Ray Allen will always be remembered for his run with the Boston Celtics – the NBA’s first Big Three proved veterans can sacrifice starring roles for the greater good. Allen, though, had tons of great moments personally – clutch and otherwise – that we can look back on. Maybe you feel he’s a traitor, maybe you’ll never understand his decision to join Boston’s mortal enemy. But he’s gone, the Big Three is three again (Rondo, Garnett, Pierce) and Jason Terry will just have to suffice. But before we get there, before we hear Boston fans rain down a thunderstorm of boos on their former hero, we’ll look back on Ray Allen’s top five moments as a member of the Boston Celtics.
5. Three-pointer to take the lead against Miami on first night of the Heat Big Three (2010)
There was a ton of hype surrounding Miami after signing Bosh, Wade and James and holding a pre-championship celebration. Well, Boston’s original Big Three put them in their place on opening night of the season with the help of this three by Ray Allen, eventually winning the game 88-80.
4. Three-pointer gives Celtics two-point lead against Knicks with 11.6 seconds left (2011 Playoffs)
The 2011 Boston Celtics swept the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs, due in large part to this Ray Allen clutch shot in Game 1. The Knicks put up a fight in both games in Boston, but the Celtics, lead by Allen and Pierce, were just too much for the Knicks to handle down the stretch.
3. Game-winning three vs. Charlotte Bobcats in double overtime (2009)
Gerald Wallace should know better. Leading by one point, Wallace sagged off Ray Allen to help on a Paul Pierce drive as the clock approached zero. Pierce kicked the ball to Allen in the corner, who drilled the three with 2.1 seconds left.
2. Game-tying three to send Game 6 to triple overtime (2009 Playoffs)
The Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics have had many epic playoff series, and 2009 was no exception. With 12.2 seconds left in double overtime of Game 6 in 2009, Ray Allen received the ball well outside the arc. He dribbled left, pulled up, and drilled a three over Kirk Hinrich, his ninth of the game. The game eventually went to triple overtime, but the Bulls pulled out the one-point win.
1. Game-winning three vs. the Charlotte Bobcats (2007)
The beginning of the Big Three era started off well, as the Celtics established themselves in the clutch time and time again. This time, against the Charlotte Bobcats (again), Ray nails a three at the buzzer with the Celtics trailing by two to give them the victory.
What was Ray Allen’s greatest play as a Celtic?
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