Ray Allen a "driving" force

by **Brandon$$** Sat Apr 10, 2010 4:03 pm

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2010/04/09/allen_polishing_his_inside_moves/

Ray Allen is considered one of the great 3-point shooters of all time. There is little Allen can do to change that perception 14 years into his storied NBA career.

At the later stages of his NBA tenure, Allen is making adjustments to his offense. He has taken an average of 1.2 fewer 3-pointers per game this season, putting more emphasis on driving to the basket.

And many of those drives are unconventional. In the fourth quarter Wednesday against the Toronto, he whipped the ball behind his back and completed a layup for a 12-point lead, completing his stretch of 8 straight points.

He also scored with a righthanded tear drop and a reverse layup. Allen scored only 3 of his 18 points Wednesday on 3-pointers (1 for 4) and while he remains one of the league’s top shooters, he has made it a priority to score in the paint.

“I try to be as aggressive as I can be without being overbearing in the offense,’’ he said. “When I get the ball in my hands, if I have a shot [I] just try to get into the paint, get to the hole and go to the free throw line.’’

The Celtics are 23-7 when Allen scores 18 points or more and the team often struggles when he doesn’t get the ball. He was limited to two shots in the April 2 loss to Houston because of foul trouble and attempted none in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s loss to the Knicks.

“It’s on us as a team, guys have to move the ball and once it comes to me, I will be aggressive,’’ he said. “I just know how teams are playing me and they try to take the jump shot away. Most people talk about how I shoot the ball, that being the strong suit. I’ve played the game of basketball my whole life and I just like to take whatever the defense gives me.’’