Celtics Allen Shoots For NBA History Against Lakers
Oh yeah, the Lakers are in town too.
Allen and the Celtics meet up with their biggest rival, as Ray is set to break Reggie Miller's All-Time record for three-pointers made (2,560). With Allen sitting just two away, the team hopes he gets it done early.
"My suggestion is they allow him to have two open ones early, just get it over with," Coach Doc Rivers joked on Wednesday. "Either that or give him a game-winning wide open one."
Allen himself is unsure when he will make history.
"That's the beautiful thing about basketball, you don't know how the game will take shape," the sharp shooter said. "I don't want to go into the game with that in my mind, where I have to shoot a three or get two quick to bring the building to it's feet. The anticipation of it is great because so many people will be waiting to see it."
Allen had a chance to break the record Monday night in Charlotte against the Bobcats, but only hit two three-pointers in the 94-89 loss. Now it gives him a chance to break it in front of a home crowd that will be electric from tip-off.
"Definitely this is the place to do it, this is the place to be," Allen said. "I've heard so many people the previous game say 'don't go down to Charlotte and break the record.' Everybody wans to celebrate it. It just seems right to be in this building because so many people have followed me and there's so much great fan support. What place to be better than the Garden?"
Ray Allen and Doc Rivers Talk About Ray's Run To History
Miller will be calling the game for TNT, and will have a front row seat as Allen gets a shot at breaking his record.
"The one thing I can say about Reggie is he's been in my corner the last three or four years since I've been here," Allen said of Miller. "He taught me how to be a better person, how to be a humble success when great things happen to you. He had a great career and so many great things happen to him. For him not to have any ego or animosity to me because I'm breaking his record, he wants to be in the building when it happens. I'm glad, it's like the stars have aligned because he's able to be here."
"It's tough to appreciate stuff when you're doing it," Rivers said of the record. "You can't even think about the numbers. I think some day when you're sitting at home you look at the numbers and then you appreciate (it). Like 'my goodness who was guarding him, and how did they leave him open?' I remember many times (head coach Mike) Fratello yelling at me for leaving Reggie Miller open. I'm sure it's happened to many coaches with Ray Allen."
It will not just be about Ray Allen though. The Celtics and Lakers will meet for the second and final time of the regular season. The Celtics took the first meeting 109-96 in Los Angeles on January 30th.
The Celtics practiced with only 10 players on Wednesday, as Paul Pierce (illness), Shaquille O'Neal (achilles) and Semih Erden (right abductor strain) were all out. Pierce is expected to play Thursday, but with Jermaine O'Neal also out, the Celtics will only have one true center in Kendrick Perkins.
"We'll match up fine," Rivers said. "The size could come in to play at some point obviously. But listen, we have what we have and we're going to line it up against what they have. We'll see who wins the game."
