Tony Allen: "I Am A Better Player Than Pose"

Tony will have a chance to prove it. If he performs, he can talk whatever he wants.

I had a feeling that would show up here when I watched the whole interview on Celtics.com, not just reading his quote. He was being asked about if there was an opportunity this year with Posey gone, and if he felt stuck behind him last year in terms of not getting any minutes. Hundreds will reply that of course Posey is better, TA is off his rocker, but he was responding that being behind Posey was what was best for the team, not that Posey was necessarily a better player. I don’t mind TA having this kind of confidence in himself, it doesn’t matter if he is right or wrong. Even he conceded that Posey has accomplished far more, even last year, TA was referring simply to ability, he has gone head to head with him in practice, he knows what each of them can and cannot do well on a basketball court. He made clear his intention was not to blow his own horn or degrade Posey, he is just confident in his abilities, same as Pierce, this should not be made into more than what it is.

Yeah, I like this mindset. Posey is no longer in the team and he’s not coming back, so no problem. Of course Posey is the better player, but this is a good mindset to have.

More pure talent, I agree 100%. As for better player that remains to be seen but I don’t have a problem with him saying that and having the confidence in himself that he can help this team. And he’s gonna get a chance to prove it that’s for sure. Whether he does or not is up to him.

Time will tell,when TA put the “proof in the pudding”.

KJ33, I just read the article, but did not see the video, but your statement puts it in the proper perspective from what I know about TA. TA is a better athlete than Pose, but he doesn’t come close to bringing the intangibles that Pose bought to the team. His experience and anticipation cannot be taught. I also read earlier that TA said that Pose taught him how to prepare to play a guy defensively prior to a game. I really think TA can be big this year and he will get his chance. Once he gets to play on a regular basis alot of people will change their minds about him.

“seems like it would be smarter to perform, then talk”

I simply think that people are a little to worried about what people say. And in the proper context of the whole article and interview, those quotes aren’t as bad as they’re made out to be (in regards to his comments about being better than Posey). In fact, I like him saying this things. Wasn’t one of the things that TA has lacked since his injury been his confidence? I think we SHOULD like TA doing all this talking and getting ready to perform.

I agree with Jeff on this one. I like his confidence and I hope he some day compares to Posey, but Tony has yet to consistently help a team win. Posey has done that for years. Tony has the potential to be good, but he’s not there yet.

I believe, in an interview, Danny Ainge said about the same thing. When asked if he felt the need to “replace” Posey, Ainge said that he felt Tony Allen was a more than adequate replacement, and that in terms of pure talent Tony Allen was superior to Posey in many respects.
Tony Allen, in terms of overall ability, is “better” than Posey. He’s faster, he’s stronger, he’s a much bigger offensive threat (when healthy), he’s an excellent defender already, and he’s capable of putting up big numbers. Posey is by far a headier player, much more aware of his role on a team, more accepting of fewer minutes, much more aware of what needs to be done on the floor at any given time and will be missed tremendously. But from a pure talent perspective Tony Allen is by far the better player.

Jeff is right, that it would have been nice to see TA say it a little differently . . .

Personally, I believe come playoff time, the team will miss PJ more than Posey.

TA is not the brightest bulb in the room.

Its actually a very telling comment by Tony. What made Posey so good was that he focused on his strengths and didn’t attempt things he’s not very good at. Tony on the other hand sometimes looks like he thinks he can do it all, and he can’t. This is what leads him to make so many mistakes.
Tony is definitely a far better slasher than Posey, and he is a better athlete. But he will never have Posey’s length, 3 point shot, or mind.

This is probably similar to the whole Pierce thing. He got sick of hearing everyone talking about Kobe, and Tony is probably getting sick of everyone asking how the team can cope without Posey.

it didn’t come out great, but I love the confidence.

I watched this interview yesterday. I don`t really see anything wrong with it. You have to have confidence in yourself in order to be successful. And when Tony is healthy overall he is a better player than Posey, IMO.

Pose must be the worst player in the NBA then…

Tony Allen could turn out to be the better. Definitely within the realm of possibility.

If Tony was asked to be a star or a go-to type player than I’d say he’s definitely better. Say if both played for Oklahoma City.

As a role player Posey is better until Tony proves he can be dependable, play within himself, and play off of superior talents. But Tony can achieve that, it isn’t certain, heck it’s miles away from certain … but he can do it.

I’m very excited about this season and Tony Allen in particular. It’s going to be great seeing if he can get it together.

until Tony proves he can swish the open jay under pressure, he’ll never be as good as Posey. He has a chance but last year he seemed pretty tentative with his shot.

Groan. He’s going to have to prove that on the floor – where his game has in no way approximated Posey’s.

He must have been reading these boards all summer.

I don’t see why he feels the need to compare himself to Pose in the first place…the two players bring a totally different style of play to the game.Unless TA has developed a 3pt shot over the summer,i wouldn’t think of him in the same light as Pose.TA might be a big spock off the bench,but i don’t see any way i would compare the two players.I see TA closer in comparison to Ray Allen, without a dependable 3pt shot.

He must have been reading these boards all summer.

Good one. ;D

I’m sick of people bringing up the circumstances of how he injured himself as a basis for why he can’t be good, or isn’t smart enough, etc. How is what Tony did any different than KG going and blocking a guys shot after the whistle? Everyone loves when he does that, but if he hurt himself, everyone would get mad and wonder why he does it. KG is an intense player, and that intesity doesn’t stop after every whistle. And Tony goes full throttle all game too. Some freak accident shouldn’t make that seem like a detriment to his game.

TA is a better overall player than Posey.

Knucklehead.
His knee may be better, but he hasn’t gotten much brighter.

mcpu40, i have no problem with you thinking it’s idiotic, as long as you feel the same way about what KG does. The problem is, you’re in the minority when it comes to KG. Most everyone talks about how stupid it was of TA to do what he did, but hardly anyone ever says the same about KG, or the large # of other players who do similar things every game.

I agree with whoever said he should have worded it differently,like leave Pose’s name out of it all together.If Pose was still a member of the team,would he have made that statement? I don’t think so…then why make statements about someone after they’ve left the team,especially when that person was one of the reasons you are a champion today.

I hope Posey’s career suffers just like Johnny Damon’s, both traitors.

I hope Posey’s career suffers just like Johnny Damon’s, both traitors.

I have no idea on who Johnny Damon is, but why the heck is Posey a traitor?

i have no problem with the comment….could get interesting if we face them in the finals

As far as I’m concerned good for Tony. Everyone else has an opinion about Tony, why can’t he stand up for himself?

We push and push and push, and talk smack and never let this guy breathe. I’d like to see half of the members on this street get on a treadmill within a year of tearing an ACL AND MCL.

I guess maybe he got tired of everyone talking about how much he stinks.

I 100% agree, get the hell off his back about dunking after the whistle.

If KG goes up to goal tend a shot after the whistle and breaks his hand on the rim no one would be talking about how stupid that was. DOUBLE STANDARD trash.

Posey made some big plays in the play-offs that really boosted his worth. (without him we would have lost) no question about that.

that being said, talent wise, I have no doubt in my mind Tony can play up to par with what Posey. Can he be better than him? that I don’t know.

But I know this, Winners always know they can be better, Losers settle for what other people think about them.

Sounds like Tony knows he can be better.

take care

I agree with whoever said he should have worded it differently,like leave Pose’s name out of it all together.If Pose was still a member of the team,would he have made that statement? I don’t think so…then why make statements about someone after they’ve left the team,especially when that person was one of the reasons you are a champion today.

If Posey was still on the team, they wouldn’t be asking him about Posey. Posey was only mentioned because that’s about whom they kept asking Tony about.

A treadmill isn’t going to cure what ails Tony Allen.

I thought it was pretty much common knowledge that the reason why KG will block a shot after the whistle is so the shooter doesn’t get the psychological advantage of seeing his shot go in. Shooters often take practice shots after the whistle just trying to get a rhythm. KG tries to deny that at all times. It’s been stated during games I don’t know how many times.

Posey was a better fit last year because he was a great teammate, good leader and solid player in terms of how he fit into the offense. But if we’re just talking as an on-court player I’d probably have to agree with Tny. That said this is a big year for him and he needs to produce.

I think people need to watch the video, and see what he actually said. The way it was reported was misleading. First of all, he didn’t “Go on to say” that is completely incorrect. It was the other way around.

And he didn’t bring up Posey, which several people have said here that he didn’t need to do. The reporter brought it up. So several of you had made statements and assumptions while being ignorant to what was going on.

Was his statement pushing it? Probably. But the way it was stated is not the way it is currently being portrayed.

You don’t know who Johnny Damon is, Cordobes ?

I believe Tony…after all, he was the MVP of this team a couple of days ago.

You don’t know who Johnny Damon is, Cordobes ?

I googled it now. Some baseball player. I don’t even know the rules of that game.

But why is Posey a traitor, after all?

Johnny Damon played for the Red Sox, helped them win the world series in 04, he left the Red Sox to go to the Yankees for more money, kinda similiar to what Posey did.

This is no different than Pierce claiming himself the best player in the world..Tony should feel like he’s better than Posey

all these guys are talented and they all have massive egos. the ego thing and what tony said does not bother me at all. now, if he uses the statement to fuel his play—go tony and plenty of salmon and mashed poatoes. just do it in the team context.