“The Ray Effect”: Danny Ainge Reflects on How Allen’s Shooting Changed the Celtics

“The Ray Effect”: Danny Ainge Reflects on How Allen’s Shooting Changed the Celtics

When basketball historians look back at the Boston Celtics’ championship run in 2008, the spotlight often shines brightest on the “Big Three” of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. Yet, among the trio, it was Allen’s signature shooting stroke that fundamentally altered the geometry of the floor. Former Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge recently revisited Allen’s impact, praising his unparalleled ability to bend defenses and uplift teammates.

“He was one of those guys who could knock down five, six, seven 3-pointers in a row,” Ainge said in a reflective interview. “Ray’s mere presence on the court made everyone else better.”

A Shooter Unlike Any Other

Before the modern NBA embraced spacing, pace, and the three-point revolution, Allen was a pioneer. By the time he joined the Celtics in 2007, the league had not yet fully realized how a consistent long-range threat could dictate defensive schemes. Ainge recalled that Allen’s shooting wasn’t just about the points he put on the board—it was about the fear he instilled.

“Teams had to chase him constantly, fight over screens, and that created openings for everyone else,” Ainge explained. “Paul had more room to operate in isolation, Kevin had cleaner looks in the post, and even Rajon Rondo, who wasn’t a shooter, thrived because the floor was so much more open.”

Allen’s shooting was never streaky in the sense of inconsistency—it was devastating because once he found rhythm, it often felt like a flood that opponents couldn’t stop. Fans can recall stretches when Allen would torch defenses with three after three, the Garden roaring with every shot that barely touched the rim.

The Championship Blueprint

When Ainge orchestrated the trades to bring both Allen and Garnett to Boston in the summer of 2007, critics wondered if the team could balance so many star personalities. But Ainge believed the mix was perfect—and Allen’s unselfishness played a major role.

“Ray wasn’t just a shooter,” Ainge said. “He was a pro in every sense. His preparation, his work ethic, his ability to accept different roles—that’s what made him invaluable. He was okay being the second or third option some nights because he knew his gravity still shaped the game.”

That balance was on full display during the 2008 playoffs, culminating in Boston’s 17th championship banner. Allen’s shooting repeatedly swung series. His record-setting performance in the NBA Finals, where he hit seven threes in Game 6 against the Lakers, remains a defining moment of that run.

Beyond the Numbers

Allen’s Celtics tenure was sometimes overshadowed by drama—particularly his eventual departure to the Miami Heat in 2012, which fractured relationships with former teammates. But Ainge emphasized that none of the off-court tension diminished what Allen contributed to Boston’s golden era.

“People remember the way he left, but I remember what he gave us,” Ainge said firmly. “His professionalism, his leadership, his conditioning—those things left a mark on our younger players. He raised the standard.”

Indeed, young Celtics at the time often pointed to Allen’s legendary workout routines. His pregame shooting drills, performed hours before tip-off, became a ritual that teammates and even opponents admired. That commitment rubbed off on a generation of players who witnessed firsthand what it meant to prepare like a Hall of Famer.

The Legacy of the “Ray Effect”

In many ways, Ainge argues, Allen foreshadowed the direction of the modern NBA. “Look at how the game is played now—spacing, threes, constant movement. Ray was ahead of his time,” Ainge reflected. “If he played in today’s league, he’d probably be taking 12, 13 threes a night.”

Current sharpshooters like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Damian Lillard are often cited as revolutionaries of the three-point era, but Ainge insists Allen’s influence paved the way. “He was the prototype,” Ainge said. “And the impact he had wasn’t just in Boston. Wherever he played—Milwaukee, Seattle, Miami—he elevated everyone around him.”

A Lasting Impression

As Celtics fans reminisce about that championship core, Allen’s role remains both celebrated and complicated. Yet in Ainge’s mind, the bottom line is clear: Allen’s presence reshaped the team.

“When you have a guy who can change the game with a single shot, it forces defenses into impossible decisions,” Ainge said. “Ray did that every night. He didn’t just make shots—he made us champions.”

For Celtics supporters, those green and white memories of Allen raining down threes will never fade. And for Ainge, the respect for Allen’s unique gift as one of basketball’s greatest shooters will always remain.