Ruthless Efficiency: Ray Allen and the Celtics' Defense

The Celtics are seemingly back on track after a bit of a rough patch.

The team's defense is working again, they've held opponents to .417 shooting percentage and are out-rebounding their opponents by 5.5 rebounds a game.

The other thing that is greatly aiding the Celtics in their resurgence is Ray Allen.

Ray Allen is like the Spanish Inquisition in Monty Python. For those of you who have never seen the Spanish Inquisition scene, it's fairly silly. I am not, of course, suggesting that Ray Allen is silly.

Not at all.

But when Cardinals' Ximénez, Biggles, and Fang would burst onto a scene, Ximénez would shout, "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our two weapons are fear and surprise, and ruthless efficiency..."

The scene would then unravel for Cardinal Ximénez, as he struggled with what the weapons of the Spanish Inquisition were. But I almost feel like when the Celtics take the floor, someone is shouting, "Nobody expects Ray Allen!"

I mean, in the past few years, he's had ankle surgery, slumped, and he was called "done."

Clearly not, as Ray-Ray has been sinking shots with ruthless efficiency. It's like there's a magnet in the ball and in the basket, because his shots just fall.

Kevin is the excitement.

Paul is the leader.

Ray-Ray is the unexpected.

Now that  Allen has learned to feed off Rajon Rondo better, his stats aren't at career-high levels, but they are certainly up. Since his 36-point game against Toronto, he's been on a tear.

Allen's is averaging 20.9 points per game, shooting .656 from the field and is 27-for-41 from downtown. Fabulous for Boston, not so hot for their opponents, who have been annihilated the past few games by both Allen and a tough Celtics D.

So, while it lasts, I'm going to enjoy the fear, surprise and ruthless efficiency of the C's defense and Ray Allen.