Ray Allen (Part 3)

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10 Mar 2024

Ray Allen (Part 3)

On June 28, 2007, the Seattle SuperSonics engineered a significant trade, sending Allen and Glen Davis, the 35th overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft, to the Boston Celtics. In return, they acquired Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, and the fifth overall pick, Jeff Green. This move was shortly followed by the acquisition of Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves, forming a formidable trio alongside Allen and Paul Pierce.
Upon joining the Celtics, Allen switched his jersey number to 20, as number 34, his previous number, was already worn by Paul Pierce in Boston.
Allen made an immediate impact with the Celtics, reaching the milestone of 17,000 career points on November 4, 2007, during a game against the Toronto Raptors. He further solidified his presence during the 2008 NBA All-Star Game, where he replaced the injured Caron Butler and made significant contributions, earning praise from analysts.

During the 2008 NBA Playoffs, the Celtics faced challenges but maintained an unbeaten record at home. They advanced to the NBA Finals after defeating the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In Game 4 of the Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, Allen played a pivotal role in the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, securing a crucial victory for the Celtics. In Game 6, he tied an NBA Finals record with seven three-pointers, ultimately clinching his first NBA championship with the Celtics.
In the 2009 season, Allen earned his ninth All-Star selection and set a new Celtics franchise record for consecutive free throws made. Despite a challenging start to the playoffs, including a tough game one against the Chicago Bulls, Allen delivered clutch performances, notably sealing a victory with a game-winning three-pointer in Game 2. However, the Celtics fell short in the postseason, losing in seven games in the conference semifinals.

On December 10, 2009, Allen reached a significant milestone in his career by scoring 18 points, thus surpassing the 20,000-point mark.
In Game 2 of the 2010 NBA Finals on June 6, 2010, Allen delivered a remarkable performance, setting a then-record for the most three-pointers made in an NBA Finals game. He shot 8–11 from beyond the arc, tying the series 1–1 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Allen's outstanding performance included hitting seven three-pointers in the first half, breaking Michael Jordan's record of six three-pointers in one half. By halftime, Allen had equaled the record for most three-pointers in a single NBA Finals game, previously held by Scottie Pippen and Kenny Smith. Notably, Allen became the first player in NBA history to achieve two separate games of scoring at least seven three-pointers in the NBA Finals. Despite Allen's heroics, the Celtics ultimately lost the series to the Lakers.

After becoming a free agent on July 1, 2010, Allen opted to remain with the Boston Celtics, signing a two-year deal worth $20 million on July 7.
On February 10, 2011, during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Allen made history by becoming the all-time NBA leader in total three-pointers made, surpassing Reggie Miller's previous record of 2,560. Despite Allen's achievement, the Celtics lost the game 92–86. In the same season, Allen earned his tenth All-Star selection alongside teammates Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett. Additionally, he participated in the Three-Point Shootout during All-Star Weekend, narrowly losing to James Jones of the Miami Heat.
However, the 2011–12 NBA season posed challenges for Allen. He faced trade rumors, encountered issues with teammate Rajon Rondo, and struggled with an ankle injury that necessitated surgery in June 2012 to remove bone spurs. Despite these setbacks, the Celtics managed to reach the Eastern Conference finals but ultimately fell to the Miami Heat in a grueling seven-game series.

In the summer of 2012, Allen initially intended to remain with the Boston Celtics. However, disagreements over contract terms and internal team dynamics, including a bench role and a Rondo-centric approach, led to Allen declining the Celtics' offer. Instead, he opted to sign a two-year, $6 million deal with the Miami Heat, despite being limited to their mid-level exception amount of slightly over $3 million per season.
During his first season with the Miami Heat, Allen proved to be a valuable asset, averaging 10.9 points per game while boasting an impressive free throw percentage of 88.6%. Additionally, he played an average of 25.8 minutes per game. On April 25, 2013, during Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks, Allen made his 322nd career playoff three-pointer, surpassing Reggie Miller's record for the most three-pointers made in NBA playoff history. Notably, Allen returned to wearing his beloved #34 jersey upon joining the Heat.

In Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Allen delivered a clutch performance. With the Heat trailing by three points, he made a game-tying three-pointer with just 5.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter, forcing the game into overtime. Despite trailing by 10 points at the end of the third quarter, the Heat rallied and ultimately secured a 103–100 overtime victory over the Spurs, forcing a decisive Game 7. In the crucial moments of Game 6, Allen also stole the ball from Manu Ginóbili, drew a foul, and made both ensuing free throws, helping Miami secure the win. Although he scored just 9 points in the game, his game-tying three-pointer proved pivotal. In Game 7, which the Heat won 95–88 to clinch their second consecutive championship, Allen contributed with 4 defensive rebounds and 4 assists, despite struggling to find his shooting rhythm.