With under 40 seconds to go in Game Four, the Celtics held a three-point lead and the Lakers needed a stop.
Paul Pierce was worn out, Kevin Garnett went to set a screen, and Ray Allen had the ball. Allen quickly called off the screen as to avoid drawing more defenders toward him and Garnett instantly retreated. He trusted Allen, who had been struggling throughout the playoffs, averaging only 14 points per game.
Allen had been bothered by Sasha Vujacic's pesky defense all game long, but knew he could take him one-on-one when it came down to it. The Celtics spread the floor, allowing Allen to isolate Vujacic. He hesitated for a dribble or two, and then blew past the young Slovenian for an uncontested, left-handed layup, making it look all-too-easy.
It was a drive that pierced the heart of the Lakers, completed the Celtics comeback, and nearly brought Sasha Vujacic to tears (literally).
The basket put the C's up by five points with 16 seconds to go, and the Lakers couldn't overcome it, succumbing to Boston's unbelievable 24-point comeback (I still can't believe it).
Yes, Allen made the game-clinching basket, but that's not all he did in Game Four of the NBA Finals. With three minutes left in the game, the Celtics had just taken their first lead after scoring five straight points on clutch baskets from Eddie House and James Posey.
Up by one, Boston put the ball in the hands of Allen, who hesitated for a second from behind the three-point line, forcing Kobe to pull up for a possible shot block attempt. Allen then drove past Bryant through a clear lane to the hoop until he was met by L.A. defenders at the rim. He was forced to hang in the air with the likes of Jordan and Dr. J, and put up a reverse layup that kissed of the backboard and into the net. It increased the Celtics lead to three, and Boston never looked back. Kobe Bryant missed a late trey and finalized the monumental collapse.
After being widely criticized for his inconsistent play through the first three rounds of the playoffs, Ray Allen might be the most consistent player in the Finals, averaging 20 points per game.
In Game Three, Allen's 25 points was the only reason the Celtics' loss was even close. In Game Four, Allen finished with 19 points, and also went airborne to pull down nine rebounds.
And at a point in the playoffs where it looked like the Big Three was down to the Big Two, Ray Allen has stepped up in the Finals—a huge reason why Boston is on its way to hoisting its 17th championship banner.
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4 months ago
Ray Allen has been the most consistent player in the playoffs. The Celtics had to dig deep to overcome the 24 point defecit, and it see-sawed back and forth with the Celtics coming within 13, and then the Lakers would make another run to take it back to 20, and so it went for several minutes. Then, Boston took the lead for good and never looked back. One of the greatest comebacks in NBA playoff history.
4 months ago
I don't think Ray Allen was the most consistent player in the playoffs by any means. He was so bad in those road games in the 1st two rounds that Posey was putting up 35+ minutes replacing him. He was really bad shooting, and you could see his confidence was reeling.
I think he is a close MVP to Posey, if they just had to pick the guy who is just clutch.
from 4 months ago
You're right...I mis-spoke...I meant the finals.
4 months ago
Ray has been the most consistent player in the Finals, not the playoffs. He was atrocious in the first two rounds. But in the Finals, yes, he has been great.
4 months ago
What killed me was Sasha's little "everything I do is a foul" routine he pulled.
First of all, you had three fouls, total, so shut up.
Second of all, you only had three more points than me, so shut up.
Third of all, you got schooled. Ray-Ray was the bus driver, and he took you to school. He was past you so fast, I don't even think you COULD have fouled him if you wanted to, unless you had Go Go Gadget Arms.
Fourth of all, where the hell were your teammates? Yes, the Celtics had 3 point shooters in, but think about it-what's the percentage of an NBA player on a WIDE OPEN layup? 80%? 90%? The Lakers, collectively, had a choice of three doors to open on this play:
1) Let Ray Ray waltz in for an unguarded layup
2) Foul him
3) Collapse on him, and risk a kickout three.
Given that Ray is , I think, Boston's best three point shooter and HAS THE BALL, and given that you absolutely, positively need a stop here, options 2 and 3 are by far the best. By FAR.
That narcoleptic attack rivals Boston's failing to foul at the end of Game Four.
And Sasha? Kwitcherbitchin'. This ain't soccer.
from 4 months ago
Haha Amen.
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