rayallenstrugglesCarolina PicWhen Ray Allen’s struggles against Cleveland seeped into his head and people started calling him Nick Anderson, the knee-jerk in all of us wrote off the most devastatingly lethal three-point shooter in NBA history.

Total baskets made vs. Cleveland: 20 in seven games.
Three-point FG shooting vs. Cleveland: 4-for-24, 16 percent

He has endured no such troubles against the no-defense playin’ Lakers:

Total baskets: 25 in four games, 3-point shooting: 12-for-25, 48 percent.

Two plays in last night’s game summarize it well: The ball swings to Allen on the left wing, and Kobe closes in on Allen quickly because the Celtics are in the throes of a thrilling comeback littered with three-pointers. But Allen, ever the cagey vet, pump-fakes Kobe and sprints baseline for a gorgeous reverse layup. The other play locked up the victory: Less than 30 seconds left and somehow, Phil Jackson has left a Euro – they’re not exactly known for their defense – up top against Allen. Jesus Shuttlesworth dribbles him to sleep before blowing past him for an uncontested layup – he had time to look over his shoulder! – and a five-point Boston bulge with 10 seconds left. Ball. Game. Sasha Vujacic, who probably went out and banged someone at Villa after the game, was later seen nearly in tears of anger on the bench.

Of The Big Three, we’re most thrilled that Allen will get a ring. And he should get some MVP votes, too.