Ray Allen Needs Protection From the Freakish Fingernails of Rip Hamilton

You see that sleeve on Ray Allen's arm there? It magically appeared during the Celtics' playoff series versus the Pistons last year -- it was absent in the team's earlier series against the Hawks and Cavs. If you were wondering why all of a sudden Allen decided to go to the sleeve, the answer is simple: protection. Protection from the freakishly long fingernails of the Pistons' Rip Hamilton.

Allen said he talked to Hamilton about his fingernails, which prompted Allen to wear an arm sleeve against the Pistons in the playoffs last season. "He was saying how when he saw me come out the next game with an arm sleeve on, they started laughing about it," said Allen. "And then I said, 'Look, man, I'm wearing an arm sleeve because . . .' And then I picked his hand up and looked at his nails. And his nails were way out. He said, 'Man, I didn't know I cut people up like that. People tell me all the time that I need to cut my nails, but I don't know what I'm doing.' I told him, 'Come on, dog, you know why you're using them.'

Now, basketball can be a physical sport, especially in the playoffs when the Celtics and Pistons are involved. But Ray, seriously? Were Rip's nails that long that he was really going to claw you into submission while defending you? I don't want to accuse Allen of being soft here, but ... ah, screw it. If you need to wear a sleeve on your arm because you're worried about being scratched by another man on the basketball court, you're soft. Period.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-02-2008 @ 4:52PM

Step said...

Doesn't your favorite, Kobe Bryant, wear a sleeve too? I don't know what's soft about wearing a sleeve. If you watched that series, Hamilton doesn't just graze someone's arm, he claws and tugs as part of his "craftiness." He tugs someone's arm just before running off a screen to gain separation and he claws to keep his man close on defense. I don't doubt for a minute that he leaves track marks. Aside from questioning Allen's toughness, why no mention of Hamilton's dirtiness?

11-13-2008 @ 10:18PM

Boo said...

You totally are off the mark with your Kobe comment. Kobe doesn't wear it because he is afraid of getting scratched... Allen is. So your comparison means nothing. Allen is a baby.

11-02-2008 @ 8:00PM

david said...

Another Brett Edward crap piece...another trivial trash from a simpleton writer, i guess after picking on Bill Walker, it's now Ray Allen's sleeve...the next piece should ought to be about Paul Pierce's short string, and how tight it is and is making Pierce lose weight making him soft...

11-02-2008 @ 8:08PM

Nora said...

Brett Edwards constantly showing what a hter he is. Celtics won the chmpionship, deal with it and get over it and stop writing such trivial garbage. Are you really writing something about a sleeve Ray wore playing against the Pistons? You have to dig that far back so you can in you childish way take another shot at the Celtics? If anything is it so difficult for Hamilton to cut his snails like a normal person? He has money he can get somebody else to do it.

Sorry for the typos.

11-02-2008 @ 8:26PM

Martin said...

Allen should probably start wearing goggles (whether or not he keeps the sleeve), as long nails could do serious damage to the eyes. I would also think that the NBA would prohibit long nails, based on the numerous eye injuries that already occur. I agree that the focus should be on Hamilton's nails and not on Allen's sleeve.

11-02-2008 @ 9:04PM

cletus yokel said...

If he's bleeding, NBA rules stipulate that he can't play. If he wants to wear the sleeve so he isn't kicked out of the game, that wouldn't make him soft.

11-05-2008 @ 6:31PM

lk said...

I don't see how this makes him soft. Players need to stay as focused as possible, who needs the possible distraction of someone digging their nails into your arm. Sounds like dirty playing to me. so instead of questioning this type of dirty play, you question the players use of a sleeve? That is fucked up.