Ray Allen Injury: Ankle Pain Causes Celtics' Guard To Sit Out Game 1 Vs. Hawks

The Celtics' Greatest Decoy

The Boston Celtics continue to march on in the 2012 NBA Playoffs, but it's been sad to watch Ray Allen transform into an ordinary player thanks to age and injury.

Ray Allen Injury Update: Out For Game 1 Against Hawks

Ray Allen's ankle injury will officially keep him out of the first game of the Celtics' postseason. The news, tweeted by Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe:

Ray Allen is out according to Doc Rivers #celtics

— gary washburn (@GwashNBAGlobe) April 29, 2012

Allen has missed the Celtics' last nine games with a sore right ankle. We knew he was a game-time decision, and news from Doc Rivers had made it seem as if the chance Allen would take the court tonight was steadily decreasing as the week has gone on, but now it's official.

This obviously isn't good news for the Celtics, but it isn't the worst news. After all, in Allen's absence, Boston went 6-3 -- not to mention an earlier five-game winning streak with Allen sidelined. The Celtics have found a surprise in Avery Bradley, who was actually starting over Allen of late. He's scored over 20 points three times since Allen's injury, including a five-of-six performance from three-point range against New York.

It's unclear whether Allen will be healthy as the series goes on, but we can assume he will remain a game-time decision in upcoming games.

For more on the Celtics, visit Celtics Blog and SB Nation Boston.

Ray Allen Injury Update: Celtics' Guard Unlikely To Play In Game 1 Vs. Hawks

Ray Allen's injured ankle continues to be a major problem, and it now looks like he won't be in action when the Boston Celtics begin their 2012 NBA Playoffs series against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night. Via WEEI's Paul Flannery:

Allen will make the trip to Atlanta, but it's looking less and less likely that he'll be able to play.

"Honestly I don't think he'll play [Sunday]," Doc Rivers said. "We'll find that out. He's just not moving well."

Allen is in so much pain that he admitted he would get surgery "tomorrow" if the playoffs were not on the horizon. Instead, he is holding out hope that his ankle pain will be manageable enough for him to make some sort of contribution in this series. We'll see if things improve by Sunday.

Allen had already given up his starting job to emerging second-year guard Avery Bradley, so the starting lineup won't be affected. However, the second unit will miss Allen's offense tremendously.

For more on the Celtics, visit Celtics Blog and SB Nation Boston.

Ray Allen Injury: Celtics Guard Has '60 Percent Chance' Of Playing In Game 1 Vs. Hawks

Ray Allen's status for Game 1 of the Boston Celtics' first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks is obviously in question after he missed the last nine games with a sore right ankle. Head coach Doc Rivers is willing to give him a fair shot at playing, however, saying that the guard had a "60 percent" chance of playing in Sunday's opening game of the 2012 NBA Playoffs.

"I don't know if I am confident or not, I don't have an answer," Rivers said. "I have no status. If (75 percent) is probable, I would probably lower that to 60 percent. How about that?"

Allen hasn't been able to run on the floor in practice over the past several days, but Rivers said that may not matter. As long as the veteran is on the floor, opponents have to respect his shot, which will create open looks for his teammates.

"If he's ready to play, we're going to play him," Rivers said. "Whether he has rhythm or can make shots, the game will dictate that. Our guys will dictate that. But I'd like to see him on the floor because like I said, rhythm or no rhythm, if I tell Ray to stand in the corner, someone's going to stand next to him and that creates spacing for us."

For more on the Celtics, please visit CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston. For everything on the Hawks, check out Peachtree Hoops and SB Nation Atlanta.