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Ray Allen won't be walking back through that door any time soon . . . in a Celtic's uniform.
The Big Three Era ended when Ray walked. And Ray Allen won't be walking back through that door any time soon . . . in a Celtics uniform. Obviously the Celtic's brass wanted Ray back: and they thought he would make a big difference for the 2012 season, perhaps the last best chance for KG, Paul, and the Celts to have a legit shot, albeit a long shot, at a title in the foreseeable future.
For some to claim that Ray would not have made a difference to this team is simply ludicrous. It doesn't just border on the absurd, it is absurd.
Some things are complex, such as the professional and personal dynamics that led to Ray leaving the Celtics, but some things are simple: what is simple in this case is that the Heat got measurably better by adding Ray Allen and the Celtics got immeasurably worse by losing Ray Allen. It doesn't even take a high basketball IQ to understand the how and the why of this simple fact.
There are those on this board who try to bully and browbeat anyone who speaks positively of Ray Allen, and I suspect that they are the same ones who were giving Ray short shrift since he arrived in Boston, calling for him to be traded each year since he arrived. There has never been a shortage of Ray haters on this forum. Now they think that by repeating lies often enough and loud enough they become true . . . no, no, no, they've tried that in politics and most people see right through that: A lie is a lie, is a lie. And a bully is a bully whether on the playground or in a forum. The Ray haters have turned into the bullies of the forum attacking anyone who won't buy into their groupthink and agree with them. Go $crew yourselves.
Commiecontrairian said it well: "[The] green will regret not giving ray his respect earlier and casually dangling him out there and making him an afterthought."
That's a short statement, but it packs a punch and carries a lot of truth in its content.
The browbeaters and bullies of the forum try to discredit Ray at each and every step even downplaying his early success with the Heat while placing their hopes and dreams on one Avery Bradley who, last time I checked, hadn't won anything or proven anything and who may prove to be so injury prone he may never be a factor for the Celtics. I hope Avery comes back and develops into a perennial All-Star and more importantly straightens out this Celtics team and leads us to the title in 2012/13. However, I would like our chances a lot better if Ray Allen were playing for the Celtics and not the Heat.
B - O - R - I - N - G .
One word sums up today's Post Big Three Era team: B-O-R-I-N-G!
This collection of run-of-the-mill players will never win anything, I'm afraid. Who among the faithful believes this team can contend for a title this year as constituted? Step right up and speak up loud and clear, don't be shy.
I don't even think Paul and KG buy into what Doc and Danny are selling. I don't think Paul and KG even think for one second that Rondo can be the team leader, that it is now Rondo's team. Just look and listen to them, Paul and KG, lip syncing the party line, but their body language and tone tell another story, one that speaks volumes. Why do you think KG wanted Ray back so badly, why do you think he's so put out about not having Ray? Don't answer, a rhetorical question has an implied answer.
This whole "re-tooling" farce is Plan B after Danny lost Ray. He scrambled around to put together the missing pieces and everyone slapped him on the back for putting together the "deepest team" in the NBA, on paper, at least. Paper don't play.
Hey, this team may gel overnight and make an unprecedented run straight to the playoffs, and I'd be a happy man to get to see that and be more than happy to admit that I was wrong. Hey, Let's hope I'm wrong and that this team is not boring, is not a run-of- the-mill, middle-of-the-pack NBA team or worse.
In the meantime, I shall remain critical of Celtic's management as is my right as a fan and I shall mourn the loss of Ray Allen, as is also my right as a fan. Being critical of my team, the Celtics, does not imply disloyalty, does not make me a bad fan, a bandwagon fan, or imply that I am not, in that laughable terminology of the bullies-of-the-board a "real" fan.
To the Bullies-of-the-Board
(You know who you are: you who tell people how to think and what not to say and demand that everyone agree with you or else get off the board (you know to whom I'm talking.)
To the bullies-of-the-board, the browbeaters, who can't accept that someone actually disagrees with them, or dares to venture an independent opinion, I say get a grip. Stop your bullying tactics, stop calling people stupid simply because they disagree with you. Stop calling people names, period. Stop looking for simplistic explanations for complex problems. Try to make this board a better place. It is bad enough we have to deal with Laker and Heat trolls, but we don't have to descend to their low level by bickering among ourselves.
The name-calling, the bullying, and browbeating some Celtic's fans engage in have made this board a pathetic place to be. Say that fast 3 Xs. Lol
I don't ever remember this board being such an unpleasant place to share a passion for Celtic's basketball.
Ya can't look at much, can ya, Man.
Well, you have your style.
However, there are some things to look forward to. The first is the emergence of Sullinger. He should soon grow to be a valuable contributor to the Celtics. The second is the growth of Jeff Green. I am interested in seeing what he becomes when he grows up. The third is the growth of Avery Bradley. Unfortunately, he is coming off of surgery. But he has the ingredients to become a special player. Finally, the trade deadline. Once Ray decided to leave, without commenting on his reasons, Danny had very little room to maneuver. He will have more flexibility at the trade deadline.
All of these need to happen for the Celts to challenge Miami. Clearly, the probability of all of these happening is very low. There is another possibility: Rondo successfully adjusts his game to meet the team needs and becomes an offensive player. Somehow, that seems to be the least likely to happen.
I have serious concerns about the quality of the Celtics roster. However, I am still supporting the team and will look forward to interacting on this board and watching the Celts games this year.
