It's been a tough month for Ray Allen.

I'd like to blame it on that pinched nerve thing that he had in his neck. But I wonder if the simpler explanation is that Doc Rivers is just working him too hard. Look.. I love the guy. But he was hurt for most of last season... and he's logging a lot of minutes this season. Not only that, he's being asked to run the point a lot. He's used to playing a lot of minutes (he's at 38 mpg this season... essentially his career average) but has always spent all that time as a jump shooter. He should be running off picks all over the place... but instead he's relegated to point guard duty because we really don't have any viable option to back up Rajon Rondo. And if Rajon is off... it's up to Ray to make it happen at the point guard position.

I love Ray, and I want him to be the threat he has always been: a long range sniper. Deadly from behind the arc. Yes... he'll drive on you occasionally, but he's the gunner that sticks it in your eye and makes you like it. At least... he was. This year, he's out of sync. His last really good game was against Utah just before the new year. In 6 games in January, Ray is averaging 10.7 ppg on 33% shooting... and only 28% from 3. By comparison, he shot 39.5% from 3 in December. His 5-14 shooting night (2-7 from 3) in last night's loss was just horrible to watch. That last second shot never had a prayer. If the C's are going to avoid more losing streaks down the road this season... they're going to need more out of Ray. I have no doubt that Ray will submit stellar games down the road. I just don't want them to happen every once in a while. The Celtics need to figure something else out behind Rajon Rondo before they end up killing Ray Allen in the process.

John-RedsArmy.com

(What's the difference between RedsArmy.com and Barstool? Only that we're all Celtics every day. And we don't have any pictures of tits and ass. And we don't post videos of douchebags killing themselves on YouTube. Come to think of it... we're not really alike at all. But we've got Celtics all the time... so... that counts for something I guess)