The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics are already bitter rivals in the Eastern Conference, but it looks like it has become much more personal. Every Boston fan has a gripe with its former superstar Ray Allen choosing to leave the team and take his talent to South Beach.
Boston’s Big Three was always Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. They were supposed to compete together and finish their careers together. Well, Garnett happened to agree and has chosen to distance himself from Allen. He confessed, “I don’t have Ray’s number anymore. I’m not trying to communicate. I’m just being honest with everybody in here … It’s just what it is. Garnett is always one to be honest, but you can tell he feels betrayed by the decision. Allen was always a clutch shooter that the Celtics could count on to make the big three or foul shot. The Celtics did acquire Jason Terry and Courtney Lee in the offseason, but the Celtics definitely took a hit by losing Allen. Pierce somewhat agreed with Garnett, but balanced it with some humor. “I thought we would finish our careers together, me, Kevin, and Ray,” Pierce said Friday. “It was very surprising, him going to Miami. But, you know Ray. He’s a grown-up. He has to make a decision that he feels is best for his family, for himself. I wish he could have went to the Clippers if he was going anywhere. But he went to our Eastern Conference rivals. But as you all know, Ray likes to golf. Maybe that factored into his reasoning. Maybe he didn’t like the golfing in Boston in the winter. Who knows?” Expect this rivalry to be turned up even more than it already is. The Celtics have a new fire to beat the Heat, who look to be favorites again to win the Eastern Championship.
