Doc Considered Sitting Ray Allen For A Game, But Ray's A Gamer

UPDATE: At today's media availability, Ray quashed the idea of taking a game off:

Ray Allen: 'Just put me out there'

Celtics coach Doc Rivers broached the idea of giving veteran shooting guard Ray Allen a game off in order to rest his ailing right ankle, but after consulting with the team's training staff, Allen pleaded his case to stay on the floor.

"My trainers and I discussed (taking a game off)," Allen conceded, "but I really, really do not want go that route. Just put me out there and let me do the best I can."

In an interview with Jackie MacMullan, Doc says that with Ray's injury, their considering sitting him a game:

Doc considering sitting Allen for a game

"It's a tough call with him," Rivers said Tuesday afternoon. "We're trying to figure out a different minute rotation for him, maybe that will help him. We're even considering sitting him for a game, getting him a longer rest and then playing him, and then sitting him for a game. We don't know what the right thing is."

I know Doc's saying it and Jackie Mac's reporting it, but I really doubt there's any possibility that Ray sits out any game in the playoffs. Yes, he was 1-7 last night and missed 4 free throws, but really, if he had hit one more three and went 7-for-7 from the charity stripe, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Since Day 1 of the post-season, we've attributed every Ray make to Ray's routine and professionalism and every miss to the bone spurs in his ankle. The end-all-be-all is that Ray Allen is one of the greatest shooters of all time and all his hard work and talent will overcome whatever nagging injury he has.

Ray said he had to hang out by the pool all day. While most would welcome that, it doesn't fit his personality.

— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) May 29, 2012

Ray Allen said he can't workout on off-days as he likes to. Says he's taken spinning classes at the hotel gym.

— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) May 29, 2012

The guy is hanging out poolside and taking spinning classes at the hotel gym. What would be a vacation for most is absolute torture for #20. Last night's performance from behind the line is very uncharacteristic for Ray. He loves shooting at American Airlines. In eight games since Wade, Lebron, and Bosh have been in Miami, he's been hot, shooting 29-50 from 3. The Heat are guarding Ray close to the vest because he's burned them in their building so many times. In the second half last night, Boston ran very few off ball screens to catch Ray spotting up. I'd expect to see more motion on Wednesday.

I also don't see Doc sitting Ray just because of the pride factor. Doc's a players' coach, especially when it comes to his veterans. Unless Ray himself says he can't go, I'm betting Doc puts The Big Four on the floor from here on out. Forget the idea that this could potentially be a swan song for this team and all that garbage. We're in the final four right now. This is the Eastern Conference Finals. If we're going to win it, we're going to win it with the guys that have got us here all year and for the past five years. If Ray's wearing his Air Jordans, I want him out there.