Why Are We Assuming that Ray Allen Won't Start?

[Vermont Green]

I keep seeing posts that are based unequivically on the assumption that Avery Bradley will be the starter and that Ray will come off the bench.  Things like "he may go here or there because he can start" or "Ray won't come back because he wants to be a starter".

The only time Ray didn't start was when he was hurt and when he was being eased back in to full minutes.  Does anyone actually have any statements from Doc that would confirm that Bradley is the starter going into next year?  Are people just making a prediction that Bradley will beat out Ray?

For the record, I think if Ray is recovered, he should and will start.  Bradley will be perfect as a bench combo gaurd.

[AB_Celtic]

I keep seeing posts that are based unequivically on the assumption that Avery Bradley will be the starter and that Ray will come off the bench.  Things like "he may go here or there because he can start" or "Ray won't come back because he wants to be a starter".

The only time Ray didn't start was when he was hurt and when he was being eased back in to full minutes.  Does anyone actually have any statements from Doc that would confirm that Bradley is the starter going into next year?  Are people just making a prediction that Bradley will beat out Ray?

For the record, I think if Ray is recovered, he should and will start.  Bradley will be perfect as a bench combo gaurd.

Our starting lineup doesn't need more scoring options. Our bench does.

[Vermont Green]

I keep seeing posts that are based unequivically on the assumption that Avery Bradley will be the starter and that Ray will come off the bench.  Things like "he may go here or there because he can start" or "Ray won't come back because he wants to be a starter".

The only time Ray didn't start was when he was hurt and when he was being eased back in to full minutes.  Does anyone actually have any statements from Doc that would confirm that Bradley is the starter going into next year?  Are people just making a prediction that Bradley will beat out Ray?

For the record, I think if Ray is recovered, he should and will start.  Bradley will be perfect as a bench combo gaurd.

Our starting lineup doesn't need more scoring options. Our bench does.

So you are saying that is just your prediction that Doc will have Ray play off the bench?

[celticinorlando]

ray allen won't start anywhere...not in miami, not in boston, maybe in phoenix but that looks like a rebuild out there

[thirstyboots18]

I, personally, believe that RA will start.  Doc said, in his interview with ESPN, that people were only assuming that we would get rid of people, when Danny said we need more pieces. He said we need a stronger bench so that Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnet and Ray Allen could get more rest.  To me, that indicates that Ray is a starter, and he is still a better player than AB...especially in situations like the playoffs, where, before he left because of injury, AB looked a little lost.

[wdleehi]

Defense.



I think when all are healthy, AB starts. Ray plays more minutes.

[GronkSpike]

I would love to have Ray back (not for $6M per though), but at one point we were 10-1 without him in the lineup and 17-4 when AB was getting 15+ minutes.

I believe AB will improve this year, Ray if he comes back I think can improve slightly from last year only, considering it was one of his worst, but beyond that he will be on full decline due to his age. Besides he can provide much needed scoring off the bench.

The only situation where I would start him would be the playoffs and only if completely healthy. Still if AB improves like expected, I would probably make AB a full year starter (inc. post)

[wdleehi]

I would love to have Ray back (not for $6M per though), but at one point we were 10-1 without him in the lineup and 17-4 when AB was getting 15+ minutes.

I believe AB will improve this year, Ray if he comes back I think can improve slightly from last year only, considering it was one of his worst, but beyond that he will be on full decline due to his age. Besides he can provide much needed scoring off the bench.

The only situation where I would start him would be the playoffs and only if completely healthy. Still if AB improves like expected, I would probably make AB a full year starter (inc. post)

Why not 6 million per?  Will not effect the Celtics ability to use the MLE. 

[thirstyboots18]

Defense.



I think when all are healthy, AB starts. Ray plays more minutes.

If both are healthy, I think Ray starts, AB plays more minutes.  ha ha ha   One of us us bound to be right...

[wdleehi]

Defense.



I think when all are healthy, AB starts. Ray plays more minutes.

If both are healthy, I think Ray starts, AB plays more minutes.  ha ha ha   One of us us bound to be right...

We say that and someone else ends up starting and playing more minutes.   

[GronkSpike]

Why not 6 million per?  Will not effect the Celtics ability to use the MLE.  

I'm still waiting to see how the rest of FA unfolds. I don't know, just don't feel too comfortable paying him $6M when he will be 38 walking towards 39 (2nd year of the contract). But I guess I wouldn't mind...It all depends on what Green/Bass get.

[CoachBo]

Good question.

Which begats another: Exactly how do you take the performance of a player on one leg and extrapolate that into a definite decline?

Answer: You don't.

I'll believe Allen is in decline when I see him struggling on two good legs.

[RJ87]

If Ray Allen is coming back as a starter, I want to resign him even less. I can't stress enough how refresing it was to see another player getting out on the break with Rondo. That infusion of young legs really helped spark us in the second half (along with KG's move to the 5). I don't think its a coincidence that Rondo had the most consistently high level stretch of his career sharing the backcourt with AB.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I keep seeing posts that are based unequivically on the assumption that Avery Bradley will be the starter and that Ray will come off the bench.  Things like "he may go here or there because he can start" or "Ray won't come back because he wants to be a starter".

The only time Ray didn't start was when he was hurt and when he was being eased back in to full minutes.  Does anyone actually have any statements from Doc that would confirm that Bradley is the starter going into next year?  Are people just making a prediction that Bradley will beat out Ray?

For the record, I think if Ray is recovered, he should and will start.  Bradley will be perfect as a bench combo gaurd.

I'm not getting into whether RA will start or not but that bold part is wrong... when RA played a game Doc never eased him back into minutes! Even though AB was the starter every time RA suited up he was playing more minutes than anyone that isn't in the "big 4". Even the first game he would be back out there Doc ran him like it would be his last day out there. I don't know how many times I have heard Doc say "If Ray is playing, I'm gonna play him"... a lot for sure.

[BudweiserCeltic]

If Ray Allen signs, he'll be our starter. First and foremost, the only reason Ray Allen became our sixth man was solely because our team had finally gotten in a good roll and we didn't want to mess with what was working, after that it was solely because Ray Allen was quite injured.

Not to take anything away from Bradley since he was playing exceptionally well at the end of the season.

But remember, Bradley is now the one who is injured. He apparently won't be back until December, and unless Ray somehow is playing awful or gets injured, the assumption that Bradley will have his starting spot waiting for him is quite flawed.