Sunday Notebook: Ray’s Work, Health, Familiar Faces

Posted by Zach Lowe on Jul 18, 2010 92258 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2010%2F07%2F18%2Fsunday-notebook-rays-work-health-familiar-faces%2FSunday+Notebook%3A+Ray%27s+Work%2C+Health%2C+Familiar+Faces2010-07-18+13%3A59%3A57Zach+Lowehttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D9225

• Ray Allen took exactly one day to relax at home after Game 7 before getting on his bike for a 31-mile ride, according to the Herald’s Mark Murphy, who catches up with Ray and picks his brain about age, injuries and the future of the C’s:

“We’re older than last year,” Allen said, shrugging his shoulders in “big deal” fashion. “That always was funny to me because I never felt older. I never felt out of shape or slower. We went through a bad stretch of not winning games (last season), but it never had to do with age.

“It had to do with getting together on the same page. It’s not going to change. But that’s always the challenge we’ve faced with every year, where people look at us and say we’re not capable. That’s the negativity that pushes all of us.”

The ladies in our readership might want to take note of this quote from Ray’s agent, Lon Babby, about the positive effects of Ray’s biking regimen:

“He has the best-looking calf muscles in the NBA.”

Watching Ray Allen over the next couple of years is going to be fascinating. As I’ve touched on before, shooting guards with games similar to Ray’s—lots of running, lots of threes—have almost universally washed out of the league by their 36th birthday. Ray turns 35 on Tuesday. The lone major exception is Reggie Miller, who remained productive until he retired at 39. Ray would seem to have the work ethic to buck the trend as Reggie did, but it’s going to be difficult, especially since a 100-game NBA season is going to bring nagging injuries such as the one Ray reportedly suffered during the Finals. 

• Speaking of which, Jeff Clark has a thoughtful take on injuries and the myth of “staying healthy.” 

• Also in that Mark Murphy piece: Ray is still on the horn with free agents selling them on Boston:

“You should come here next year because you’re a free agent. These guys are your friends. It’s not like signing checks and giving them money.

“You’re just having a conversation. I don’t know what you can and cannot do. But at this stage when everyone is a free agent, you can call around and push the envelope a little bit more.”

Ray played with Damien Wilkins in Seattle. Maybe they’re friends! Wouldn’t that be exciting! (Ugh).

• Evans Clinchy wonders if the Celtics might re-sign Brian Scalabrine. No. Just…no. 

• Chris Forsberg wonders if Lawrence Frank is in position to take over the team should Doc Rivers leave after this season. 

That’s it for now. Quiet day in C’s news, as we’re nearing the NBA’s true dead time. 

Enjoy your Sundays.