November 12 — If the Boston Celtics’ manhandling of the Miami Heat Thursday night was any indicator, then some wealthy businessperson who bleeds green might want to step up and build a heated golf course in Boston for Ray Allen.
Allen, who torched LeBron James and the South Beach frauds for 35 points in the Celtics’ 112-to-107 win, did so after relaxing rounds of golf Tuesday in Dallas and Wednesday in Miami. Indeed, if it were up to Celtics coach Doc Rivers, Allen would hit the links as often as possible; all he asks is that his superstar not wear out his 35-year-old legs.
Daily golf. “Two years ago when he was struggling [in the NBA Finals], I took [Allen] out to Bel Air,” Rivers, himself an avid golfer, told the Boston Herald. “He can golf every day if he plays like that — as long as he takes a cart and doesn’t walk the course.
The Celtics, of course, won it all in 2008, when Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce joined forces as the most recent iteration of “The Big Three.” That’s likely what James had in mind with his much-reviled “Decision” announcement that he was “taking his talents to South Beach,” where he, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh would win multiple championships. (Check out Pierce’s recent Twitter post taunting James about just that.)
Respite. How’s that working out so far? Well, the Celtics are now 2-0 against Miami early in the season, and Allen is a big reason why. The six-foot, five-inch Allen, who reportedly carries his bag during daily rounds in the off-season, finds respite on the links.
“You couldn’t imagine the solace that it gives me,” he said. “It is relaxing. You’ve got so many things going on, it’s great to take your mind off things.”
The problem, of course, is that the Celtics play half their games in the frozen tundra that is New England in the winter, which led Allen’s mother, Flo, to plead for help.
Turn up the heat. “I saw Ray earlier and he was so relaxed,” she said to the Herald. “Somebody’s got to put some heaters up on a golf course back in Boston.”
To hear Allen discuss his 35 points (which included 21 from three-point land) and shut-down defense of Wade (2-of-12 for a meaningless eight points), it’s clear why he’s a reputed 5-handicapper.
“It’s all positioning,” Allen said to the Herald. “I’ve done it millions of times. You set your feet and you make the shot.”
Y’hear that, Tiger? It’s just that simple.
Speaking of Tiger Woods, perhaps he could use some instruction from Ray Allen about his golf swing. Read how Woods may be in the market for yet another coach after struggles with his new swing put him nine shots back at this week’s Australian Masters.
(Emily Kay is a regular contributor to New England Golf Monthly. Check her out at the Boston Golf Examiner and National Golf Examiner websites.)
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