Coach Nick has also made one on the impact Ray Allen on the Miami Heat
Being an avid fan of the Celtics, given their rich history and culture of winning in the franchise (the most championships in the history of the NBA) I was personally devastated that Ray Allen decided to walk from the C's due to what many of suspected is a result of a fallout between himself and the Celtics' floor leader, Rondo. As much as I admire Rondo's growth as a player, his person was inevitably to be a big influence on the chemistry and future of the original Big 3 which ushered in the franchise's first championship in 2008 since 1986. However, aging is inevitable and so as father time begins to rob Kevin Garnett of his intensity and explosion, Paul Pierce of his trickery and dominance, and Ray Allen of his efficiency and precision, many begin to considering the direction of the twilight years of their careers along with an opportunity to vie for another championship contended. Thus, the move to Miami, although a bit of shock and what some have referred to as betrayal, Allen's choice is understandable. Rashard Lewis' career has also not been without its highlights. His size and shooting accuracy bring lethal perimeter threats to the already loaded Miami Heat in pursuit if a repeat. Regardless, I personally think that leaving the C's for money is a testament to Ray Allen's personality; a choice which many can scrutinise. However, at the end of the day, a man has to do what he has to do to cement his legacy.
The JET Effect
Jason Terry left a crippled 2012 Dallas Mavericks team which was only one year removed from world domination at the pinnacle of the world of basketball in 2011. However with the loss of core pieces from the Maverick's championship team, the 2012 squad was only a shadow of its former self. Jason Kidd seemed slower, Dirk Nowitzki was out of shape and with no training camp to fine tune the elements of his game, the Mavs were force to rush into a league clustered with teams built around a core of younger, more athletic teams, much like the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder have seen to the rise of a franchise the likes of which has never been before seen in the history of the NBA. After relocating to Oklahoma City from Seattle, the lean, mean and once-green scoring machine Kevin Durant has become the NBA's leading scorer for the third year and counting.
Jet's impact on the C's is simple. Fill in the void that Allen left. Jet however also brings a degree of ball handling which can alleviate some of the loss when Rondo is not running the floor. With some 12 years of experience being a lethal yet streaking scorer off the pick or pulling up from three, Jet's versatility will definitely more than suffice in comparison to what the 38-year old Allen has (or had) to offer. The only thing left is the chemistry; whether the remainder of the Big 3 can quickly and effectively work on the games of the rookies as well as continue to stay healthy under the tutelage of Doc in order to make a deep plunge in the playoffs this season.
Only time will tell.
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