Ray Allen Ankle Injury: Latest Updates on Celtics SG's Ailments

Ray Allen is not healthy, and it's painfully clear.

Update: Wednesday, May 30, 11:25 a.m. ET by Alex Kay

It's apparently not a good idea to ask Ray Allen if he is going to sit at all during the Eastern Conference finals.

When someone from the Celtics' official Twitter account inquired about the notion, Allen seemed almost annoyed—although he did admit it was impacting his game in a negative way. 

"Hell no. This is not the time to sit," said the star shooting guard.

It's admirable that Allen is going to play through the ankle pain, especially considering the team has no serviceable replacement on the bench with Avery Bradley out. 

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Update: Wednesday, May 30, 10:45 a.m. ET by Alex Kay

Ray Allen is almost always the first player to arrive at the arena—a part of his legendary preparation for games.

Which is why it’s a good sign that the Celtics shooting guard is currently the only player on the roster at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami. He is working on his free throws and three-pointers in advance of tonight’s contest against the Heat.

Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston snapped this photo of the 36-year-old taking some shots from the stripe.

Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe caught him spotting up beyond the arc.

Allen is a career 89.4 percent free-throw shooter, but was just 3-for-7 on Monday night in a disappointing Eastern Conference finals opener. He was also underwhelming from behind the three-point line, hitting just one of four attempts.

We will see if this pregame practice will pay dividends during Game 2. It'll be interesting to find out if the normally prolific shooter will regain his form after being clearly bothered by a right ankle injury for most of the postseason. 

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Update: Wednesday, May 30, 8:40 a.m. ET by Alex Kay

ESPN’s Chris Forsberg is reporting that Ray Allen has absolutely no desire to sit due to his banged-up right ankle. The star shooting guard will do whatever it takes to get on the court for Game 2.

“My trainers and I discussed (taking a game off)," Allen conceded, "but I really, really do not want go that route. Just put me out there and let me do the best I can." 

Coach Doc Rivers had considered giving Allen some time off to rest, but with Avery Bradley out, there is no suitable replacement on the bench.

Allen was 1-for-7 from the field and 3-for-7 from the charity stripe in the first game of the Eastern Conference finals. He has to improve if the C’s want a fighting chance in this series against the Miami Heat.

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Update: Tuesday, May 29, 6:39 p.m. ET

According to ESPN, Ray Allen does not want Doc Rivers to sit him. Rivers is going to abide and give the former All-Star a go, at least for now.

Said Rivers:

"

Not yet. We're good. Ray is Ray, we're going to just keep rolling him out there and see what we can get. When we feel like he can't give it to us, we'll go with someone else. But I think right now you have to give Ray a fighting chance.

"

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Celtics head coach Doc Rivers is equally concerned as most Celtics fans are about Allen's ankle injury, and he is reportedly considering sitting him for at least a game (via ESPN):

"

It’s a tough call with him. We’re trying to figure out a different minute rotation for him, maybe that will help him. We’re even considering sitting him for a game, getting him a longer rest and then playing him, and then sitting him for a game. We don’t know what the right thing is.

"

Bone spurs in Allen's ankle have plagued him for the entire playoffs and while he has honorably played through them, it's clear he is far from 100 percent. 

In the playoffs, Ray-Ray is averaging a dreadful 9.6 points per game to go along with just 1.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds.

What is most telling, however, is what used to be Allen's biggest strength: his shooting percentage.

Allen is shooting 39 percent from the field, 27 percent from three-point range and 60 percent from the foul line in the playoffs.

By comparison, for his career, Allen is .45/.40/.89 in those same three categories, respectively.

This ankle injury has seen him venture from being one of the best pure shooters of all time into Metta World Peace territory. 

Allen is still able to shake off screens and get open looks, but the injury is preventing him from getting any lift on his jump shots. That's evident in the drastic drop-off in free-throw shooting, but it's also apparent when every shot he takes hits the front rim.

Because Allen's largest contribution to the Celtics has always been as a consistent shooter from the outside, this injury is especially crippling going forward.

Not only is his shooting a shadow of what it used to be, but his defense is also a liability, and against a team with Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, the Celtics can't afford to have shortcomings on defense.

Even if Allen sits out a game, he'll likely be far from 100 percent for the rest of these playoffs, and that's not a good sign for Boston.