TA’s 7 1/2 Minutes

Posted by Zach Lowe on Apr 3, 2009 11880 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2009%2F04%2F03%2Ftas-7-12-minutes%2FTA%27s+7+1%2F2+Minutes2009-04-04+04%3A15%3A02Zach+Lowehttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D1188

Some quotes from a Globe piece on TA’s 7 1/2 minutes on the floor tonight:

TONY ALLEN: “I expected [the rust]. But I got to run up and down, got to look at a few defensive coverages. For the most part I had fun out there.”

TA, Part II: “I got in during the second half and got my rhythm,” Allen said afterwards. “I kind of knew what I wanted to do with the ball.”

TRUTH: “I thought he was a little uncomfortable when he first got out there. But he was able to get out there and get his feet wet.”

DOC: “He’s rusty, but he’s good. You could see it’s just going to take time.”

Interestingly, the Globe says Tony is facing competition for playing time:

That three-minute spell in the first quarter probably wasn’t a fair tryout for a player attempting to get comfortable after missing 22 games, but therein highlights one of Allen’s other problems: competition. 

The Celtics are paper-thin up front with injuries to Kevin Garnett, Leon Powe, and Brian Scalabrine, but Allen returns to a crowded backcourt.

My initial reaction is that I sort of disagree. A healthy TA, to me, has no competition. The second unit has no player like him–an athletic wing with enough size to defend bigger shooting guards and quick small forwards.

I remember Marbury’s second game with the team against Detroit. The Pistons inserted a big line-up for a stretch in the second quarter, and Marbury was forced to guard Walter Herrmann for a half-dozen possessions. Detroit exploited the mismatch on every possession.

Allen’s only 6’4”, so he’s not exactly Herrmann’s height (or, for playoff purposes, he’s not LeBron’s height or Hedo Turkoglu’s height), but he’s close to guys like Andre Iguodala and Kobe Bryant (both 6’6”) and he’s athletic enough to guard guys a bit taller than him. 

If he’s healthy–and he can get the rust off–the C’s will have to play him, even it means cutting minutes for the bench guards (mostly Marbury).