When Ray’s on, the C’s are very hard to beat

I have been known to tweet "Ray=Butter" during Celtics games. It's my own way of expressing just how smooth I feel SugarRay is on the court. And this season, he has had quite a few clutch performances that have bailed the Celtics out.

After last night's win over the Spurs, the Celtics are now 11-0 when Ray Allen scores 20 or more points. It'd be 12-0 if we counted a 19 point performance in a win over OKC on 11/7/10.

Last season, right before the trade deadline, rumors were swirling that the 35 year old Allen would be sent packing for a younger shooting guard. Names like Kevin Martin were tossed around. But through all his slumps, fans crying he's too old, and occasional trouble with ball-handling, Danny Ainge has held on to the one known as "Jesus".

This season, Ray has started off markedly better than last-he's averaging 17.5 ppg where last season he was at a 15 ppg clip, and he's taken up the load on nights where injury or cold-shooting has hampered other key members of the C's. For example: early on in the season, Paul Pierce struggles against the Bulls. The Truth is just 4 of 14 for 10 points in 43 minutes. Ray is there to save the day: he goes for 25 points and buries 3 of 5 from downtown.

Then there was Dec. 22nd vs the Sixers at the Garden. KG and Truth combine for 8 of 25 from the field, and without Rondo, the C's 13-game win streak is in serious jeopardy. Ray comes through again: he tallies 22 points to go with 6 assists & 4 rebounds. His 2 free-throws with 5.6 seconds left seal the deal. 

Granted, I know that other players/factors contributed to these wins, but the point is, Ray=Butter. Without his clutch shooting, smooth moves without the ball and consistency at the charity-stripe, this team easily loses some of these games. Just one more reason C's fans believe Banner18 is within reach this season.