I for one disagree. But more I really wonder what your point of this post is? You think that if Ray Allen was playing in those games we would have had a better record? Is that what you are implying?
I really don't know how anyone who watched the C's last year game in game out can say that the reason we got on our run was the lack of competition. The reason we went on the run was KG got into shape and started playing like the monster he is and AB stepped up big time and added to the clamp down / lock down def. We were way more athletic and aggressive on both ends and we played to our potential.
So exactly what are you complaining about?
Do people even look at the boxscores. Watching the game is one thing, but when you take a look at the teams they beat, the players who performed and the record. Then compare it to the beginning of the season, you will start to see the real reason why that 20-8 was overrated.
How many days did those 20-8 games come in? No matter the competition ANY team can beat you on ANY given day! A lot of factors of last season made the teams we face harder to defeat than just the players on that team! If it had nothing to do with AB, do you think Doc would have risked Ray's ego and would he change what had been working if it was? I guess Doc and everyone else (the people who really know and not some "fan") must be lying b/c they all credit the change to AB as the catalyst for the better play... mainly b/c of his defense! Before AB moved into the starting lineup KG and PP both had already begun to play much better... we still we losing! Are "you" telling me KG and PP were playing terrible until the last 28 games? Come on now!
The Celtics played the Lakers twice. Two big games for Celtics and Celtic fans right?
The first on February 9th 2012
We lost that game 88-87 .............1 POINT
Kevin Garnett was 6-23
Paul Pierce was 7-18 , 18 points ,did contribute with 7 assists
Ray Allen was a decent 9-20, 22 points
2nd game
Allen 6-13, 17 points, 6 assists
Pierce 4-14 , 13 points
Garnett, 7-11, 14 points , 0 attempts at the FT LINE
All i know is you continue to look at these games. The real reason the Celtics were not better was because these guys either were lazy, or not in shape...
So it made Ray look a lot worse...
That 20-8 record could have easily been 20-8 or better, the way these guys finally kicked into high gear, especially Garnett...
The more and more i see , I begin to think Rondo didnt want Allen here anymore. And that was the biggest reason for Ray's crazy decision
I think Ray Allen is overrated.
He wasn't going to save our offense or drastically improve compared to Bradley's contributions. I'm sure you've taken it upon yourself like many fans to watch games the early part of the season; You would have seen Ray struggling to score in a half court offense, and having our team waste precious shot clock time to try to get him open on curls and screens.
I love Ray during fast breaks where Rondo passes to him as he trails, or when the defense isn't set and make a mistake leaving Ray wide open, but he's a liability now in a half court offense...For the Celtics anyway - we have too few that can dribble penetrate/attract help defense.
Bradley provides so much better man to man defense than Ray - That's a fact, and not really arguable. But on offense, Bradley was and is a more ideal compliment to Rondo. He can move without the ball - one of the best in the league, if you've watched the run. He's also shown flashes of a spot up shooter during the stretch. Bradley
is cherished - but for good reason.