Tony Allen Felt ‘Overshadowed’ in Boston

T.A. dishes that he didn’t necessarily love playing in the Big Four’s shadow in Beantown. From the AP: “Allen joins a young team with a crowded backcourt. O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley are projected as starters, with Allen, Sam Young and first round picks Greivis Vasquez and Xavier Henry as possible contributors. Allen, who was drafted by Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace when Wallace was with Boston, says he considers his arrival in Memphis as a fresh start. ‘Being in Boston I was kind of overshadowed by those guys, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen,’ Allen said. ‘Here’s a ballclub who’s on the rise and a lot of guys can make names for themselves. It’s a coming out party for a lot of guys on this team.’ Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley has said he expects the team to make the playoffs. Last season, the once-woeful Grizzlies fell short of their first .500 season since 2006 and posted the second best improvement in wins behind Oklahoma City. As a Celtic, Allen said he learned the importance of togetherness, a theme that Boston coach Doc Rivers preached throughout the playoffs.”