Don't care what anyone thinks. I want Ray to succeed wherever he is.

[Celtics18]

I was trying to think of what Ray's legacy here might be.  I suddenly thought of Glen Rice on the Lakers.  In 1999-00 they won a title with him as a key role player (3rd best player).  Then they went on to win two titles without him and people rarely remember that Rice was a key part of that first title.  

Only difference is... I don't expect Boston to win any more titles anytime soon... and Ray more than likely will win one or two with Miami.  

Hmm... Maybe in this case Boston will be the forgotten Glen Rice and Ray will be the 3 time champion...

Nevermind.

Really?  Here's rooting for Ray Allen's Celtic legacy being Glen Rice of the '99-'00 Lakers, then.  I had absolutely no recollection of Glen Rice winning a title with LA.

[LarBrd33]

I was trying to think of what Ray's legacy here might be.  I suddenly thought of Glen Rice on the Lakers.  In 1999-00 they won a title with him as a key role player (3rd best player).  Then they went on to win two titles without him and people rarely remember that Rice was a key part of that first title.  

Only difference is... I don't expect Boston to win any more titles anytime soon... and Ray more than likely will win one or two with Miami.  

Hmm... Maybe in this case Boston will be the forgotten Glen Rice and Ray will be the 3 time champion...

Nevermind.

Really?  Here's rooting for Ray Allen's Celtic legacy being Glen Rice of the '99-'00 Lakers, then.  I had absolutely no recollection of Glen Rice winning a title with the LA.

Exactly.  Rice averaged 16 points the first year they won a title.  

Hopefully Boston can rattle off a couple championships and folks will go, "hey remember that first Rondo title?... Ray Allen was actually on that team".  

Highly unlikely it will happen though.

[cman88]

rays legacy will ultimately be the leading 3-point king and a ring chasing mercenary

[BballTim]

I was trying to think of what Ray's legacy here might be.  I suddenly thought of Glen Rice on the Lakers.  In 1999-00 they won a title with him as a key role player (3rd best player).  Then they went on to win two titles without him and people rarely remember that Rice was a key part of that first title.  

Only difference is... I don't expect Boston to win any more titles anytime soon... and Ray more than likely will win one or two with Miami.  

Hmm... Maybe in this case Boston will be the forgotten Glen Rice and Ray will be the 3 time champion...

Nevermind.

Really?  Here's rooting for Ray Allen's Celtic legacy being Glen Rice of the '99-'00 Lakers, then.  I had absolutely no recollection of Glen Rice winning a title with the LA.

Exactly.  Rice averaged 16 points the first year they won a title.  

Hopefully Boston can rattle off a couple championships and folks will go, "hey remember that first Rondo title?... Ray Allen was actually on that team".  

Highly unlikely it will happen though.

  There's no real comparison between Ray and Rice. It's like comparing Ray to someone like Kukoc or Harper because they may have been the 3rd best player on the Bulls.

[illestmcsgt]

Not gonna read all of that because I disagree already with the title thread. I don't want him to succeed it's still a business. If you are with the Celtics I will root for you if not well I couldn't care less. Except for Perkins he was traded and had no choice in the matter of staying or leaving. He's the only non-Celtic I have respect for besides Tim Duncan.

I hope Ray Allen retires with the only ring he won with the Celtics. As we go on to win more championships without him.

[byennie]

  Isn't closely following sports at all immature?

In my opinion, no. It's a hobby, and it's entertainment, which is a perfectly mature thing to enjoy.

What I think is unhealthy, and yes, immature, is getting so wrapped up in it personally that players become "divas" and "traitors" when they don't do what you want. I didn't mean it as a deep judgement on anyone personally. I'm sure there are plenty of otherwise reasonable folks upset. Just calling a spade a spade, again, IMO.

[EJPLAYA]

I agree. Ray is a class act and we really don't know how much of these rumors are true. If so, he did a great job keeping his mouth shut and doing his job. I am thrilled that he spent the last 5 yrs with us was a key part in a lot of wins. I am also thrilled I am able to break down frame by frame his shooting form so that my son can learn to shoot the right way. Best ever.

Thank you Ray for being the Celtic that I could have my boy look up to on and off the court. I do however hope that we meet you guys in the Eastern Conference finals next year and that you are once again watching the Finals from home!

[BC1996]

 Isn't closely following sports at all immature?

In my opinion, no. It's a hobby, and it's entertainment, which is a perfectly mature thing to enjoy.

What I think is unhealthy, and yes, immature, is getting so wrapped up in it personally that players become "divas" and "traitors" when they don't do what you want. I didn't mean it as a deep judgement on anyone personally. I'm sure there are plenty of otherwise reasonable folks upset. Just calling a spade a spade, again, IMO.

I wouldn't consider it immature to label players as "traitors" and "divas".  Many of us are emotionally invested, but it's all within the context of the sports world.  My personal life isn't affected.  When fans use the terms "depressed", "hurt", and "offended", I think the majority of us are applying it within the sports world that we live in.  The Celtics just happen to be a pro team that I'm extremely passionate about.  I care a lot about their success and I'm glad that I do.  More than anything else, sports is a nice release from some of the stress that we all face within our own lives.  

I will most definitely admit that I'm upset about Ray going to Miami.  Being 23 years old, the Big Three represented the very last group of players that I looked up to from my childhood.  On top of that, the way this group came together forever changed the way I watch sports.

Grit, balls, determination, heart and many other traits have become so vital in regards to my level of emotional investment in a team.  These same traits have made me despise many of the Red Sox players.  I've never felt so disconnected from one of my favorite teams.  They don't represent much of anything that I like.
  

[LarBrd33]

I was trying to think of what Ray's legacy here might be.  I suddenly thought of Glen Rice on the Lakers.  In 1999-00 they won a title with him as a key role player (3rd best player).  Then they went on to win two titles without him and people rarely remember that Rice was a key part of that first title.  

Only difference is... I don't expect Boston to win any more titles anytime soon... and Ray more than likely will win one or two with Miami.  

Hmm... Maybe in this case Boston will be the forgotten Glen Rice and Ray will be the 3 time champion...

Nevermind.

Really?  Here's rooting for Ray Allen's Celtic legacy being Glen Rice of the '99-'00 Lakers, then.  I had absolutely no recollection of Glen Rice winning a title with the LA.

Exactly.  Rice averaged 16 points the first year they won a title.  

Hopefully Boston can rattle off a couple championships and folks will go, "hey remember that first Rondo title?... Ray Allen was actually on that team".  

Highly unlikely it will happen though.

  There's no real comparison between Ray and Rice. It's like comparing Ray to someone like Kukoc or Harper because they may have been the 3rd best player on the Bulls.

Glen Rice wasn't as good as Ray, but he was an allstar multiple times, a three point champion, former allstar MVP... both the guys you mentioned were memorable players, but not on the level of Glen Rice.  

My point is that he was the third best player on a title team and once they won a couple without him people forgot how important he was to that first championship.  If we're lucky, the same will happen to us.  But I doubt it... Miami/Thunder are probably gonna be meeting the finals for the next decade.

[BballTim]

I was trying to think of what Ray's legacy here might be.  I suddenly thought of Glen Rice on the Lakers.  In 1999-00 they won a title with him as a key role player (3rd best player).  Then they went on to win two titles without him and people rarely remember that Rice was a key part of that first title.  

Only difference is... I don't expect Boston to win any more titles anytime soon... and Ray more than likely will win one or two with Miami.  

Hmm... Maybe in this case Boston will be the forgotten Glen Rice and Ray will be the 3 time champion...

Nevermind.

Really?  Here's rooting for Ray Allen's Celtic legacy being Glen Rice of the '99-'00 Lakers, then.  I had absolutely no recollection of Glen Rice winning a title with the LA.

Exactly.  Rice averaged 16 points the first year they won a title.  

Hopefully Boston can rattle off a couple championships and folks will go, "hey remember that first Rondo title?... Ray Allen was actually on that team".  

Highly unlikely it will happen though.

  There's no real comparison between Ray and Rice. It's like comparing Ray to someone like Kukoc or Harper because they may have been the 3rd best player on the Bulls.

Glen Rice wasn't as good as Ray, but he was an allstar multiple times, a three point champion, former allstar MVP... both the guys you mentioned were memorable players, but not on the level of Glen Rice.  

My point is that he was the third best player on a title team and once they won a couple without him people forgot how important he was to that first championship.  If we're lucky, the same will happen to us.  But I doubt it... Miami/Thunder are probably gonna be meeting the finals for the next decade.

  You're awfully optimistic, in 7 or so years Miami's big three will be as old as ours was last year. If they don't end up with a Rondo-type of player they won't be contenders then.