Ray press conference introduced in Miami going on now

[NYDan]

Ray Allen, ever the politician.

And Pat Riley is ready to raise his jersey up into the Miami rafters, that's cute. Wish the season started today, I'm ready to beat them right now.

[JSizzle95]

I notice that Miami likes to use the word "family" a lot. Been hearing that a lot in the last few days and hearing it again today. I really think they knew Ray was feeling sad about what had happened to him this past season and worked on him with this "family" routine.

I think it worked and at the same time, I kind of feel like Boston has gotten away from that "family" atmosphere. It sold Ray in this case. He feels wanted by them.

The Celtics can do more to extend that "family" feeling. Everyone knows its a business and so on, but we've let some players feel expendable who were valuable to us. And in the end, they get away from us. Sometimes reaching out more goes a long ways.

P.S. Seeing Ray on the Heat is heartbreaking.   

I think it's because Riley sees himself as the Godfather.

[D Dub]

Taking the offer of the highest bidder would be honorable thing to do....

So now home town discounts are dishonorable because Ray took less to leave? Talk about torturing logic.  

who said anything about home town discounts?  We're talking about a cornerstone player taking a min deal from a front-runner rival when his contending-still home team offered bigger $ and a better on-court role.

That's Ray Allen making an emotional decision, not a business one.

Betcha a tommy point that if the Mavs had matched/beat our Jason Terry offer, he sticks with the home team.  

Ray Allen chose Spite over Character.

[GreenFaith1819]

And the crying continues. No signs of perspective on the horizon for some of our more emotionally unstable fellow fans. No, rather it's a turbulent cycle of crying, whining and venting. Lather, rinse, repeat. The dirty not-so-secret truth of the matter is the comments section of Celtics Blog has always been a repository of quite a bit of anti-Ray bias, right from the day the trade with Seattle was announced. And certainly nothing written here about Ray since he signed with Miami is that much worse than what was written about him during the first two rounds of the 2008 playoffs. Listen to those people back then, and Ray was never going to be a "real Celtic" like PP, and he was never going to be immune from the "what have you done for me lately" mentality that KG earned right out of the gate. So it's kind of amazing to see this hysterical outpouring of anger and hurt now that he's gone. I'd bet the farm that the most vitriolic commenters now are the same geniuses cooking up trades for Ray two months ago. Likewise, the classy commenters now showing a modicum of appreciation and restraint are probably the ones who actually liked the guy all along and would have the most reason to feel injured.   

Brutally honest.

But after seeing some of the comments here on CBlog waaaaayyy back when I was just a visitor to this site back in the day, I saw the same comments about Ray Allen.

Did not see the press conference, and for me it is probably for the better.

I still wish him the best, though - just not against us.

I don't think that us as fans will truly ever know the complete truth, either.

We can form our opinions, based off of what the media has leaked out.

But in Ray's mind, he knows why he left - and that is all the truth he needs.

[Lord of Mikawa]

Pat Riley said Kareem played his best at age 37. You tellem Pat.

Riley would say some s*** like that.

[BballTim]

Ray will have a lot of running to do. He thinks Rondo is bad. Wait until Wade, James and Chalmers get a hold of a break. The Heat fast-breaks a lot.

I suspect those possessions will be over before Ray can even get into them. I rather anticipate a lot of sitting in the corner twiddling his thumbs.

Some more fun facts (Courtesy of Synergy Sports):

Ray scored more points running off of screens per-game (4.64) than the entire Heat roster (4.24).

Ray Allen made 52.1% of his unguarded catch and shoot jump shots in 2012. 173 NBA players didn't even shoot as well at the rim.

  Just curious, but do you have the unguarded catch and shoot numbers for Miller, Jones and Battier?

[popcontest]

Ray said he, Danny and Doc will be friends for life. And they are glad he's gone b/c he won't be taking their money on the golf course any more.

He had to crack that joke because he was just about to cry before he said it -- and he needed to break the tension.

His fake smile holding up his new jersey said it all. He knows he made a mistake. That press conference was insightful, but it just ended up making me feel sad.

[Lord of Mikawa]

When my contract is up with Celticsblog, I'm shopping my services to the highest bidder. I don't feel I get the same respect as IP, Don, Roy etc. 

I'm on a six year deal with a no trade clause. So my position is safe...for now lol.

[Celtics Fan]

Ray said he, Danny and Doc will be friends for life. And they are glad he's gone b/c he won't be taking their money on the golf course any more.

He had to crack that joke because he was just about to cry before he said it -- and he needed to break the tension.

His fake smile holding up his new jersey said it all. He knows he made a mistake. That press conference was insightful, but it just ended up making me feel sad.

Yea me too it was tough seeing ray talk just like at the end of game 7. Ray was every emotional and he did this all off emotions. Can't wait to see his book written by Jackie Mac or Bob Ryan. And let's not forget his heart is in Boston and I'm sure he is living there after retirement. You know I find it funny Cat shady Riley was talking about retiring ray jersey yeah ok Ray you know all your work was done before you reached Miami so when it time to walk up to Springfield I expect you to retire in Celtic Green.

[blink]

I thought the same thing at the point of the golf joke.  He is trying to lighten the mood so he can feel better and kind of sidestep all the C's questions.

Personally, I think he made a mistake.  I wasn't all for keeping him as the starter, but I think he would be more integral to our team than he will be in miami no matter how Riley spins it.  Just a sad thing to watch.  I should have never turned it on.

Ray said he, Danny and Doc will be friends for life. And they are glad he's gone b/c he won't be taking their money on the golf course any more.

He had to crack that joke because he was just about to cry before he said it -- and he needed to break the tension.

His fake smile holding up his new jersey said it all. He knows he made a mistake. That press conference was insightful, but it just ended up making me feel sad.

[Mencius]

Not watching, but I am seeing the Twitter feeds from media.

Got a chuckle when I heard that Riley hopes to retire Ray's number in the rafters in Miami. That's like getting elected prom king when you're home-schooled.

Gotta fill the rafters somehow. Bet you ten cents our #34 is better than theirs.

No doubt.  Didn't those fools retire Jordan's number too, even though he never played for them?

[Celtics Fan]

Now on CSN NE they are showing the celtics courtside and then Ray Allen press conference. Ok guys Ray is all over the place he will be forgiven and it wouldnt suprise me when he comes back he get a big ovation. I believe him when he said I'm always will be a Celtics. He answer my questions and that's enough.

[Change]

He looked uncomfortable up there. Regret creeping into his mind.

[Mencius]

Was Ray Allen ever truly a Celtic?  If he was, he would have embraced the 6th Man role.  He didn't.  

He would have thought about finishing out his career here(at double the pay) in order to get his number in the rafters.  He didn't.  

He would have had enough respect for the Celtics' owner (who rescued his career by bringing him to Boston) by returning his phone calls.  He didn't.

Ray Allen was never a Celtic.  He was a hired gun who played one third of his career here - someone who chose to become a basketball vagabond because his delicate feelings were hurt.

Go to hell, Ray Allen.    

TP. He takes HALF! the money (and a reported no trade offer) to go to our hated enemy that we have battled in the playoffs for 3 straight years. I don't know how he could look PP and KG in the face again.  People use war analogies about sports all the time, probably because sports elicit such passion.  How he could turn his back on his comrades and go to our enemy for half the money is beyond me.  It's unforgivable.

[BballTim]

When my contract is up with Celticsblog, I'm shopping my services to the highest bidder. I don't feel I get the same respect as IP, Don, Roy etc. 

I'm on a six year deal with a no trade clause. So my position is safe...for now lol.

  As long as you don't get amnestied...