For some reason Ray Allen thinks Celtics fans will understand why he left Boston for Miami, but he’s wrong. The Celtics would not have won a championship four years ago without Allen, but the fact that he took less money to join the enemy when Boston is attempting to gear up for another title run has not gone over well with the fans. It also sounds like it hasn’t sat well with Doc Rivers, who said his relationship with Allen won’t change but that he is “disappointed” with the shooting guard’s decision.
“Just because I disagree or I’m disappointed in Ray’s decision doesn’t change the way I feel about him,” Rivers said according to the Boston Herald. “He talked to me. It was a good talk. You know how I am. A guy makes his mind up, I’m not going to try and change it. I respect him for all he did for us, and I thought he should have stayed with us. Actually, you just have to let it go.”
When Avery Bradley replaced Allen as the Celtics’ starting shooting guard last season even after Allen returned from injury, it was no secret that Ray was unhappy. With Boston signing Jason Terry, that would have likely meant less minutes for Allen with three solid shooting guards in the mix. Combine that with rumors that Allen struggled to get along with Rajon Rondo last season and it’s not exactly shocking that he left. However, Rivers thinks his decision may have had something to do with the Celtics focusing on Kevin Garnett when the offseason began.
“I thought we (courted Allen),” Rivers continued. “Danny (Ainge)in particular did exactly what he should have done,” said Rivers. “Kevin Garnett was our focal point, and he should have been. If that got anyone ruffled, then that’s probably too bad. We did everything we were supposed to do. At the end of the day you just follow the money trail, and in this case, for whatever reason, it didn’t work. He had his reasons. He probably got bent sideways a bit by us courting Kevin. I really don’t know, honestly.”
My guess is the aforementioned reasons weighed more heavily on Allen’s decision than the fact that the team made Kevin Garnett the focal point of the offseason. Ray wants more minutes and a better shot at a championship now that his career is coming to a close. Miami should give him an opportunity for both.
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