Celtics' Allen Set For Return, But Does He Start?
BOSTON (CBS) – Celtics guard Ray Allen is expected to return to the floor Wednesday night against the Spurs, but the question remains: will he start?
Allen missed six games with an ankle injury, but said he felt great on the floor after a rare practice on Tuesday. He received a cortisone shot on Sunday, something he normally would like to skip out on, and said it felt like he had "two new wheels" as a result. Add that with a two-week layoff from game action, and Allen says he is ready to go.
"Physically, the time off was good. My ankle was kind of pissed off," he joked. "I kind of gave it a little help and time off was good but getting that joint lubricated more than it was otherwise."
But where does Allen fit in with Avery Bradley playing so well in his place? The Celtics have won five straight with Bradley at the two-guard, and overall are 10-1 without Allen. That is not to say that the Celtics are a better team without Allen, but they are in a groove right now with Bradley in the starting five.
Read: Celtics-Spurs Preview
While Doc Rivers hasn't made up his mind, he said he is open to using the 15-year veteran off the bench.
"Oh yeah, there's no doubt. We think about stuff like that all the time though," Rivers said Tuesday. "We've thought about that, and other guys, for the last three years. We'll see how it goes, if not we will. It may be somebody else, who knows. We like what we have."
Allen would also be open to coming off the bench, and isn't concerned with finding his own groove after the time off.
"Whatever we need to do as a team," Allen said. "I think the effort that I've seen over the last week and a half, two weeks, is great. Whatever combinations we work out there, we're all good enough, we're all professional enough to understand it. We know our plays. We're at a point in the season where everybody knows who each other is. So remembering plays and positions is second nature now for all of us."
Bradley certainly brings a better defensive edge to the position, with the Celtics holding three of their last five opponents under 80 points, and gives Rajon Rondo another player to run with on offense. Bradley gives the Celtics another slasher going to the hoop, whereas Allen opens the floor with his shooting.
Read: Pivotal Stretch For Celtics Begins Wednesday
With the Celtics on a roll, it makes sense to go with Bradley at first, giving the 36-year-old Allen a few games to get his legs and shot back. If the team continues to play well, both on offense and defense, with Bradley in the starting five, Allen could anchor a somewhat stagnant second unit.
For a team that has tried to find depth all season, this conundrum seems like a good one to have. As long as the Celtics keep winning, Allen and Bradley shouldn't mind where and when the minutes come from.
