The Difference between Redd and Allen

As long as Bucks G Michael Redd plays professional basketball in Milwaukee, he will be compared to the man he essentially replaced: Walter Ray Allen. In many respects the two are identical players. Both are known for their scoring. Both feature the three point shot. Both shoot about the same percentage. Both are essentially one-dimensional. Neither cares to play defense. Both received maximum contracts. Allen's career Eff48 is a little better than Redd's, but not substantially so.

Where Allen distinguishes himself as the clearly superior player is in the postseason. In 37 playoff games, Allen has been spectacular. He has not only matched his regular season production, like a true superstar he has raised it. His playoff Eff48 of 27.36 is nearly two points higher than his regular season Eff48. When the bright lights shine, so does Sugar Ray.

Redd, on the other hand, has been atrocius. In 12 playoff games he has now logged an abysmal Eff48 of 15.50, nearly 8 points lower than his regular season mark. He has shown a tendency toward amateurish decisionmaking and very poor shot selection. He forces the issue in a way no All-Star caliber player ought to do.

The bottom line is he can be shut him down. And when he is, he has nothing left to offer. He's a 90 million dollar detriment. If Redd can't score he's just another guy out on the court, taking up space. All this was foreseeable and should have been factored into the salary Redd was offered by the team. Clearly it was not. You can't pay a one-dimensional player maximum money. This decision may haunt the Bucks for years to come, because they are stuck with Redd, and he has shown he can't take them anywhere.