People need to get real. Saying Courtney Lee could be better than Ray Allen is a stretch. Lee has done nothing to suggest that he is a Hall of Fame caliber player let alone an All-Star caliber player. He is a solid NBA player. Ray Allen has averaged 20ppg over 15+ seasons in the NBA and has a career 45% fg avg. and 40% 3p avg.
Courtney Lee's percentages are promising; but he is not a volume scorer (career avg. 10 ppg).
I hope he has alot more to show us and may be a better fit in the long run; but we lost one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. Danny has done a great job replacing him with JET and Lee. Just hoping we can figure out how to use the flexibility that we have with this lineup.
Yeah, I think the 'I'm glad Ray walked because Courtney Lee is better' is pretty dead wrong.
But for the role Ray Allen would've had here, I do think Lee brings some new dimensions. Better defense being most prominent.
I mean, Ray when he's healthy is a 17 ppg guy shooting 40% from 3.
But Courtney Lee, when he's healthy, is an 11 ppg spot up shooter (mostly) who still shoots 40%, but mostly because he plays within himself. He's one of those guys (like Battier) that get 'he doesn't do what he can't do' as a strength.
But Ray Allen, his role is diminishing here, his defense has really fallen off, and for what we need from Lee, I think Lee will provide it.
He's not better, he's not gonna be a danger in every close game to throw out daggers to the heart, he's not that guy. But for what we need with the wings we've got, Lee is a great option.