No animosity for Allen
Ainge, Celtics plan royal welcome today
Danny Ainge is still trying to determine what went wrong with Ray Allen.
By most accounts the former Celtics star is thriving in his sixth man/closer role in Miami, even if his minutes, and thus his numbers, have dropped from last season. But Ainge, the Celtics president of basketball operations, continues to insist that the team wanted to bring Allen back, even after the signing of Jason Terry, whose numbers have seen a one-year dip even greater than Allen’s.
Ainge, though, probably won’t get the answers he wants — at least not until Allen is retired, and the two men can enjoy some time together without the pressure of contracts and winning hanging overhead.
“I still don’t have a full understanding of (why Allen left),” Ainge said last week. “But maybe someday in a few years I’ll get to the bottom of it with him over a round of golf. But right now I’m not worrying about it.
“To be honest, I don’t ever think about it.”
Allen, who continues to insist that he cherishes his bond with the Garden crowd, gets his first chance to see if the love is returned today in the Heat’s first visit of the season.
If the initial reaction to Allen’s departure was any indication, with cries of “Benedict Allen” and “Judas Shuttlesworth” filling the twittersphere, the rants will probably continue, this time in person.
“Boston fans get very attached to their players,” Ainge said. “Especially when it’s a player of Ray’s magnitude.”
Even if Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce stared holes through their former teammate prior to the Celtics’ season-opening loss in Miami, the organization plans to do things the right way today.
A tribute has been planned, reportedly including the same Jumbotron video treatment given to other returning former Celtics, like the beloved Kendrick Perkins. And if management went to this trouble for Eddie House and Glen Davis, they can’t very well ignore one of the key players behind the 2008 NBA championship.
“It will be one of those memorable days at the Garden,” Celtics managing partner Steve Pagliuca said. “Ray was a key player, and we’ll never forget that. We’re absolutely appreciative of that. He’ll always be a Celtic, in the same way Bill Walton was.”
Allen’s initial reception probably won’t mirror the affection showered on Walton over the years.
“But I think the fans will appreciate Ray for what he has done,” Pagliuca said with State Department-like diplomacy. “Ray had to do what was right for him and his family.”
In the greater Boston community — the one of hospitals, schools and charitable organizations — Pagliuca is especially right.
Ainge lumps it all together — the big shots, the leadership, the good works and the rest.
“Ray and (his wife) Shannon meant so much more to this city than what Ray accomplished on the court for us,” Ainge said. “They were on the board of directors (of the Joslin Diabetes Center), and what he brought to the community was huge.
“And for us he was such a pro. He had that great work ethic, and made all of those big shots. Because of the way teams were forced to guard him, you wouldn’t believe how much that opened everything else up for us.
“I’m sure he’s having the same big impact (in Miami).”
Ainge, like Pagliuca, denies that there are hard feelings, at least from the corner office.
“I’m only grateful for my association with Ray,” Ainge said. “I didn’t get my way with him this summer, but that’s just business.”