With the whole world watching, Derrick White corralled a rebound and snuck in the lane for a last-second, buzzer-beating layup that forced a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals. It was a truly miraculous moment for the Celtics and a gut-punch for the Heat that they still haven’t recovered from. Now, as the Celtics head back home for the series-deciding game, the entire city is coming together to show their support. Even former Celtics legend Paul Pierce announced that he would be in attendance.
But after being asked to bring his former teammate Ray Allen to the game, the Truth surprised many people when he suggested that the NBA legend might actually be rooting for the Heat instead.
Allen played a huge role in helping the Celtics win the 2008 championship, and he had a close relationship with Pierce, Garnett, and Rajon Rondo before he joined the Heat years later. As far as rivals go, it doesn’t get much more intense than the Heat and Celtis, who have had countless playoff battles over the years. In the eyes of Pierce and KG, Allen’s move to join LeBron in South Beach was nothing short of treason, and they went years without speaking to the mean.
Recently, the former teammates reconciled their relationship, and everyone thought they were cool. Pierce’s tweet clearly shows some harbored resentment towards Allen, even though he’s been retired for nearly a decade now.
Ray Allen Shunned By His Former Teammates
No matter where Allen’s loyalties are at now, there’s no way he can take back his move to the Heat in 2012. He literally left behind his teammates of five years to join the franchise that sent them home, and it’s something that they will never forget.
“We had so much tension and we had so many arguments in that locker room. I don’t think that had anything to do with the beef that guys had toward Ray,” said Kendrick Perkins. “Remember, I don’t know what went on and why Ray left because I was already gone. I never even asked until about last year when I was with KG and he told me, it wasn’t that Ray left. It’s how he left. He didn’t really give them a heads-up, he didn’t take them out to dinner, you know, saying, “Hey man it’s been fun but Imma go here.” I think it’s how he left that caused KG and everyone else to be in their feelings, and understandably.”
With the Celtics on the verge of making NBA history, the fans are showing up in droves to push this team to the next level. And in the case of Paul Pierce, he’s going to hope and pray for the downfall of an old rival that may very well come with some big implications.
