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- 07/08/2012, 08:54PM ET
Did Ray Allen owe the Celtics anything?
That new guy said 07/08, 08:54 PM
over the past couple of days since Allen signed with Miami there has been a lot of backlash, from calling him a traitor, to a guy who just chased rings and wanted to ride the big 3's coattails. Now, he is chasing a ring, but some of this is not deserved. Allen did not owe the Celtics anything.
First off, the Celtics have tried to trade him numerous times. At the trade deadline this past year they had a deal done and told him he was being traded, only to have it fall apart at the last minute. He has been involved in trade rumors for the past few seasons, and if I were being shopped around i wouldn't want to keep playing for that team.
second, the Celtics were reducing his role and getting ready to move on without him. They had placed him as a backup to Bradley, playing limited minutes until Bradley got hurt. They then signed Terry this off season and those two play a similar role. They would not coexist with each other and Bradley and Allen would likely be the odd man out.
All together Allen was being forced out in a way, and was always the 3rd person in the big 3, 4th behind Rondo who he despised. Allen should not be criticized in any way for leaving Boston.
(KMac) Lame Sauce said 07/09, 12:31 PM
I'll start my argument with a story.
On December 20, 2005 a tragic story much like this one, happened in the baseball world. It just happened to involve Boston too. One of Boston's favorite sons, Johnny Damon, had shocked Red Sox Nation when he signed with their hated rival, the Yankees. Earlier in the season he had stated that, "there was no way he could ever play for the Yankees."
Granted in this story, he was chasing the money, not the rings, but there are many who felt that he owed the Red Sox and Boston his loyalty. And it was COMPLETELY WRONG for him to go to their hated rival.
Here's another story, one closer to the Ray Allen situation.
In 2003, arguably one of the greatest 1-2 punches in basketball history were broken up. John Stockton retired. Karl Malone wanted to play longer. He spurned the team he had played on for 18 years to go to one of the Jazz' most hated rivals, the Lakers.
It's the same with Ray Allen. Boston gave him rings. They could have given him another with the team they're putting together. He went to Miami, not to chase a ring, but as a kick in the junk to the Celtics and their fans.
For that he is wrong.
That new guy said 07/09, 01:04 PM
Thing is, when a player leaves a team, their fans will always react. Of course when Damon went to the Yankees he should have been boo'd by Sox fans, just as Allen will be by Celtics fans. No matter what, fans are going to overreact. But does that mean it was wrong? In my opinion, no.
Ray went to the Heat not to "kick junk" but to play for a good team that made him feel wanted. Riley did a great job making him feel wanted in the recruitment process, which is something the Celtics didn't do. The C's chased other people before him, not making him a priority. the Heat made him their top priority. This, and the chance to win another ring, plus the stuff mentioned in my first argument, made him want to go to Miami.
The Celtics hadn't shown any loyalty to Ray as one of the big 3, and there was no reason he should have shown them any. He had only been there for five years, it's not his whole career like it was for Malone. Why should he show faith in them unless they do it to him? This stuff works two ways and the Celts weren't holding up their end.
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Comments (36) Add A Comment
i agree with your overall point. the idea that players owe things to teams, especially when they have attempted to trade them and are phasing them out, isn't fair to the player. they have their own livelihood and desires to take care of, not the team's
kalbrecht17
Hallock , MN
Total Comments (188)
They'll call anyone that goes to the Heat a traitor...
DetroitFan*: It Is?!
Total Comments (30950)
I really find it funny when fans cry about a player taking less money in order to play for rings.
Anytime a player takes a huge contract for play for a bad team everyone rips the guy for caring more about his wallet than the game. But the second a guy takes less cash to play for a title contender everyone gets up in arms.
Stop being hypocrites.
(Un)mautre
Inferiority Complex Group, FN
Total Comments (16182)
Exactly. They have their rights as free agents let them play where they want. Preferably in Chicago but..
That new guy
Chicago, IL
Total Comments (11)
there have been some bloggers and fans posting on various sites how allen is a traitor. obviously we can't prove they are true c's fans but they are there none the less.
kalbrecht17
Hallock , MN
Total Comments (188)
Agreed. I was surprised Ray went to Miami, but I"m not crying about it.
ElevenRingsSTL
Total Comments (2976)
The guy wants to win another champioship and took less money in order to achieve that objective.
And it's not like he was a Celtic all his career.
Hyped78
Lisbon, Portugal, EU
Total Comments (2149)
In the past two seasons his stats were at career lows. So yes, he owes the Celtics something. he owes them a refund on the millions they paid him to get worse.
Gruden
Aurora, CO
Total Comments (298)
I'll try to argue this one.
(KMac) Lame Sauce
Total Comments (1529)
Stop stealing parts of my argument.
(KMac) Lame Sauce
Total Comments (1529)
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