I'm not sure what to make of the diretion this thread has gone in. There's quite a bit of over the top statements being made about Ray's ability, in both directions. Ray is definitely not a scrub. He is absolutely better than Steve Novak (good grief!). But he is not the Hall of Fame player he once was either.
It seems to me those defending Ray are trying to hold onto something that just isn't there anymore. He's still a starter in this league, but he's not an All-Star, and is better suited to come off the bench. Ray has too many weaknesses in his game now. He is an average defender and below average ball handler. Sure, he can run for days, but at this point it's more of a "tortise and the hare" comparison. Ray does not have anywhere near the foot speed and quickness he used to.
I've seen it mentioned in this thread that Ray was the one carrying us at the beginning of the season. That's not something to brag about, the Celtics were playing their worst ball of the season and losing a lot of games, with Ray leading the team. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for his ability to lead a team. Quite honestly, that was more than anything, a testamnent to his superior conditioning. Everyone else was gasping for air while Ray was just casually trotting around nailing threes, while barely breaking a sweat.
Ultimately, the C's still need Ray though. He's is still the best 3 point shooter in the game, and is as clutch as anyone. He still can play good enough defense to not hurt the team. He knows all the plays, and has a cohesion with the rest of the starters that in crunch time can be invaluable. He just isn't the player he once was, and is definitely not the most critical piece for the C's. It is possible the C's could manage to get by without his services.
