WALTHAM - The Celtics are running more plays for Ray Allen than they did a year ago. But Allen still averaged 13.2 shots per game, his lowest total since his initial season with Milwaukee in 1996-97. And against Orlando in the second round of the playoffs, his average is down to 12.5.
In other words, the Celtics want to get the ball to Allen - and will be making that a priority tonight - but the opposition has been successful in limiting Allen's shots, and the Magic have been the best yet at it.
Remarkably, Allen has been held to 30.7 percent shooting against Orlando, including 5 for 36 (.139) on 3-pointers.
Part of the credit goes to J.J. Redick, who has a reputation for perimeter accuracy himself but is shooting 28.9 percent against the Celtics. Redick and Courtney Lee have been assigned to Allen, and they are simply staying with him, almost never helping teammates defend other Celtics.
Despite Allen's struggles, the Celtics do not seem overly concerned. Coach Doc Rivers has played him 244 minutes in the six games against the Magic, more than any other player.
"There's no need to say anything to Ray," said Paul Pierce. "Ray knows what he needs to do. I mean, Ray's been in the league long enough. We have total faith in Ray and there's nothing wrong with him."
Said Rivers, "Even if Ray is not making shots, he has a tremendous value for us. He's going to make shots. I do feel good about that."
The Celtics want to go to Allen early and often.
"Every shot that I take is good," Allen said after taking part in his usual post-practice shooting drill. "Every shot I put up there, it always looks good to me. You never know until that ball goes all the way through, and I'll be making sure the ball goes all the way through.
"My preparation is my success. I'm always thinking of ways to get better, ways to prepare, going home getting sleep, resting, doing things that I think are going to help me going into that next day. I never worry about it.
"Sometimes you get a great defender, sometimes the ball just doesn't go in for you, sometimes somebody else has the role on your team, and you've got to find that guy. So the game is going to dictate itself."
Allen went without a 3-pointer in Games 3 and 4 against Orlando, then converted two 3-pointers, including the go-ahead shot in the final quarter, in a 92-88 victory in Game 5.
"I hope it doesn't come down to that, but I'm always ready, regardless of what happens," Allen said. "Regardless of how it shakes up, when it comes to the fourth quarter, somebody has to make a play.
"And [in Game 4], Paul made the play and Glen [Davis] made the big shot for us. It can go either way, to anybody, and everybody has to be ready."
Allen believes a strong start will lead to a strong finish, but that was not the case for the Celtics in their loss Thursday.
"For the most part, we like to control the game," Allen said. "I thought, last game, we controlled the game, we got up 8-10 points. But, offensively, we didn't execute and we turned the ball over, and that's how they got back in the game. So we need to establish control throughout the game; we've proven we're good in fourth quarters.
"Everybody feels pretty comfortable about what we need to do. I think it's similar to the Chicago series; we're kicking ourselves because we know we had great opportunities to win games.
"But this is a fun time of the year to be playing this type of basketball."
Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com. 
