Doc Rivers May Sit Ray Allen For A Game

Hampered by painful bone spurs in his ankles, Ray Allen‘s postseason struggles have been well-documented. And after playing 39 minutes and scoring just 6 points on 1-7 shooting in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he is considering sitting Allen out for a game. ESPN has the details: “’It’s a tough call with him,’ Rivers said Tuesday afternoon. ‘We’re trying to figure out a different minute rotation for him, maybe that will help him. We’re even considering sitting him for a game, getting him a longer rest and then playing him, and then sitting him for a game. We don’t know what the right thing is.’ Part of what makes Allen’s situation difficult is the Celtics don’t have great options behind him if he sits out a game. Avery Bradley, who had taken over the starting spot from Allen, is out for the rest of the playoffs after shoulder surgery. Losing Allen would thrust Mickael Pietrus into the starting lineup. ‘We don’t have a lot of options, with Avery out and then with Ray being injured,’ Rivers said. ‘MP (Pietrus) is going to have to be important. Whether Ray plays or not in games, I think MP is going to be big for us, he has to be.’”