If Ray comes back, he should be starter again

[schabette]

Ray off the bench is not a good idea in my opinion. The so often stated "scoring punch off the bench" is nonsense, it's not what we get from Ray, since he needs someone who can pass him the ball at the right time at the right spot (Rondo). He is indeed a one-dimensional player these days so we need that one dimension to be as much effective as it can get.
You all saw that Ray can't do much more than hit threes and spread the floor. Plus, when the BIG 4 was on the floor together this season, we were the better team in almost every situation. There's just so much chemistry between those guys, and I think Ray is a big part of that.

If you want scoring punch off the bench, Pierce is your guy. He's the one who can score on his own, not Ray. In games where you need to defend your leads, he will deliver some baskets when you need them!

My suggestion would be to sometimes adapt the starting lineup to the opponent. If we're facing a team with a strong SG like the Heat etc. , you start Bradley for defensive purposes. If you're facing a team with a weak SG, you start Ray, he will be much more effective and possibly won't have to defend the ballhandler very often.

[anthony83]

 For me Ray Allen is a starter in any team of the league.

 Perhaps Reggie Miller with 36,37,38 years was in the bench? No.

 Ray is a player like Reggie, I repeat, Ray Allen must be a starter, not Avery Bradley.

[KCattheStripe]

Avery is better than Ray at this point.

[SHAQATTACK]

Ray might not want to return , if he can't start.  He probally bowed to fact he was injured and knew AB was better starter while he was hurt.

Not sure Ray will have the same opinion , once he is healed up .  

I suspect he'll want his starting postion back as part of the agreement to return ...should he return. Which I don't give the Celtics much hope of having him back. But it sucks losing him to the cHeat.  

Think Danny is happy with AB and Rondo and Pietrus. He'll spend his extra money on BIGS is my guess.

[mctyson]

How can you say this when Absolute Zero started 28 games, and we went 20-8?

[xmuscularghandix]

Ray Allen can do one thing well, he can shoot. Players that only bring one thing to the table come off the bench. At this point in his career he's a defensive liability, he has trouble running the floor and scoring in transition, he commits BAD turnovers, and ball handling-wise he might be the worst HOF guard ever.

That being said I'd love to have Ray Allen off the bench for the right price. Kyle Korver is extremely valuable and even at 38 years old Ray Allen is still a MUCH better player.

Ray is clearly not a starter on this team, just like Reggie Miller shouldn't have been starting on those Pacers teams in his mid-30's. The SG of the future is here and it's either time for Ray Allen to accept the backseat or go play somewhere else. KG on the other hand...

[xmuscularghandix]

ALSO. Ray Allen averaged 13pts, 2reb, 1.5 assist off the bench while shooting 40% from deep. That's great production from the bench.

The Celtics went 3-0 in the regular season against the Miami Heat with Avery Bradley starting. Avery played 3 minutes against them in the one loss and Ray Allen was a -12 (lowest of any Celtic).

I love Ray, i own He Got Game, I have his Bucks jersey, he's one of my favorite players... but like Charles Barkley says, "Father time is undefeated."

[eugen]

If he stays helathy, is important to be a starter

[Fafnir]

Avery is better than Ray at this point.

Assuming both full recover from their respective surgeries Avery isn't better as much as he is a better fit.

We need athleticism and defense at the wing with PP slowing down.

[chambers]

Ray is still the man, but he's better suited to playing against weaker bench units.
He's lost his speed, and he's lost his strength.
He's always been a weaker player physically but he can't pass anywhere near hard enough anymore. He gets trapped repeatedly in corners and teams exploit this.
I don't mind him finishing games against certain line ups and he can come in and guard Wade or other top shooting guards for spells, but the fact is that in a 7 game series, we are far better off having Bradley starting and defending Wade for as many minutes as possible than Ray.
Ray's age is catching up with him. He can still shoot the lights out but he's not as quick.

[Onslaught]

Avery is better than Ray at this point.

Assuming both full recover from their respective surgeries Avery isn't better as much as he is a better fit.

We need athleticism and defense at the wing with PP slowing down.

I agree. Ray Allen is one of my all time favorite players. But I'd take a healthy Avery at this point  over Ray.

And I fear there isn't much point in talking about this. I'm about 85% sure Ray will be gone next year anyway.

[Chief]

No!!!!

[green7]

no he should not haven't you learned from last season?. bradley should start he's our joe dumars.

[CelticsFanNC]

  It is no coincidence that the Celtic's started playing far better once Bradley became Rondo's running mate.  This is clearly Rondo's team now so it is imperative that he has players who can play up tempo to best maximize his effectiveness.  Love Ray Allen and all he has brought  to the Celtic's but the TEAM is better with Bradley's young legs and youthful energy then it is with Ray's ability to hit spot up jumpers.

  If we had superior athletes at other positions then Ray's ability to hit open shots would be a great asset in the starting line up but as it is now we don't and desperately need them to compete because without better athletes we don't get to loose balls and don't get out into the open court.  Without easy baskets we can no longer compete with the best teams in the NBA.  That was more then obvious before the All-Star break last season.  We need to get younger.

[wdleehi]

Avery adds some energy and defense to the starting lineup.  I would give it another run.



I might still play Ray more minutes the Avery, but coming off the bench.