AP
I’m going to make this quick since, well, last night’s game doesn’t deserve much analysis. Something in particular has ticked me off lately though. This team’s inability to get Ray Allen, their best offensive weapon, the freaking basketball.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Ray’s been hot lately. Hell, he’s played tremendous since the All-Star break, and has heated up even more in the last 10 games, shooting a sensational 42 percent from downtown.
He carried the Celtics for three quarters against Cleveland, finishing with 33 points on 10 of 17 shooting (6 of 9 from deep). These numbers came despite the team going away from him offensively, for nearly the entire final frame as the team’s offense stalled.
You’d think the C’s would learn from their mistake right? Wrong. Last night, once again Ray came out hot.He shot 5 of 6 in the first half. Hit a couple from deep. Got to the rim at will. As far as I was concerned, 6 shots in the half wasn’t nearly enough for Ray Ray. They should have kept feeding him at every opportunity as far as I was concerned, until The Knicks proved they could stop him.
So what happened in the second half? Three shot attempts in 14 minutes. Zero in the fourth quarter. And one blown attempt to get him the ball for the final shot, even though everyone in the arena knew the Knicks would be denying him to get that shot, with the C’s needing a 3 and only one other real threat from deep on the floor in Pierce. (Sheed doesn’t count)
There’s plenty of blame to go around for these two games. Rajon Rondo is the distributor, it’s his job to realize who deserves the ball out there. He, more than anyone else, looked like he could give two sh*ts about that game last night. I trust this will change when the games matter……oh wait last night, a win could have tied the C’s for the 3 spot.
Then there’s Doc Rivers, who keeps on calling plays for Paul Pierce in late game situations, as he did with the team down 1 with 36 seconds left last night. Pierce drove, was triple teamed in the lane, and made an ill advised pass to KG to turn it over. I’m sorry, but Ray Allen has to be an option, if not the primary option on this play.
I love The Truth to death, but he’s just not “right” offensively as of this moment. I don’t know whether it’s injuries, focus, or what, (probably a little of everything) but he hasn’t been on his game in the last couple weeks.
Doc, as a coach, should be able to figure this out and adjust accordingly, especially when you have one of the best shooters on the planet being underutilized, while also playing his best ball of the year.
And here’s the kicker. The Celtics played NO defense last night, yet they still could have easily beat the Knicks in a shootout. They put up 119 points against the freaking Cavs on Sunday. The Knicks are one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Obviously the C’s were careless with 18 turnovers, that limited their opportunities.
However, if you want to dog it defensively, I’m not cool with that, but at least get the ball consistently to the player to the guy who can put up points with the best of them. That means Ray Allen needs to shoot more than 9 times.
So I beg you Doc Rivers, realize that Ray Allen is your best offensive option right now. Get him 15 shots a game. I don’t want to see KG taking 21 foot jumpers at the top of the key. I don’t want to see Paul Pierce shooting from the midrange where he is just making 34 percent of his attempts (career low for Pierce).
I want this team to live and die offensively with the healthiest member of the C’s Big Three right now, especially in crunch time.
Get the ball to Jesus.
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Ah, remember earlier in the season? “What’s wrong with Ray? Is it just a slump or the beginning of the end?”
Not only am I (like everyone) loving that the stroke is back, but it seems he’s driving more over the last month or so, balancing his game more, reconnecting with his Seattle role as a scorer and not settling for just being a shooter. Are my eyes deceiving me? Got any season-long shot charts that show Ray’s selection trends this year?
AMEN AMEN AMEN. He’s the best option on the team. The big drawbackl is that it does take work, and TEAMWORK, to give Ray options once he catches the ball.
That takes effort that the team just does not consistently get to. All five guys aren’t committed to working three screens and 15 seconds to get Ray a quality catch.
It drives me nuts because defenses are at the C’s mercy when Ray catches, a big man is moving (perk to the hoop, Sheed, KG to open J’s) and there is still two great guys able to use the other half of the court in Rondo and pierce.
Good defenses make Ray a weaker option than Paul objectively, but Paul isn’t there like you noted.
Preach, been thinkin this for a good while now
I am so glad you wrote about this because this is something that has been bothering me for a long time. It seems like either Doc or our point guards are letting too much freestyle happen in the second half of games. I am sorry but Paul Pierce has the ball in his hands way too much lately. Are we trying to feed his ego or are we going to try and win some games.? I think the coaching staff has to take some of the blame here . Doc , take control . Ray Allen needs more touches.
I would like to sign a petition “get the ball to Ray”.
I don’t understand why Rondo takes all the last shots at every end of quarter. I don’t get why Ray doesn’t get many shots at 4th quarters, sometimes it looks like egos come up stronger at the last quarter of the games. I would understand KG not shooting much on 4th quarters but Ray is one of the clutchest players that has ever lived to play in the NBA so pleeeeeeeease Rondo and Pierce move the ball to Ray.
Brian — Well done—Finally a voice of reason. You just said what I’ve been arguing the last few days. That is–you keep feeding the hot hand until the hot hand gets stopped. Basketball is not a democracy–It’s about winning games.This is not about stroking egos. When Pierce starts to pick up his game he can once again be our go to guy. Until then—It’s Ray.
WTF WTF!!! Get him the F’ing BALL!!! Sorry for the profanity
B Fish — Quick!!! — Someone send an e-mail to Doc.
There is nothing more frustrating than seeing Ray Allen stroke the ball and not be given an opportunity to shoot it. If no one else is producing, we suffer SO much. (i.e. blown 22-point leads, not being able to match the knicks(?!) offense) Pierce has really been disappointing the last few games and we should really have something else than an iso for him at the end of regulation. That never worked. Ray Allen needs to be the scorer of the big three, and he needs his shots. After going 19 shots and 33 points, he goes back down to 10 shots. T_T
for whatever reason doc insists on giving the ball to pierce, which is strange because I remember back in the title season he NEVER went to KG because everyone knew he hated taking those shots down the stretch, so i thought he had a pretty good idea of who should take those shots. he needs to look at the film. the truth simply doesn’t have it this season
Am I the only one who regrets the Rasheed Wallace pick up? He has clearly disrupted the team’s flow/chemistry. I honestly feel they should cut him before the playoffs begin. I mean just look at the Cavs game when he got T’ed up and wouldn’t stop arguing with Doc. Doc had to sit him. He’s not dependable. I feel like we got Antoine Walker back! And last night. Why did he take the last shot? Yes, give it to Ray! And cut Sheed!
No James Patrick– Your certainly not the only one. I’ll take it a step further– Rasheed has not only disrupted this teams chemistry, He’s pretty much destroyed it. This has been a worse pickup than Marbury was. Rasheed has always been a head case. Your right, cut him now.
Sit Paul Pierce to send him a message!!!
I definitely agree – Ray Ray seems to have a lot of focus right now too, as if he wants it as much or more than ever (i.e. him showing up at 9 AM to shoot jump shots before a 1:20 PM game the other day)
Besides Ray, I wouldn’t have a problem if Doc sat Rondo,Pierce,Kg and Perkins. Send all of them a message-But we all know Doc wouldn’t have the balls to do that.
A destruction of Rasheed:
http://bit.ly/brdAdS
I’ve been saying those 5 words for wayyyy too long now. Get the ball to Ray!!!
Yes, get the ball to whoever is on fire. Run actual plays & set actual screens to get this man the ball THROUGHOUT the game so you don’t have to try some desperation shot at the end. Go with what is actually working on the floor. But MOST of all PLAY DEFENSE!
Atleast i know im not the only one, even though ray is the best offensive weapon rite now, DOC and this ego filled teamed hasnt still realized that ray needs more touches. Atleast 15 shots a game
The article posted by MP on Sheed reminded me of how Sheed single-handedly created a momentum swing ( ask the Zen Master what this is ) against his own team during the Cavs game.
There were 2 potential momentum swings in the 2nd half:
1. The Truth got tied up with Lebron and as a result, his fourth personal foul. Truth sit on the bench and Cavs scored consecutive baskets, only for Ray’s hot shooting to get the momentum back to the Celtics.
2. Sheed argued with the ref and got a tech, he then argued with Doc and got sit for the rest of the game.
The 2nd potential momentum swing created by Sheed turned into a real one, concentration and momentum of the Celtics were gone, which hurt the Celtics big time.
The post by MP also reminded me of the ‘great’ games Sheed had over the years. One of them must be against the Spurs in 2005 Final — left Robert Horry wide open for 3 in dying seconds and handed (again, a series momentum swing) the series to the Spurs
Maybe Doc is running plays for Pierce to try get Pierce out of his slump? Same with KG? Cause hes going to need them both to perform when the playoffs come..not just Ray.
KG doesn’t do anything out of his normal self. Sure he missed a lot of close up shots, but it’s not like he is forcing it.
Pierce on the other hand, it’s one bad shot after another. He is turning back into 2001-2004 Pierce.
THANK YOU! I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOREVER! I AM SENDING THIS TO EVERYONE BECAUSE NOW THEY’LL BELIEVE ME.
IF Doc doesnt seen this, we lose. GET RAY THE BALL
Brian, I HATE Paul Pierce to death. There is nothing about this guys game that I enjoy or envy. He drives to the whole weakly only looking for contact. Hes always fading away and taking forced jumpers.(Especially his 4th quarter “bread and butter” iso play) He is playing absolutely pathetic right now.
AMEN….. In fact I will take this one step further. Ray Ray is the only player from the big 3 that I feel is essential to keep around for another two years. Sadly he is the only one likely to go. I hope Danny Ainge knows this and keeps him around because he is one of the most dedicated players in the league and has at least two more years of great shooting in him.
Please will someone from the Celtics coaching staff read these post. There are some great observations about what the hell is wrong with this team. Thanks Brian for writing about something that many of us have been scratching our heads over for a long time.
Josh I too am so sick of Pierce with his poor iso moves at the end of quarters. Thanks for pointing that out.
everything you said was 100% correct…
this isnt just a new thing either..its been happening every since the big 3 was formed..
even last year when ray scored 51 points in that playoff game..he barely got a shot oppurtunity in that final overtime..51 pts and cant get a shot
i do blame ray alittle for this though..hes got to be more vocal..clap your hands, waive em high, actually act like you want the ball
This is Docs fault more then anything
The celtics have a squad one bad apple spoils the bunch the sheed needs to be let go holding up the game cus of his ignorant display sheed it aint that serious the ref knows sheed reputation we were destroying the cavs and they got back into us ever since sheed attitude did u notice big momentum swing play ball sheed you are paid to much for such poor play stay away from the three point line you suck im a true celtic fan dont kill us sheed