Ray Allen Can Play Big in the Playoffs

Ray Allen put up a stinker the other day vs Chicago and has a chance to redeem himself tonight in Game Two.

I had a discussion with a friend of mine (a Bulls fan) earlier today, and he said that Ray Ray has been doing this his whole career in the playoffs, only we did not notice it, or we gave him a pass because he was on teams we did not think much of.

So, of course, I looked into it and got the numbers.

For the record, I used to love the guy. He has the prettiest stroke I have ever seen, and I like to think of myself as a jump-shooting connoisseur. But, ever since the Kobe/Ray Ray feud when he was with Seattle, and especially after last year's comments, I can no longer like him any more.

Regardless, he has actually performed very well in his 64 career playoff games. He has done it with three different teams: as part of the big three in Milwaukee with Glen "Big Dog" Robinson and Sam Cassell, being The Man in Seattle along with Rashard Lewis, and he is currently a part of a real big three with Boston along with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.

MIL 1999—Ray averaged 22 points, four assists, and seven rebounds, and shot 47 percent from three-point land in three games. His best game vs. Reggie Miller was 25 pts, six assists, eight rebounds, and five 3PT.

MIL 2000—He averaged 22 points, three assists,and seven rebounds, and 2 three pointers on 44 percent and 39 percent, respectively, in five games vs. the Pacers.

MIL 2001—He averaged 25 pts, six assists, and four rebounds with three three pointers on 48 percent shooting from the field 18 games. 41 was his high, along with nine 3PT. His play was a big reason why the Bucks made the Conference Finals.

SEA 2005—He averaged 26.5 pts, four assists, four rebounds and three three pointers on 47 percent from the field and 38 percent for three pointers in 11 games. He hurt his ankle in one game (only 13 min), and he still managed his best stats. He scored 45 points, had six assists, four rebounds, four steals, two blocks, and six threes on 60 percent shooting in Game Four in Sacramento.

BOS 2008—He averaged 15.6 points, three assists, four rebounds, and two three pointers on 43 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent on threes in 26 games. Then he got hot vs. the Lakers in the Finals, where he averaged 20.3 points, 2.5 assists, five rebounds, and 3.7 three pointers on 51 percent from the field and 52 percent on threes in six games, including 7-9 for three in that final game.

So, after looking over the stats, I cannot say that I agree with my buddy's assessment that Ray Allen is a flop in the playoffs. Not with overall playoff averages of 21 points, four assists, four rebounds, and 2.5 three pointers on 46 percent field goal shooting and 41 percent three-point shooting, not to mention 90 percent from the free-throw line

The Celtics are hoping he reverts back to his first 63 playoff games form tonight, or the team in green will be going home early.