench when he does return, perhaps as early as today, from a sore right ankle.

For his part, Allen says he would graciously accept such a move if coach Doc Rivers sees fit.

“If it makes us better offensively, I have no problem with it,” Allen said.

If the change is made, it clearly wouldn’t be a swipe at Allen, who is posting some of his best shooting numbers, including 45.9 percent on 3-pointers. But beyond the fact the Celts have been getting into a good defensive groove to open games, making Allen more of an offensive focal point with the reserves possibly could stretch out the scoring.

Often with the starters, the ball doesn’t find Allen, who usually gets his looks when a play is run all the way through.

“Yeah, I’m kind of floating out there,” he said.

The subject was first raised with Rivers more than a week ago, before Mickael Pietrus suffered a concussion. The coach said at that time he’d rather have Pietrus coming off the bench with his defensive energy.

Now Avery Bradley has been starting and doing well.

“Trust me, if there’s a lineup out there, we’ve thought of it,” Rivers said. “This probably came up for the first time three years ago. But you’re always giving up something. We can move Ray, but then he’s not playing with Rondo and he doesn’t get looks. I mean, I think it’s simple until you actually do it.”

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/20220401bench_points_for_ray_cs_could_be_better_with_allen_in_reserve/

[jojowhite10]

I think we're gonna see a few looks with Bradley, Rondo, Pierce, Allen, and KG out there for minutes at a time. If Pierce can step up and get the boards in that predicament it'll offer up a nice breather for the likes of Bass and also be a dynamic scoring option both in the halfcourt and the fastbreak.

[drza44]

One easy solution would seem to be to bring Ray in at the 5-minute mark when KG comes out.  Would let the team's jump squad defense set the tone in the first 5 minutes, then Ray would get to come in and play with the starting unit sans Garnett for several minutes and probably the whole first quarter with Rondo.  This would seem to logically address the concerns that I've seen raised, if there really is desire for Bradley to continue to start.

[clover]

Ha--Ray says he'd go to the bench to help the offense, when it is the starting defense that'd really get the lift.

[ThaPreacher]

I guess he was asked he's obviously not going to say NO he wouldn't, but it seems he might welcome it and get more touches. Doc would never do it.   

The Celtics [team stats] want Ray Allen back. The Celtics need Ray Allen back. But in what role?

It is important to note that the club’s recent run of success has been generated mainly by using lesser opponents as steppingstones. Such will not be the case beginning today against Miami when the Celts open a stretch of seven consecutive games against teams in the NBA’s higher classes, including two matchups with the Heat.

But it is impossible, as well, to avoid the fact the Celtics have won nine of the 10 games Allen has not played this season and that they’ve done so by setting a strong defensive tone early.


Rajon Rondo wasn’t speaking of Allen specifically, but his comments on the C’s six wins in the last seven games were instructive.

“I think we’re in a good rhythm right now defensively, and if we can continue to start the game with getting stops and getting easy buckets, we’ll be fine,” Rondo said.

The team’s strong starts beg the question of whether it would be better for both the Celts and Allen to bring him in off the bench when he does return, perhaps as early as today, from a sore right ankle.

For his part, Allen says he would graciously accept such a move if coach Doc Rivers sees fit.

“If it makes us better offensively, I have no problem with it,” Allen said.

If the change is made, it clearly wouldn’t be a swipe at Allen, who is posting some of his best shooting numbers, including 45.9 percent on 3-pointers. But beyond the fact the Celts have been getting into a good defensive groove to open games, making Allen more of an offensive focal point with the reserves possibly could stretch out the scoring.

Often with the starters, the ball doesn’t find Allen, who usually gets his looks when a play is run all the way through.

“Yeah, I’m kind of floating out there,” he said.

The subject was first raised with Rivers more than a week ago, before Mickael Pietrus suffered a concussion. The coach said at that time he’d rather have Pietrus coming off the bench with his defensive energy.

Now Avery Bradley has been starting and doing well.

“Trust me, if there’s a lineup out there, we’ve thought of it,” Rivers said. “This probably came up for the first time three years ago. But you’re always giving up something. We can move Ray, but then he’s not playing with Rondo and he doesn’t get looks. I mean, I think it’s simple until you actually do it.”

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/20220401bench_points_for_ray_cs_could_be_better_with_allen_in_reserve/

Ray should come off the bench!  Show him John Havlicek and Kevin McHale videos!

[Fafnir]

Glad Doc realizes how dependent on Rondo Ray is for his shots.

[Amonkey]

I think in both cases with Avery and Ray Allen, it doesn't matter if they're starting as long as they're playing with Rondo. Seems like Rondo is the glue to this whole team and if they're playing with Rondo, then they'll get good looks.

[Eja117]

I bet Doc is going to give dirty looks to Ray for a week

[clover]

I think this quote from Rondo is telling:

“I think we’re in a good rhythm right now, defensively. And if we can continue to start the game with getting stops and getting easy buckets, we’ll be fine.’’

Sounds to me like he likes the dynamic of starting with Bradley.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2012/04/01/division_leading_celtics_brace_for_daunting_foes/?p1=Well_Sports_links

[Chief]

Doc Rivers is a fool. He makes it sound like Ray would be out of the league without Rondo. The guy is a future HOF, played many years without Rondo, I'm sure he could get his offense playing with other people.


Good for Ray though. At least he's saying all the right things. Very professional.

Finally, I wonder why Rondo gets so mad at "things" sometimes?

[Celtics4ever]

This is exactly why I thought we would move Ray before the trade deadline.

[BballTim]

Doc Rivers is a fool. He makes it sound like Ray would be out of the league without Rondo. The guy is a future HOF, played many years without Rondo, I'm sure he could get his offense playing with other people.

  Being a future HOFer isn't the same thing as playing like he's 30 years old.

[CelticG1]

I don't think it is a big issue either way. It's a good thing that we have this problem. Avery should be playing a lot more minutes, which it seems he is capable of.

The main concern is being able to go with what we need during the game. It will be difficult task to balance these guys out especially since they have completely different skill sets. If we aren't playing well people will say (and doc will probably second guess himself) Bradley should be in right now, or vice versa.

I don't think it is huge who starts or who doesn't. It's about utilizing both these guys to the best of their abilities and I don't think it is as easy as some people thing (start player x player y come off the bench)

The one thing we know is that Bradley needs more minutes than what he was getting with Ray in the lineup and he needs more minutes at the 2. Shouldn't be too much of an issue with pietrus out

[Chief]

Doc Rivers is a fool. He makes it sound like Ray would be out of the league without Rondo. The guy is a future HOF, played many years without Rondo, I'm sure he could get his offense playing with other people.

  Being a future HOFer isn't the same thing as playing like he's 30 years old.

You are right. That Ray Allen was scoring 25 points a game. All we need, this Ray Allen to do, is score 14 points a game. Something I am more than sure he can do from the bench.

As far as people making the point about Ray's production with Rondo. You assume just because Ray might come off the bench that he would never share floor time with Rondo. I'd bet half of Ray's minutes would be playing with Rondo. Especially the closing minutes where Ray has always been so clutch.

[cltc5]

I look for doc to totally jack this up like he does all the time....not giving players rest, not playing young talent, not calling timeouts when ur team is clearly winded, not running the offense from time to time through pierce.