This team CANNOT WIN a championship without Ray Allen

[RajonRondo9Dime]

I'm tired of the anti Ray talk. I'm tired of the unrealistic expectations of a 21 year old kid.

Ray Allen's impact on this team is huge. Forget the LARGE number of huge shots he has hit over these past 5 years (and it's a very large number) the spacing, playing decoy, ect. ect. ect.

We need him. It literally bothers me to hear the negative talk about him. He has done nothing but help this franchise win. Even playing incredible defense in the playoffs over the years.

If Ray was playing tonight, we win, IMO. We didn't hit a single 3 pointer tonight. Bradley is going to be a fine player, but this stage is just flat out too big for him right now..

Walter Ray Allen, please get well soon.

[CelticSooner]

I agree. C's would definitely need him against Chicago and Miami. The bench is shaky at best even with him.

[thestackshow]

I'm tired of the anti Ray talk. I'm tired of the unrealistic expectations of a 21 year old kid.

Ray Allen's impact on this team is huge. Forget the LARGE number of huge shots he has hit over these past 5 years (and it's a very large number) the spacing, playing decoy, ect. ect. ect.

We need him. It literally bothers me to hear the negative talk about him. He has done nothing but help this franchise win. Even playing incredible defense in the playoffs over the years.

If Ray was playing tonight, we win, IMO. We didn't hit a single 3 pointer tonight. Bradley is going to be a fine player, but this stage is just flat out too big for him right now..

Walter Ray Allen, please get well soon.

Ray Allen didnt show up at all in the 2008 series vs the Hawks, and has historically not shown up in the playoffs except for a few games in his Celtic career.

I dont get why you think Ray will all of the sudden be some huge scorer for the entire playoffs, he is a streak shooter, its a coin flip if hes going to have it for a series, and judging by how neither KG or PP had it for the first half, I wouldnt expect Ray after missing all this time to have it either.

[thestackshow]

Ray Allen needs to suck it up and go stand in a corner and shoot 3's it aint hard. I dont care if his ankle is hurting, sit in a corner and dont move much, he doesent play defense anyways lol.

[GreenFaith1819]

Agreed.

As for stackshow, it is obvious that you dislike Ray Allen.

Don't worry...you are no different than those of us who've dislike Paul, KG, Rondo, TA, Perk, Glen, etc.......over the years.

As for your statement that Ray Allen hasn't historically shown up in the playoffs for the C's....can you please provide some statistics....links....player comparisons, etc....to back your claim?

By now, everyone who reads this blog knows that you are an ardent Ray Allen non-supporter.

And that is ok.

But as for statements like - "hasn't shown up historically in the playoffs".....can you please provide credible links....proof?

I do have at least ONE game that he showed up BIG TIME:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RciLe9SUqVM

Another:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usWQ0CF6K0s

Another:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xxuUpt4CfQ&feature=related

One more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-5KyyjRF7k&feature=related

I think there are a few more out there.

It is ok to have a dislike for a particular player here on the blog - that is your right.

But, to be honest - your dislike for Ray Allen is at another level..

[j804]

Ray Allen needs to suck it up and go stand in a corner and shoot 3's it aint hard. I dont care if his ankle is hurting, sit in a corner and dont move much, he doesent play defense anyways lol.

This is just stupid smh

[Celtics4ever]

We played good ball without him for stretches this season.   Would we be better with him, absolutely.  But I think he is easily the least valuable of the big three.  He is really missed in games like last night because our shooting was terrible and that is his forte.

[2short]

This is a team, a team who has lost jeff green, chris wilcox, jermaine oneil and other players for stretches.  This team needs everyone.  I think people are pretty quick to forget that ray has also done nice defensive jobs for us in past playoffs.  We need his shooting but we also need pierce to be playing at a much better level that he did last night.  Rondo pretty much carried the team last night

[Roy H.]

I agree, as well.  Ray is a big piece of this team, and is a important component of any of our potential success.  We certainly could have used him last night.

[pearljammer10]

I havent really seen too much "negativity" towards Ray, but its clear we could use him. To say we are better without him is a ridiculous. anytime a team can add the leagues career leading three point shooter and add 14 to 15 points a game, that is obviously going to make your team better. To think otherwise is just silly.

[clover]

It of course would be/have been nice to have him, but they're nowhere near favorites even with him.

[celtics2]

Seriously or deliriously this team isn't going to win a Championship with a healthy 10 year younger Allen. At best would be a good account of an aging team.

[Celticsfan336]

Stackshow your anti ray allen talk shows you are not a celtics fan or just ignorant.

Ray Allen has taken over games in the playoffs. He won us a PIVOTAL game in the championship LA series, the Bulls series, etc.

The things he does for our offense is undeniable. Avery Bradley stands in the corner and has backdoor cuts that work, yes. But Ray Allen runs around like a rag doll tiring out the defense, and his defender (who would probably be JJ) but also keeps the defense switching and with all the off - ball back screens its hard to have an easy defensive possesion with Ray Allen.

To say ray allen hasnt had an impact in the playoffs and wont is rediclous he is the greatest shooter of all time........and having him is a HUGE asset.

How many times was Avery Bradley wide open for a 3 ? I think like 6 times ATLEAST, and he missed all the ones he attempted. Teams wouldnt dare to leave Ray wide open.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Defenses are worried about Ray Allen. Tht alone makes a bit easier to run the offense.

Either off the bench or starting, we need Ray. It'll be much more of a long shot without him.

[mctyson]

As I said in another thread, if you take the 3 point shooting from last night's game and make it equal between both teams, the game is a tie.

Not having Ray makes us a much worse 3-pt shooting team.  Atlanta can hit 3's, and we were lucky Joe Johnson missed all of his. 

We have to defend the 3 better without Ray, or we will lose this series.