Hoping for a Ray of Light
The 2008 Boston Celtics Championship squad is reuniting for an anniversary celebration but there’s no love for “Judas” Shuttlesworth.
This is no longer news but it’s still news. It’s still news in the sense that it is quite baffling. Just in case you haven’t heard, here’s the news again. Rajon Rondo told The Undefeated that the Boston Celtics‘ 2008 championship team would convene to celebrate that title. But Ray Allen isn’t invited.
Since then, team GM Danny Ainge and title-winning Head Coach Doc Rivers have voiced their displeasure about the decision. The issue is Allen joining the rival, sorry, “enemy combatant” Miami Heat, instead of re-signing with Boston after the 2011/12 season. Kind of like the decision after The Decision.
The major bone of contention is that the Heat defeated the Celtics in a keenly contested seven game Eastern Conference Finals series. Just over a month later, Allen would agree to suit up for the “enemy.” Sound familiar?
This decision happened almost five years ago. Clearly, many Boston Celtics have neither forgiven nor forgotten this “betrayal” as it’s been called. “I asked a couple of the guys. I got a no, a no head shake,” said Rondo according to The Undefeated article.
Ray Allen’s Teammates
According to the article, Leon Powe, hero of Game 2 of the 2008 Finals, isn’t one of them. “I assumed that Ray would be invited,” Powe told The Undefeated. “That is one of my guys. My preference is that Ray is extended an invitation.” Glen “Big Baby” Davis feels the same way as per CBS Sports.
Scot Pollard, a role player on the squad, has a different theory. Appearing on Sirius XM’s NBA Radio, he alluded to Rondo wanting the world to know “he still had a beef with Ray Allen.” Very strong words. A Jason Terry appearance on Sirius painted an even darker picture. He spoke of rumors that Allen was house hunting and meeting with LeBron James during the ECF series. That at least gives some clarity, if true.
But it doesn’t make it okay. We can talk about Allen making a decision for himself and family but even that is besides the point. This is a celebration of the players that won the Boston Celtics the 2008 Larry O’Brien trophy. Ray Allen was one of those players. To the tune of 20.3 PPG, 5 RPG, 1.33 SPG, 51% FG and 52% 3FG in the Finals.
All for One
Take away that contribution and the Los Angeles Lakers might be the winningest franchise in NBA history. And perhaps the biggest irony is the philosophy under which the Celtics operated that season – ubuntu.
That is the Swahili term that basically translates to “all for one and one for all.” It is the spirit Rivers introduced and instilled in the team. When one man went down, the other four on the floor gathered to pick him up.
Now that team is reuniting and instead of picking each other up, they’re putting down one of their own. It seems a little odd that Rondo had to ask if he could invite Allen. That, however, is what makes one wonder what really happened beneath the surface. Reckon Brian Scalabrine‘s invite came up?
Where Do We Go From Here?
That’s why we’re fans. We will speculate but only the players know the real truth. However, their seeming disunity on the Allen decision only heightens speculation. The “betrayal” went down five years ago while the title came nine years ago. Time is meant to heal all wounds. Ray Allen was a crucial part of that team. Some even argued he should have been Finals MVP.
To omit him from any celebration, official or otherwise, seems ludicrous. What happens when they discuss Game 6 and Allen’s heroics? Or other big games he had during that season? Or is there a rule in the celebration rider that says “He who shall remain unnamed.”?
Danny Ainge is disappointed. Doc Rivers is disappointed to the point of feeling guilty. Leon Powe is surprised. Big Baby is in disagreement. Scot Pollard is suspicious. JET is speculating. Fans are confused. I wonder how Ray Ray feels about all this. Unsurprisingly, we haven’t heard anything from his camp.
We the fans may never really know what went down. Terry’s interview is the most detailed insight yet but even he wasn’t there. He joined the Celtics in 2012/13. So it’s hard to see a team built on brotherhood turn on one of its own.
Brotherhood Creed
Ironically, Rondo alluded to this brotherhood on Instagram a few months ago. The Chicago Bulls have had an uneven season. This caused the ex-Celtic to speak out on social media. And the real irony of his revelation on The Undefeated is found in the following excerpt from his IG post:
“I played under one of the greatest coaches, and he held everyone accountable. It takes 1-15 to win. When you isolate everyone, you can’t win consistently. I may be a lot of things, but I’m not a bad teammate. My goal is to pass what I learned along.”
The current situation with Ray Allen heavily contradicts that notion. Allen is being isolated. He is integral in that 1-15. Leaving a teammate out, is being a bad teammate. He may have been a bad teammate in leaving when and how he did but two wrongs…
Even the super intense Kevin Garnett showed understanding of Allen’s departure even if he wasn’t pleased. The Celtics brotherhood was intense and led to two Finals appearances and one loss shy of a third over a five-year period. But brothers grow up and put their differences aside for the family reunion. Why can’t they?
Hope Floats
This is the mystery. Will we ever get to know or will we stay using our limited understanding to judge the situation? When the Celtics have an official celebration, will members of the team only appear if Allen isn’t present?
It’s an unfortunate thing to happen, particularly at this time. The current Celtics are contenders for the first time since the Allen departure. They would no doubt look up to that team as they push for postseason prominence, so this is untimely. Avery Bradley was in his second season at the time, so might have a clue what’s really up. Hopefully enough to guide the current squad on what not to do.
In life, you win some, you lose some. The Celtics won a championship in 2008 but may have lost something along the way. One can only hope that a ray of light shines through and everything will be okay.
Next: Bucks Last Test in the East
I just can’t shake the feeling that somewhere, Jesus Shuttlesworth is looking in the sky and saying, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.”
Amen.