Ray Allen talks about the issue of shooting too many 3-pointers, using the Boston Celtics as an example: "They gotta figure getting some easy buckets"
The entire NBA world was collectively shaking its head when the Boston Celtics missed 45 three-pointers on 60 attempts en route to losing Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks. The over-reliance on the three-ball is apparent, which does not sit well with former C's legend Ray Allen.
Allen, who won the NBA three-point shootout in 2001, feels the defending champs are not doing themselves any favors playing the way they did. Of course, he wasn't against the three-pointer, but Boston sometimes had to get their head down first and find their offensive rhythm inside the arc.
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'I think last night, the Celtics were shooting 60 threes, and they were shooting them at points when the Knicks kept on plugging away,' the two-time NBA champion said on The Dan Patrick Show. 'They were getting tougher buckets, the Knick were, and Brunson was getting so many midrange shots, so he had a great offensive rhythm. I don't think the Celtics ever built their rhythm offensively.'
Building offensive rhythm
Interestingly, Ray used the word 'built' when referring to Boston's offensive rhythm in Game 1. They were up by as many as 20 in the early part of the third period after finishing the half with a 61-45 lead, thanks to seven made threes in the quarter. However, New York chipped away at the advantage and tied the game at 86 apiece with over seven minutes left in the game.
For Allen, the solution would have been basic, fundamental basketball. The Celtics need to understand this process. Threes are nice if they are falling, but if they don't, there is a need to catch the offensive rhythm by driving to the basket, the midrange, or the foul line.
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'They take a lot of threes early, and they take it throughout the game. And when they're going, because you got multiple guys who shoot threes and shoot it well, but if you never build a rhythmーgetting to the basket, getting to the free throw line, to the midrange gameー that's kinda where there was a hole for the Celtics of the night,' said the UConn product.
They got to figure out getting easy buckets as opposed to kind of letting it fly consistently because it's the playoffs,' added Ray-Ray.
As 'Jesus Shuttlesworth' noted, Boston relied too much on threes when the going was too tough. Of their 21 field goal attempts, 15 were from the rainbow territory; unfortunately, they made only two.
The game changes in the playoffs
Allen doesn't think the Celtics should suddenly become a low-post team. After all, the three-ball was the primary reason why they won over 60 games this year. However, he feels a different approach would benefit Boston, especially in the playoffs.
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'You have to take into account that the game slows down a little bit more in the playoffs… You look at the Knicks defense, there's a lot of holes in their defense… Just make sure that when they start the game tonight, they get to the free throw line early and establish something in the paint interms of driving and getting some easy stuff,' stated Allen.
Back in his playing days, Ray said he looked for easy buckets to ease in rather than force threes right away. He knew early misses from distance could mess with his timing and pull him out of sync with the offense.
The Celtics might learn a thing or two from what Allen said. This series is still theirs to lose, but they need to make smarter reads in the flow of the game—mixing in drives, midrange looks, and free throws to steady the ship when the three isn't falling.
Related: "It's the Achilles heel of when Celtics do lose" - Gilbert Arenas says Celtics' reliance with 3s might cost them in the playoffs
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