Empty the Bench

Before the season began we knew that all of the Celtics’ so-called Big Three would likely have to take a hit in the scoring department. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett had all been prodigious scorers over the last decade plus, each averaging over 20 per game and a combined 64.7 points per game for their careers. There were simply going to be too many mouths to feed and there was no way each could continue to attempt the 16+ field goals per game they were accustomed to. And that’s how it played out in the regular season, with all playing unselfish, team-oriented basketball and none topping 14 attempts per contest in the regular season. It worked pretty well.

And while scoring was expected to dip, there was no reason to expect their peripheral stats to decline significantly. In fact, with opposing teams unable to consistently double any of these superstars efficiency from the field and assist production was expected to improve. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce improved significantly on their career shooting averages and shot 6.3% and 2.5%, respectively, better from the field this year compared to 2006-07. However, Ray Allen improved just 0.7% from a last year in Seattle and only 0.1% on his career field-goal percentage.

But Boston was winning, and nobody really noticed or cared.

By now if you’ve been watching Boston even casually in these playoffs Ray Allen’s great disappearing act of 2008 isn’t news. The statistical trends are extremely disconcerting. His scoring and shooting have declined three months in a row. After shooting a respectable (if unspectacular) 44.5% from the field and 39.8% from behind the arc in the regular season Allen is down to a putrid 38.4% from the floor and 30.1% on threes in the postseason. He went from 26.4 points a game last season to 17.4 this season to just 13.2 points per in the 2008 playoffs. Considering Ray Ray has never been a top-flight defender, on many nights that has rendered him a significant liability instead of an asset.

It’s gotten so bad that opposing defenders aren’t hesitating to slough off of Allen on the perimeter in favor of doubling Garnett and Pierce. And Ray Allen hasn’t drawn any attention in the opponent’s defensive gameplan in months. That’s criminal.

Back in June when Boston traded Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West and the rights to rookie Jeff Green for Ray Allen most considered it a slam dunk. I know I did. But Allen is crumbling at the worst time, and his playoff averages aren’t significantly better than Wally World alone despite Allen playing nearly nine more minutes per game. And hell, Delonte West had a better statistical playoffs nearly across the board with a higher field-goal percentage, three-point percentage, more assists and more steals in fewer minutes. Throw in the fifth overall pick Jeff Green and suddenly the Allen trade doesn’t look so good anymore.

The Boston Celtics are lacking depth on the perimeter and they could use the dead-eye shooting of Wally and the ball-handling of Delonte West right now. Trading for Ray Allen was the right move, no doubt about it, especially since it was a huge factor in luring MVP candidate Kevin Garnett. But over the last month the Bean Town faithful are wondering what happened to one of the best pure shooters in NBA history. He needs to find that game, and fast, or this summer his acquisition and his play this spring will be pointed to as major reasons the Celtics juggernaut failed.

This season was finally a chance for Pierce, Garnett and Allen to define their careers after years and years of extraordinary play for losing teams. It’s a chance to prove that they are winners who simply languished on bad rosters for bottom-feeding franchises. the regular season is all well and good, but legacies are earned in the playoffs. Unfortunately, Ray Allen is defining himself as merely one of the most prolific regular-season stat machines in history, not one of the best players or even shooters. He can start changing that tonight.

Possibly Related Content:

1. Whew! The Boston Celtics Escape Game 1 by the Hair of Their Chinny-Chin-Chin


2. Congrats, Ray Allen, on #2,561


3. Our Congratulations, Kudos and Hats Off to the Boston Celtics (and Kevin Garnett)


4. Let’s Spin the Kevin Garnett Rumor Wheel


5. NBA Eastern Conference Finals Notes – Game 1 – Boston Celtics Strike First