Boston Celtics veteran Ray Allen not taking game off against Miami Heat – NBA Update
The Boston Celtics are 1 – 0 down in their Easter Conference Finals series against the Miami Heat and Ray Allen has declared that there is no way he would sit out a game under the circumstances. The veteran shooting guard has had continued injury concerns
but is refusing to give his body a rest.
Allen, who has been a model professional over the years, has suffered because of injuries this season. Towards the end of the regular campaign Celtics head coach Doc Rivers moved him to the bench in order to preserve his strength.
Now Allen is playing through an ankle injury that is visibly affecting his game and not showing any signs of subsiding. The Celtics coaching staff have mulled over giving Ray a game off so he could get some rest but the gritty guard has simply refused.
"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."
Head coach Rivers, who was expected to make announce a decision regarding Allen’s participation in game-2 of the series, conveyed to the press that the player will feature. He said Allen had the will to continue so the Celtics are just going to put him on
the court and hope he does a good job.
"Not yet," Rivers told reporters when asked if Ray would get a game off. "We're good. Ray is Ray. We're going to just keep rolling him out there and see what we can get. When we feel like he can't give it to us, we'll go with someone else. But I think right
now, you haveto give Ray a fighting chance."
Rivers said he knew that the seasoned pro was hurting, but the Celtics were already down 1 – 0 in the series and woefully short of options. Therefore, if any decision was to be made about giving Allen a rest, it would be made during the game.
"It's just a decision you make in the game," Rivers said. "It's a tough one, but you go into the game and you watch. It's just going to be that way. It's not the easiest thing to do.”
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