Ray Allen: We're Not Losers

by Jeff Clark on Jan 21, 2012 11:11 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

The Celtics are having as hard a time coming to grips with the losing as we are. Maybe moreso.

Celtics have no answers for lack of offense - The Boston Globe

"It’s tough,’’ Ray Allen said of the Celtics’ 5-9 start. "I’ve played on teams where you lose a lot. But, now, this locker room is - we’re not losers. This hurts everybody deeply, so we’ve got to figure out how to get better and how to help each other get better.’’

Meanwhile, Doc is trying to deflect blame - perhaps to save the players' pride just a bit.

Without Rajon Rondo, Celtics fall victim to Phoenix - BostonHerald.com

"I told the guys this is more of me and my staff," Doc Rivers said. "We’ve got to figure out something with our offense. The offense is awful. It’s funny, even at halftime we had a ton of open shots, but they’re still all jump shots. "Nothing in the paint, no drives, and that part you can say is Rondo. But we’ve got to do a better job of moving the ball and getting it low. The times we did that, I thought we were effective. But not enough."

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Not fooled by Doc's comments...

This offense is completely bunk and equal blame goes to the absolute deterioration of Ray, Paul and Kevin. These guys are role players and Doc is running an equal opportunity offense where guys are just lifelessly moving and passing station to station.

Play the old guys in short stints of 5 minutes tops, play a deeper rotation with Bradley and Steimsma taking minutes from Ray and JO. Everybody has to sprint up the floor on offense if they don’t you sit their butts down. The offense is struggling because there’s no good half court players on the team and they’re catering to the old guys when they simply don’t have it anymore.

Time to face facts and move on from trying to “contend.” Hopefully Ainge puts an end to this nonsense by dealing away at least two of Ray, Paul and Kevin and the team can focus on the reality. Time for the rebuild/youth movement to begin.

Basketball is like war in that offensive weapons are developed first, and it always takes a while for the defense to catch up. - Red Auerbach

by IanMello on Jan 21, 2012 10:07 AM EST reply actions

Yes Ray you are. Our record is 5-9

by jiriwelsch on Jan 21, 2012 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

Dany Ainge: everyday I'm shuffling (only way to get this team better)

This team is struggling. The players and coaches must all acknowledge the fact that they are not productive and capable of being a contending team. No more excuses and empty promises. They keep hoping for the best and saying that they will come together and win when we all know that’s easier said then done.
KG, Ray and Paul are getting older by the minute. They are not anywhere near the players they used to be. KG can barely rebound, jump, and shoot. He lost his agrasivness and swagger. Most his shots, lay-ups and even some dunks are being blocked. Doc is trying to rest him every 7 mins but he is still flat.
Ray can shoot still. Unfortunately, with a quick defender his game will diminish.
Paul is on a roller-foster, up and down. With that said, this team cannot flourish when it is hinging on three players that are not in sync and cannot be productive on a daily basis. Mentally they believe they are not loosers, but unfortunately, this year, in Doc’s words, you are what your record says. When it is all said and done, the big three will be hall of famers, but this season they just do not have it.
Moving on. We have a crappy bench. We cannot honestly expect to win with an “energy” unit when the starters are old, inconsistent, and incapable of producing. I just do not understand how Doc and Danny can assemble a bench fully knowing that the players on it cannot score- that they are just an “energy” unit. Well if your starters cannot score, and your bench lacks depth and scoring abilities, what makes you think we can win or get better?!?!?
This team needs to be reshuffled desperately!

by Danyck on Jan 21, 2012 10:29 AM EST via mobile reply actions

So what's the answer?

I hear your frustration. The flaws with this team is obvious. Age, lack of aggression, poor rebounding, poor defense, turn overs and etc, but if the team can’t see these flaws, but we and the media can, then there’s a real problem. It’s clear the Big 3 are getting older and are on the decline. It’s unfortunate that age has caught up with the Big 3 during this compressed season. But I keep hearing “Blow it Up” or reshuffle?

How? You do expect to get in return for aging superstars that aren’t capable of doing things they normally could the previous years. Who is going to take KG’s or Allen’s contract? If Pierce is traded which I doubt what do u expect to get in return for him?

The best Celtics Nation can hope for is this team start playing like a team and not like a bunch amateurs. Maybe Doc should alter the starting rotation. Start RR, RA, MP, BB and JO, then see what u can get? Try something at this point!

by C'sFanfrmNy on Jan 21, 2012 10:56 AM EST up reply actions

Don'

"Chemistry is something that you don't just throw in a frying pan and mix it up with another something and throw something on top of that and then fry it up and put in a tortilla and put it in microwave, heat it up, give it to you and expect it to taste good. You know? If y'all don't know what I'm talking about then you can't cook and this doesn't concern you."

by KGHurtYourFeelings on Jan 21, 2012 11:31 AM EST reply actions

Don't

tell me you’re not losers when your record is 5 and 9. It’s like Boris Diaw telling me he’s not fat.

RIght now, as of this moment, you are losers. I don’t like it, but you can’t really argue with it.

by KGHurtYourFeelings on Jan 21, 2012 11:32 AM EST reply actions

doc says no one is driving

it seems like 2/3 of pierce’s shots are drives to the basket, but he’s slow and he’s getting blocked and not drawing fouls.. i think he’s gotten quicker in the past few games, but still not enough. i still think the offense overall would pick up if KG could start hitting those 18 ft jumpers which he’s always been money on.

by JunkyardDawg on Jan 21, 2012 11:33 AM EST reply actions

Ray Allen and Doc rest of Celtics

As of now you are LOSERS so face it ………Doc all you have to do is play JJJ you traded for him and look what Marshon Brooks is doing. It’s only basketball not Street Maintennace.

by juanpan on Jan 21, 2012 11:57 AM EST reply actions

Individually they might not be losers...

…but collectively they are. For goodness sake Doc, have some guts and start some of the 30 year olds off the bench. Every game it’s the same excuse of lack of energy to start to the game. Has it occured to Doc that a bunch of 30+ year old players can only bring so much to the table? It’s time to intermix Bass or Steisma or even Pietrus into the starting rotation. Because collectively, these 30’s year olds are really bad right now.

by yakyakyak on Jan 21, 2012 12:23 PM EST reply actions

i agree

put JO, kg and ray on the bench and start pietrus and greg, and bass.. and let the vets go at it vs the 2nd string

by yngbamm on Jan 21, 2012 12:30 PM EST up reply actions

stop complaining about to many jumpers and..

draw up some inside offense then doc!

how can you keep using this excuse and not apply what your saying?!?!

whats the problem? no one is listening when you tell them to take it to the rim?

i dont understand… during one of the many time outs you have during the game, you cant adjust the teams strategy?

by yngbamm on Jan 21, 2012 12:27 PM EST reply actions

They are losing, but they are not losers.

Let’s keep this in perspective. Ray, KG, PP, Doc, DA – these guys can always keep their heads held high. They brought us a championship and a number of good years of basketball. In the last 25 years, only 8 NBA teams have been champions, and we’re one of them. So regardless of what happens from here on out, these guys are champions, not losers.

That said, time is getting the best of the vets now. We knew this was coming. It’s here. And it’s not fun.

It’s possible (unlikely, but possible) that they could find a way to make things click in the next month or so. We’ve seen them recover from some atrocious stretches of basketball in past seasons.

We’ve been saying “this could be it” for several seasons now. But this really is it.

So I’m going to try to enjoy each game as it comes with no expectations. Maybe I’ll see a few minutes or even a single play that is worthy of these guys at their best. We’re seeing the end of the line for these guys, and it’s painful. But they are not losers and they never will be.

by GreenInNYC on Jan 21, 2012 12:33 PM EST reply actions

I can't really blame DA

because he thought he was just adding some capable, if not greatly talented, vets just to give the big 3 an occasional blow. Don’t think he in a million years thought he’d be getting basically nothing from the big (old) 3. Now its either find the fountain of youth, or blow things up and start over. One is, I believe, impossible, and the other not very fun to anticipate!
Still, I’d rather watch a young energetic team, than an old and indifferent one.

by OhioGreen on Jan 21, 2012 12:45 PM EST reply actions

Tom Thibodeau

Anyone else notice a direct link between the decline of the Celtics and letting Tom Thibodeau leave?

by Staubach on Jan 21, 2012 2:34 PM EST reply actions

Unless Thibodeau has a direct connection to H.G. Wells...

…I don’t even think he can help this team. Old tired legs can’t blitz the screen and roll or rotate defensively to the weak side fast enough. But I would have preferred him over Doc when the Big 3 era ends and development of the young players begin. At least defensively that team could hang their hat on defense even if offensively they don;t click right away.

by yakyakyak on Jan 21, 2012 3:21 PM EST up reply actions