Jesus my have Turned the Corner

Ray Allen has been a tough nut to crack this year.

After starting the season 30-47 (.638), he went 37-99 (.373) over the next seven games. In the five games that followed, Jesus shot just 30-88 (.340). Jesus again disappointed in the five subsequent games, going 29-80 (.362) .

Shortly before the All-Star break, Ray admitted his ankles had been bothering him for a good portion of the season. While many fans expressed grave worry over Ray’s admission, I assumed it meant that he was close to putting his problems behind him.

If shooting prowess is any sign of Ray’s health, then I was right.

Here is a break-down of Ray’s field goal percentage over the last 20 games, separated into five-game increments:

24-60 (.400)

35-87 (.402)

36-75 (.480)

35-74 (.472 )

35-72 (.486)

It appears we are seeing an upward trend from Ray, which he then punctuated with a coldly efficient 7-8 night against Portland.

For the month of February Ray Allen is shooting .457, fifteen points better than he did in December, and forty points better than he did in either November or in January. He is shooting .406 from three in February, eleven points better than he did in December, thirty points better than in November, and sixty points better than in December.

Despite his frigid 3-12 night against Phoenix, then, the evidence suggests that Ray Allen has turned the corner, and is heating up as we head into the stretch run. Everyone has an off night now and again. It just so happened that both Ray Allen and Paul Pierce had off nights against Phoenix.