Tonight's Loss to the Bulls: Or, Why Ray Allen Shouldn't Come Off the Bench.

I know that, in the previous post, I argued the Celtics should consider moving Ray Allen. I stand by that assessment.

But that would obviously take place during the off-season. And I wrote it because Danny Ainge has said the breakup of the Big Three is inevitable.

Tonight, the Celtics lost to the Chicago Bulls. And I think, in part, it was due to the decision to bring Ray Allen off the bench.

He's a guy that needs to start. If he doesn't, then he'll take awhile to warm up. His production, then, will shrink. And it will hurt the team.

It, too, would damage the chemistry between Rondo, Pierce, Garnett, and, of course, Allen. He, as a bench player, would have to acclimate himself to the second unit. That takes some time.

It's too late in the season -- and too close to the playoffs -- for the Celtics to be playing with lineups. Bradley, of course, has played well -- and the Celtics are something like 10-1 without Allen.

But they should stick with what works. Rondo, Pierce, Garnett, and Allen won a championship. Let them all start together, and then change things once the season ends.

Or else, expect more losses and sloppy plays.