Clark: Hub is fast becoming Allentown

In Boston’s three-star basketball constellation, newcomer Kevin Garnett shines the brightest. Paul Pierce is still a fan favorite because he has been here for all the ups and downs since he was drafted.  But perhaps the most forgotten and overlooked superstar in the league is Ray Allen.

Fans were actually somewhat puzzled by the trade that brought Allen in on draft night because he didn’t make much sense on a young team looking to develop talent for the future. However, without that deal, the Garnett trade wouldn’t have happened. Even if Danny Ainge could have paired Pierce with Garnett, they would have been missing that key element that ties everything together.

Through the early stages of the season, we’ve seen that Allen makes everything work beautifully. When Garnett is doubled on the block and Pierce can’t find a lane, Allen is going to be open. If the defense decides to focus on Allen, they’ll need to leave either Pierce or Garnett in single coverage.

What is striking about watching Allen play is how effortless he makes it appear. He’s never out of control. When he moves without the ball, he curls off picks and finds the open area on the floor, perfectly set up for a catch and shoot. When he drives to the lane, he doesn’t blow past people, but he never lets his defender catch up with him, either. He doesn’t force anything; he just finds the open space and attacks it. When he plays pick-and-roll, he never panics — he just takes what the defense gives him and makes the right decision.

 And — oh, by the way — Allen happens to be the best shooter in the game. His release is lightning quick and his shot looks the same every time, two marks of a great shooter. When he steps to the line for free throws, you might as well add two points to the score. He also has no problem shooting in the clutch. He has already hit one buzzer-beater this year, and there are countless others like that on his resume from past teams.

Allen is so smooth that when he actually turns the ball over or misses a shot, you feel legitimately shocked. He has such an unassuming demeanor and methodical precision that you hardly realize he’s surgically picking the other team apart. With all the attention that Pierce and Garnett get, it is easy to look at the box score and wonder how Allen managed to sneak in another 25-point effort without you noticing.

If there is such a thing as a superstar complementary player, Ray Allen would be it.  He doesn’t get the attention that some of the other stars get, but he’s a perfect fit on this team.

Jeff Clark is the founder and lead writer of Celticsblog.com.