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Ray Allen Here to Win as Six Man or Starter

Mar 22, 2012; Milwaukee, WI, USA;  Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen (20) shoots during the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center.  Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE
Mar 22, 2012; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen (20) shoots during the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

According to Mark Murphy's article below featured in the Boston Herald, Ray does not mind coming off the bench if it helps his team to succeed.

Ray Allen won’t whine about coming off the pine - BostonHerald.com

As it turns out, Allen approached Doc Rivers about making the change. The Celtics veteran could sense that a change was coming.

"Well, people were talking about it," he said after the Celtics’ 93-86 loss to the Bulls. "It was being talked about a lot. I can’t say that it was my idea — I don’t ever want to come off the bench. But if it can help the team, and that’s what they needed me to do, then I would be up for it.

"At the end of the day your minutes don’t change, and that’s one thing I’m very cognizant about when I’m out there in the flow," said Allen. "It’s an ego thing to start, and my ego is not that big where I feel I have to be in the starting lineup."

Although last night was a terrible way to lose a game after leading by 13 points at the end of the second quarter, Doc should continue to give this a chance. Ray is going to get his minutes, as he played more than Avery Bradley last night (31 to 27), while playing enough with Rondo. It just makes so much sense to give the second unit a fresh scorer when the starters begin to take a rest and I think Ray realizes that. While his role with the starters is to be the three shooter of the group, the offense does not revolve around him anymore as it did earlier in his career. Now coming off the bench fresh, he becomes the guy the Celtics look to first for offense. Although he only went 1 of 4 for three, his stroke looked smooth and he basically had another (an amazing shot) at the end of the game until the referees went to replay to realize he had a smidgen of his foot on the line. Let's see if Doc continues to have Ray come off the bench as it seems his ego and play will both be unaffected. In the meantime, what do you guys think Doc should do in this situation?

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