WALTHAM, Mass. — Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and the rest of
the Celtics insist that they harbor no ill will toward Ray Allen for signing
with the rival Miami Heat this summer. Rajon Rondo might say the same, if he
could bring himself to even say Allen's name.
The Celtics point guard declined to refer to the league's
most accomplished 3-point shooter by name on Sunday, calling Allen simply
"No. 20" when talking about his new backcourt running mate, Courtney
Lee.
"A lot of people don't know that Courtney was second
last year to No. 20 as far as 3-point field goal percentage, so we look for him
stretching the floor," Rondo said.
Rondo appeared to be referring to a very specific statistic
and not the overall 3-point percentage standings, in which Allen was fifth and
Lee was 20th. Allen and Lee both shot 48 percent on corner threes, which may
have been a factor in the Celtics' interest in the fifth-year veteran after
Allen signed with Miami.
Rondo's slight came two days after Garnett said he no longer
has Allen's phone number. The Celtics clearly are moving on quickly from the "Big Three" era to
a new administration that, so far, has not been named.
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